My 2008 Moments-Part 2~

oookkkk... here we go. But before I get started I thought of two things that I forgot to mention. 1} A very nice fella and co-worker-Lt. Rich McKee was victim to a murder/suicide in the month of January. His wife killed him then committed suicide. This dude meant a lot to me and so many others.. He was an awesome officer to work with. He will be sadly missed for sure.

Also, in April 2008 we experienced our first ever earthquake! YES, an earthquake!!!! It happened on April 18th. Really early in the morning. I remember feeling the house shake like a big wind burst.. I sit up in bed and then it started shaking the whole house-including bed... this time Todd felt it.. we both jumped up and ran to the living room.. We looked at each other.. I thought for sure it was a tornado.. we then ran to see if Hunter was ok-he was still asleep. Todd went outside and searched around and nothing. Sure enough.. the Earthquake had hit 128 miles from St.Louis in the center or near center of Illinois. It rated a 5.4 in magnitude.... and Wow, what a feeling! haha

In August I discovered some very, very cool blogs and links. Creative Scrappers was one and List of the Day the other. I visit these sites.. or try to everyday. With CS, Ive met some really cool ladies that I am happy to call friends and have done more scrapping than ever thought possible with their fabulous sketch challenges. I also became obsessed a bit about celebrity gossip and found Evil Beet to be a good source to go to to get my daily fix. August 2008 also was the month for my Moms 60th and my Dads 70th birthdays. I got news from them both that they had bought homes in Arizona. Now, my parents are divorced and my Mom is remarried.. so you can imagine the anxious feeling I got when they each told me the news and I asked.. ummmm where in AZ? hahaa Well come to find out Dad got a home in El Mirage and Mom in Mesa.. so they are a good hour away from one another, but what news huh? Later this month I also got the news from my Mom that their goal within the next two years would be to move to Arizona permanently. At first it didnt really seem that big of a deal... then a couple days later it hit me that my Mom would no longer be as accessible as she used to be... and what if something happened to her or worse. I have learned to let that go and be happy for her. I hope now that one of these days I can actually go there and visit. haha I ended August 08' with my 100th blog post here.. woot woot!!!

September was totally awesome! First we went back home {Central Missouri} over Labor Day weekend. The weather was beautiful and we sat on Dads front porch in the breeze for a couple days and just laid back and visited. We went to the Mokane fair.. and had some mutton and watched the parade. Hunter and I both cried hard when we had to leave. We love the country and didnt want to come home!!! I won the 1-hour contest put on by Kristine over at CS in September too. I was voted winner by all the participants in the 1-hour contest and it was such an honor to win. The layout rocked and I was so happy to just be able to make it. hehee. September also brought the Thunderbirds to town. We live very close to Scott Air Force Base.. so close that we can sit in the yard and watch the show without having to go on base. So it was pretty cool to watch the jets zippin' overhead for the Air Show. This year Hunter did better, no crying-although he did hold his hands over his ears a few times. hehe This month both Hunter and I battled sickness... Lorday were we sick. The stuff just wouldnt go away. With a couple of rounds of antibiotics we were back to our old selves though. OH.. and how could I forget.. my niece Aimee joined the Army this month. Gah.. so proud of this chick!

