Goodbye 2009!

This year has come and gone so quickly, it seems like yesterday that were celebrating Christmas with a 4 month old little man that only liked the bows, and embarking on the Alicyn's 5th birthday. As we sit here on New Year's Eve, with only the hum of the washer in the background, I reflect on a great year.

Alicyn started Kindergarten this year. She walked into her room with such confidence, found her name on the table, sat down with new classmates she had never met, and just smiled and waved goodbye to us. Not a fear one. I on the other hand stood outside the window and watched in amazement as tears rolled down my face. I couldn't believe my baby girl was starting kindergarten, I was sad, happy, and proud all at the same time. She is thriving in school and loves every minute. Alicyn lost her first, second and third tooth this year. The last just tonight. She preformed in 2 recitals and is enjoying dance so much. She played kickball and softball and excelled at both. She is writing and reading and adding and subtracting. And oh man, she loves her little brother. She talks to him, plays with him, helps with him, explains things to him when he is crying or frustrated. Such a great big sister & friend. Who would have though that an almost 5 year age difference would be so perfect for our family. She is so caring, I don't know where the empathy comes from at this age but she has it. She misses her Pop Lebo, Annie, Milenko, and Jack. She will not forget any of them, she talks about each often, even though some have been gone for years. She is inquisitive, asking questions that a 10 year old would ask about life, death and God. We have such a smart, caring, happy, bouncing, toothless, and sometimes sassy girl.

And then there is Jaxon, who has transformed for an infant to a toddler this year. He is big, strong, funny, happy, clumsy, determined. He is loud, and busy, but a great sleeper. He has learned to eat with a fork, drink from a cup without a lid, bring you about anything you ask for, take things to the trash. He loves hockey, his favorite thing in the world right now is a hockey stick. As we drive past the rink on I35 he says "hock" and in the last few days has learned to say "hock eeeee". He says many many words, I am sure that I will forget some so I won't attempt to list them all but the funniest are Jack-N (jaxon), butt N (for belly button), AAyeeee(Ali), tobush (toothbrush), toooooouch (when we tell him to be easy with a baby or animal). As he and Rich feed the dogs, the nightly ritual, he walks into the garage and points to many items and says either what they are, or how the belong to. "Daddeeee hock" as he sees Rich's hockey bag, "puck" as he sees puck's bowl, "Aayeee" as he sees Alicyn's scooter. He climbs, he loves to stomp his feet during if your happy and you know it song, he covers his eyes and pretends to count since he has watched Alicyn play hide and seek so many times. He dances when she dances. We have a tough, rough, super loving, full of energy little boy.

We have our hands full for the moment, and couldn't be more content....who could ask for more. We are blessed, and we know it.

As the clock gets closer and closer to 2010, we have high hopes for a fabulous year. We will continue to live happily, laugh often and love with all we have. We will teach our children as much as possible, and wait for the new adventures they will bring. We enter into our 10th year of marriage, a big milestone for us. Alicyn will be 6, Jaxon will be 2, I will be 35 and officially on the downside of the hill, and Rich will turn the big 4-0. We will be credit card debt free, we will have a budget and stick to it, we are determined. So, here's to 2010, the start of a new decade, and the beginning of our next chapter.