family update!.... (no, i am not pregnant!)

ok, so because i am a total slacker, i don't do Christmas cards, but i like the idea of them, i like the family picture and the little blurbs about how every one is doing...so this is gonna be my new years Christmas card! .........

wishing every one a happy new year full of love, joy and success!
( sounds good so far huh?)

NEW "MODEST" FAMILY PICTURE TO COME!

2008 was a whirl wind of a year for us. our family experienced lots of changes and blessings, some victories and some heart breaks, but we all remain happy and well,

Ivy is now 2.5 years old and just keeps growing and learning, it has been fun to watch her develop into the little person she has become, and she truly is a girlie girl, every thing has to be pink and princess-y, nail polish and jewelry are always on, and with any luck she will have her ears pierced as soon as dad gives in! (however she can play ball and roar like a dinosaur with the best of them!)
She is talking up a storm now! not all of it is intelligible, but her vocabulary is growing fast! she has found her voice and loves to sing and dance all around the house, she makes up her own little songs and words and variations of songs she hears! its fun to try and guess what song she is attempting to sing! in November she also became completely potty trained! YAY!!!! no more diapers in this house! her motivation was candy! and i have to say, the sugar highs were soo worth it in the end! we are very proud of our "big" little girl!
She is such a beautiful little thing and she knows it! she flirts with the little boys and grandpas at church and William has already complained to me about how his friends play with ivy when they come over to our house! sigh... Shawn and i are both biting our nails over the thought of her as a teen, but we are enjoying her preciousness while we can.

William is now 4 and is quite the little character! he makes me laugh (and scream) on a daily basis! he is very clever and craves independence, he finds his own unique way of figuring out the solutions to his preschooler dilemmas! but don't tell him he a little kid cause he is convinced he is an adult!
He is still my little cuddle bug tho, and we enjoy our time together snuggling on the sofa reading books or just talking, he is a very entertaining conversationalist! and can go on for hours about this transformer or that, or what ever else he has on his mind at the time! he defiantly has his own opinion about things! and i giggle at the similarities between him and Shawn. and brace myself for the years ahead!
He knows all of his shapes and colors, he knows his numbers and is an excellent counter, he is fascinated by science and learning how things work... he just learned how to write his name and we are now working on the rest of the alphabet, trying to get him ready for kindergarten in 2010! he is a smart little cookie, and am grateful to have such wonderful and healthy kids! we have truly been blessed!

As for me i am kept quite busy by the two munchkins, the housework and other tasks a stay at home mom entails, how ever i still find time to write and dream( not much time) but i try. i always have a story or song idea in my head and often late at night while every one else is asleep i try and put them to paper.
I have had a few changes i am still getting used to, like the passing of my beloved grandma Stevenson. which has left quite a gash in my heart. but i am grateful for the knowledge she is not gone forever and i will see her again someday! i have been so blessed to have the support and love of my wonderful husband and family through these trials and i know together we can get through anything. (even the nursery calling!)
Also...(and tho i am glad for their success and new adventure) the absence of joey and Stephanie and there family has been rough on me, finding new ways to keep in touch and connected has been a challenge. and often times i half expect to see them come up our stairs at family gatherings and am always a little sad when they don't. but we are so happy to have mike and Becky close by again! and it has been fun playing with them as well.

Shawn is still working for fog cutter. although his dreams of getting out of the rain and moving to AZ. are right beneath the surface, we are bidding our time, waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
In the mean time, Shawn has been working hard to achieve his dream body! ( getting ripped like Arnold) he has come a long ways with all the cutting and bulking, gym memberships and healthier food choices! and even inspires me to do the same. (to work on achieving my own dream body... not get one like Arnold's!) lol and i am very proud of his success!
This year Shawn and i will celebrate our 10 YEAR anniversary! yay for us! and we are also hoping to take our first family vacation!(we're going to DISNEY LAND!) so this year we are hoping for lots of fun times and great memories !... we will keep you posted! :)