Tag Archives: family

A Year in Review

Posted in Family, Holidays and Seasons by

I have spent the day taking down our Christmas decorations. It’s kind of sad, but yet, I’m also ready to move on. Sort of like how I feel about 2010. It’s a bittersweet moment as this year was so momentous for us in many ways, but at the same time, I see so much potential for 2011.

I have thought all week about the best way to send off 2010. I contemplated doing some top 10 lists. I pondered writing a long dissertation on the events of the year. But none of those seemed quite right. Instead, I’m going to keep it simple and jot down a few words that sum up the year and then let some pictures tell the rest of the story.

So, without further adieu, here is 2010, in 100 words or less:

This was a year of learning and growing – for all of us. Watching Isabella grow into her own person has truly been delightful. This was a year of wins (volleyball games, IIBA elections, promotions) and losses (games, weight, consciousness). We laughed, we cried and we mourned (the loss of my grandma). We also celebrated (Isabella’s 1st birthday) and felt gratitude (for dad’s recovery). 2010, you were a great year and one we won’t ever forget. Here’s to 2011 – may it have just as many good times, if not more, and fewer bad times.

Now, if you’d like to review the Trader Family year in pictures, here’s a link to a Shutterfly photo book I created. Just click on the book and enjoy! Happy New Year!!

Trader album 2010

How would you sum up your 2010?

 

If you like this, you might also like:

Bucket List

Merry Christmas from the Traders!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Posted in Holidays and Seasons by

I am exhausted. These last 2 days have been packed full and I am feeling it. I’m not complaining though. I absolutely LOVE this time of year and this is a good kind of exhaustion.

CJ "yamming" it up!

It started Wednesday evening after I got home from work. We did our usual family stuff and then after Munchkin went to bed, CJ and I got busy cooking. I made mashed potatoes and CJ made candied yams. It was really fun to be in the kitchen cooking together. We haven’t done that in a while. Usually one of us cooks while the other entertains/watches the kid. So it was nice to have that time together. After the food was prepared, we played Wii for a couple of hours. Haven’t done that in a long time either. Seems like there’s not enough time to play anymore. Nothing like the impending holidays to bring out the kid in you!

Thursday all the family gathered at my parents house (CJ’s dad joined us as well). We ate and played games and napped (well, the guys anyway) and ate some more. There was interpretive dancing (of a cat…long story and I do have video but promised my mom I wouldn’t post it), booty shaking (this was me), Lego building, football watching and at the end of the day, when we were home and tired, lots of snuggling.

Our little fashionista!

Thanksgiving is my absolute most favorite holiday for 2 reasons: lots of yummy food and a kick-off of that magical feeling in the air that comes with the holidays. I also love the time to stop and reflect on what I’m grateful for. There really are too many things to name so I’ll hit the highlights – my wonderful husband, my amazing daughter, my loving family and supportive friends, having a great job, being healthy and happy, and just having an overall awesome life. I am truly lucky.

Another big part of yesterday was scouring the Black Friday ads. My sister and I hit the stores early every year. It used to be we’d go out to get all the great deals. Now we just go for the fun and excitement (and still some good deals). It’s our thing and I like that we have this tradition.

I was up at 2:45 a.m. this morning and out the door by 3:05 a.m. Usually we have a list of 4 or 5 stores to hit and some that we have to get to early for some kind of doorbuster. This year it was narrowed down to 2 stores and there really wasn’t anything spectacular we had to have. I did have my eye on a digital camera so we started at Wal-Mart so I could get it (and I did)!

The first year we did this we met at Younkers at 4 a.m. (that was back when the doors didn’t open until 6 a.m.). We wanted to get some gemstone jewelry that was advertised for $15 each. It was COLD that morning and I was all bundled up in a big poofy yellow coat. My sister almost couldn’t find me because I was like a little Eskimo. When the doors opened it was a mad dash and I literally had to shove people out-of-the-way to get to what I wanted. The jewels were all gone in a matter of minutes. Another year we split up and I went to Best Buy while she went to Shopko. I got to BB a couple of hours before open and the line was already wrapped around the building. Some people had even camped out.

This year was very tame. No elbowing or shoving or madness. We didn’t even have to wait outside because Wal-Mart is open 24 hours so we could go right in. We hit our 2 stores and were done by 7 a.m. Easy peasy. We both commented that we felt the tiredness more this year. Not sure if it’s because we’re getting older or that we have families now or what. It was still a ton of fun.

Now it’s time to get the house ready. Tonight before bed I’ll pull out all the Christmas decorations (won’t put them up until Sunday). Tomorrow is the Family Cookie Baking Extravaganza! This is where my mom, sis and I get together and bake a gajillion Christmas cookies. It will take us all day. I’ll try to take pics of the creations because they are all pretty and yummy!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Cheers to you!

Productivity

Posted in Family, Goals by

I love being productive and I hate having “to do” lists where things don’t get done. Today I crossed a lot off my list so it was a good day.

I was up this morning around 7 a.m. and decided to hop on the computer and do some work on my digital scrapbook for 2010. Every year I make one not only for us to have but also has gifts for my parents and CJ’s dad. But, it takes a lot of work because it chronicles the whole entire year in pictures. I try to start it right away in January and then work periodically throughout the year. This year, however, I really haven’t done much because I’ve just been too busy. With Christmas right around the corner, I was feeling the pressure so I came down to try to do even one page. I actually got a lot done! Felt great!

