Farewell 2008...

It's hard to believe today marks the very last day of 2008. For me, there's always something exciting about a new year. Maybe it's that chance for a 'fresh' new start.....

As I look forward to the new year and the new things in store for my life, I can't help but look back over this year and all the events that took place.

At a quick glance, the year was less-than-wonderful.....losing my grandma in February, Kenny's grandpa in May, and my Uncle Barry in June; our robbery in July; my mom's breast cancer diagnosis in late summer; and then another family death this month. It's been a very hard year in a lot of ways. But, as I look at this year a little closer, I realize that those events (as horrible as they were & still are) did not entirely shape this year....there were also a lot of happy moments squeezed in before, between and after. The happy moments I'm reflecting on are just the simple, everyday small things that make me smile....

.......Kaiden's excitement to see me when I peek in his crib in the morning......coming home from work to be greeted by Remmy and his wagging tail.....watching Kenny wrestle with Kaiden or show him which gun will be his when he's old enough to hunt.....

I hope that each of you reading this post can look back over your year and see the small things that make you smile too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Wagon Rides for Mr. Bear & Kaiden Tyler

Kaiden's been loving his new wagon his Nan and PawPaw got him for Christmas. Today I watched him empty the blocks that were in it so that he could put his bear and blanket in it to pull them around. Then he decided it was his turn for a ride and threw the bear out. Remmy wanted to join in the fun too, but I thought he was probably a little too big for the wagon. Maybe next time I'll let him pull Kaiden around.....hum....do they make harness like that for Remmy's????

A Sweet Reward...

Kaiden has really taken an interest in potty training over the last few weeks, and since I've been home with him for a week, I've really been working with him on this (after all.....it's a lot cheaper than diapers, that's for sure). Today I gave him a lollipop as a reward....a blue one, but I'm sure you can see that for yourself! He sat there in his chair eating it and everytime I would say "you got that pop because you were a good boy and went on the potty", he'd clap his hands and smile. Guess it's all about the little things.....

Note to self.....buy stocks in lollipop company!

Dancing to the A-B-C's

My Aunt Denise got Kaiden a CD of A-B-C songs for Christmas. I finally got around to playing it for him this morning, and he loves it (to say the least). He dances around and around to it, and when the CD pauses for a second to go to the next song, he stops and puts his hands up in the air as if to say "what the heck....where's the music, mom". I think I'll skip the treadmill today....who needs it with all that dancing....ha ha!

Dinner at Uncle Rick & Aunt Jessie's

(Daddy & Kaiden - up to no good....again!)

(Shooting lessons with Aunt Mardelle.)

(For once, Uncle Gary was an innocent bystander....that doesn't happen often!)

(My mom and Kaiden's Aunt Jessie......mom's recovering from her second surgery right now, so I had to post this photo.....she's got a smile!!!!)

(Kaiden.....waiting to be shot.......with the toy gun, of course....)

(My cousin Chris, his fiance Alexis and my Aunt Diane)

(Aunt Jessie and my niece, Carree)

(Kaiden - what are you shopping for???)

(Hey.....what's wrong with the wheels on this darn thing!)

('Swinging' with PawPaw)

(Joey with Kaiden....Joey was routing for the Jets tonight.....)

Tonight we got together with my Uncle John, Aunt Diane and cousins Chris and Joey at Rick & Jess' house for dinner. We don't get together with them as much as we used to, so it was really nice to see them again. Chris recently proposed to his girlfriend Alexis, so tonight we got to see her ring.....it was beautiful. Chris couldn't have picked a better soon-to-be wife, she seems like such a sweet girl.

Of course you know Kaiden could've cared less about the ring, all he wanted to do was push the shopping cart around the kitchen, 'swing' with his PawPaw and shoot Richy's toy gun with his Aunt Mardelle.

I can't believe it's Sunday night, and one week of my vacation is over already! Where did last week go.....oh yeah, I remember......baking cookies, wrapping gifts, holiday get-togethers, last minute shopping. It certainly was a great week!

Christmas '08

(Kaiden with his cousin, Bryana)

(Kaiden's cousins, Alyssa & Victoria)

(Kaiden's cousin, Zacky)

(Kaiden's new wagon)

(Uncle Kenny & Abbey)

(I love Bryar's shirt...."I ate Santa's cookies".....too cute)

(Bryana, Bryar, Philly, Abbey, Victoria, Zack & Kaiden)

(Nan & Abbey....Abbey was a little camera "ham"....she kept saying to me, "take a picture of me with Nan")

(Kaiden's laughing because we were all having a wrapping paper battle....he thought that was too funny!)

(PawPaw Bouchette ready with his camera)

(Kaiden & his PawPaw)

(He couldn't even wait until all the paper was off it....he had to climb on right away!)

Well.....all the planning, shopping, wrapping, baking, visiting and opening are done. Santa's back at the north pole resting up, I'm sure. As for the Echternach household, we're busy tearing down the Christmas decorations and finding room for all the things Kaiden got yesterday! We certainly had a great time, and we hope that everyone else did too! Enjoy the photos.....