October.. ahhhh my favorite month of the year. This month.. no exceptions! What a fun month! We started off the month getting new linoleum in our kitchen. Todd and my BIL Jim put it in on a Saturday. Its made such a difference in the house. Its so homey looking and since we've also gotten a new dining room table/chairs. I love how cozy it feels and looks. October, if you didnt know, is also my turn for a BIRTHDAY.. woot woot! haha. I turned 41. and what did I go and do?... got me a dog. Was I insane or what? I think old-timers took over.. hahaha. But I got my lil girl Ruby {named for ruby slippers}.. she is a Cairn Terrier {like Toto from Wizard of Oz} and she is a gem. Still not potty-trained but doing better. She sure loves me and Hunter loves her to bits. So I guess she is a keeper! ;) Todd had his usual deer camp adventure. I felt so bad for him as he only got one deer {altho it was a good one}.. it rained his entire vacation. Hopefully, next year will be kinder. October brought me a wonderful surprise from my brother Neal... he and his wife called up and asked if they could come up and babysit Hunter for a night and theyd take us to dinner and then theyd take Hunter while Todd and I went to the movie. We did and had a great time. Todd and I saw the movie Fireproof. and although I dont think it made the impact that it did on my brother... it was a great movie... and I definitely recommend any couple to watch it. Wow, the more I type the more I think of things that happened in October! hahaa... I also made a trip back home this month to see Justice play his final soccer game and watch him as he played to try to win the Championship... they didnt win, but he came in 2nd and was very proud. That day... I got to meet my one and only, brand new baby nephew JR. He was absolutely adorable. I got to spend a lot of quality time with my brother Daniel and his family and the new baby before going out to Dads house.. where Preston was now residing {while Dad is in AZ}.. it was nice to see him and visit with him on an adult level.
..... Finally the very last day of October.. my favorite holiday*... Halloween. Todd finally gave in and let me host our very first Halloween party. It was quite a success.. I hope that this can be a tradition. We had soo much fun.. proved every time I look at the wounds Todd got from the tricycle race wreck. hahaaa

November seemed like a blur. Man did it ever go fast!... I dont remember much except that we went back home for Thanksgiving and Hunter was sooo darn sick. He looked like a lil skeleton. He is just now gaining his muscle back. We actually were all sick with some kind of rotten stomach flu. And unfortunately gave it to almost everyone we came into contact with. Luckily as much loving as I did on Daniels new son, JR.. he didnt get it.. Thank you Lord! We also had Christmas with my Dad since he was leaving the next day to go to AZ for the winter. That was nice and special. It felt like some of the times I had with my Grandparents on Christmas past. It also hit me that my Dad is getting older and wont be around forever and that we needed to get some personal things straight. Thankfully he agreed and we got some things situated in that respect. While back home for Thanksgiving I got to have lunch with my old friend Rhonda. She and I actually became friends BEFORE kindergarten via our Moms who hung out together. It was wonderful to see her even though it was only a lunch date. We exchanged scrapbook goodies and had many laughs. It was one of my favorite days of the month. :)

December... Holy Cats!!!! Another blur. Do you know that I still have ONE Christmas gift that I have not gotten and mailed out? Is that crazy or what!!!!??? I feel bad, but at the same time, I figure hey, a gift is good anytime right? Even if its late? I hope? haha. Im sure this gal will understand and if she doesnt well... she can bite me... ooo see Im tough... well not really cuz I feel horrible.. I mean heck January is almost over, I havent sent the gift and Im just now finishing my 2008 year in review. I need a life huh people ;). Anyway... December was a nice month, we made yet another trip back home- THANK YOU FOR GAS PRICES GOING DOWN below $2.oo per gallon! hahaa. We went back to attend my brother Neals graduation from Columbia College.. I was SO proud. Its hard to have a family of 7 {yes, he is married, has 4 daughters and a grand-daughter} at home, works full time and is in the Army Reserves. Im so proud of my brother for so many reasons ... this just brought it all home to me. After the graduation we went back to his house for a lil celebration lunch and I got to visit with Aimee, my niece who was home after her basic training for the Army. It was good to hear how strong she is feeling. I think this is a really good thing for her and again.. I hate saying it so much.. well not really-but you understand. Im sooo freakin' proud. While in Missouri we had Christmas with Preston as he chose not to come here for Christmas. He did very well in making it a very happy occasion and made me a very happy Momma!
December ended on a good note with everyone being healthy, happy and safe. We had a wonderfully relaxed Christmas with the boys and family.. and ended the year with friends.

We are lucky, loved... and so blessed. I couldnt be happier in my life and I am finally aware of just how content I am... and it feels good! Real Good...!!!

Thank you for being here, reading and sharing my moments.. it means a lot!!!