Then Munchkin awoke so I got her up and fed and started on the day. My Sunday then becomes a game of “what can I get done in between playing, changing diapers, feeding, reading stories, and putting the baby down for a nap”. I’m actually pretty good at juggling and am able to do a little bit here and a little bit there which by the end of the day adds up to a lot. My main focus though is always Munchkin and trying to play with her or be with her as much as possible. She likes to be my helper so that works out well too. She will “help” me put away laundry or cook or dust or whatever.

Here’s my list for today along with what I’ve gotten done so far:

  1. laundry
  2. mop floors
  3. vacuum
  4. put away junk that has accumulated in the kitchen and on the dining room table
  5. work on digital scrapbook
  6. finish conference evals
  7. dust
  8. make grocery list for T-giving food
  9. make Xmas list
  10. start newsletter (for an organization that I’m the tech master for)

The evals I’ll work on tonight while I watch Desperate Housewives so that will be crossed off by the end of the day. The vacuuming will happen as soon as Munchkin wakes up from her nap. The grocery and Xmas lists will probably be done throughout the week.

All in all, I’m feeling really good about this day. I can go to bed tonight knowing that I worked my butt off and got a ton done. And as an added bonus, the Steelers totally stomped on the Raiders! Yeah baby!

5 Things

Posted in Family, Health and Weightloss by

Well being home this week with a concussion wasn’t all bad. Ok, so it wasn’t all good either. But, in the spirit of looking at the glass as half full, here are a few positive things that have come out of this week:

1. We saved on gas. My car was parked down at The Mall for the better part of 4 days and therefore didn’t get driven (drove? Whatever). Hey, if we can save a few pennies out of this whole ordeal, I’ll take it!

2. Speaking of pennies, we have now met our insurance deductible. We were about $1000 dollars away as of Monday morning. Considering Monday afternoon contained a trip to the ER, various doctor charges, a CT Scan, an MRI and blood work, I’d say we’ve more than covered that one grand. Not to mention they’ll probably charge me for the scrubs they “gave me” to wear home.

3. We know that I do in fact have a brain. Hey, some people questioned it but now I have the MRI results to prove it! And, not only do I have a brain, I have a big one. One of the biggest the radiologists have ever seen! Neener, neener, neener! Ok, maybe I’m making that up. Or maybe not. Guess only me and the radiologists will ever know…

4. I got caught up on sleep. Ever since being relocated to The Mall, sleep has been more and more fleeting. I get up earlier and go to bed later and do a whole lot more in between. But this week, I’ve been to bed by 9pm every night and had at least 1 nap every day. Awesome!

5. And the most important thing – I got to spend more time with Munchkin, CJ and Samson. While I would rather have another reason to be at home with them, I’ll take anytime I can get. Munchkin is such a joy and every minute we have together is precious. While I am getting stir crazy and am ready to get back to work, I will very much miss being at home with my family during the day.

The Perfect Day

Posted in Family, Isabella/Munchkin, Samson by

Yesterday was (almost) the perfect autumn day for me. There were a few mishaps but overall, it was amazing.

It started out with CJ making breakfast for me. I’m a morning person and CJ is a night person so the weekends usually go that he stays up late while I go to bed by 9:30 p.m. and I get up early (7ish) while he sleeps in. Well yesterday, he got up around 8 and made biscuits and gravy with omelets. It was yummy! I actually don’t like biscuits and gravy but gave his a try and they were delish!

Then we hung around the house, doing laundry and various other things until it was time for Munchkin to take a nap. I put her down and then immediately jumped in the shower (all parents of little ones know how you have to time these things precisely!). After a quick shower and blow dry, I hopped in to bed hoping to God Munchkin would stay asleep long enough for me to get in a few winks. And she did! I was able to sleep for about an hour. It was heavenly.

Once she woke up, we had lunch and then got ready to head to the zoo for their Halloween Spooktacular. I had made Munchkin a mummy costume and was excited to finally try it on her. Well, it didn’t work as I had hoped. What I hadn’t considered when putting strips of fabric on her onesie was that it would take the elasticity out of it. So, I could not stretch it enough to get it over her head! I finally wrestled it over her head but then could not get her arms in. Of course she thought this was akin to torture and screamed the whole time. I finally gave up and took it off. I almost had a meltdown myself and that point and thought about skipping the zoo altogether but then took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that it was not the end of the world. So I put a plain white onesie on her, with her mummy pants and we went from there.

I was so flustered by the costume fiasco that I forgot to take a jacket with me and it was a chilly day. Not to mention that when we got to the zoo, it was so crowded that I had to park across the interstate from it (which is about a 15 min. walk). I almost turned around and went home at that point. But, I remembered that this was Munchkin’s first Halloween that she could actually participate in and kept going. I parked, got Munchkin settled in the stroller with a blanket and made the trek to the zoo.

We arrived just in time for the parade and Munchkin got much delight in seeing the costumes walk by (there were Storm Troopers, clowns, an Iron Man and even War Machine (with moving guns!)). We then walked around, looking at the animals and other kids dressed in costume.

We came to a picnic area where they had a DJ set up playing music. Munchkin immediately started dancing as soon as she heard the tunes. I parked the stroller and let her “chair dance” for a while. Then I took her out to see what she would do. She stood up next to the stroller and started dancing like crazy!

Dancing by the stroller, in her mummy pants

After about an hour of tooling around, we left and came home so Munchkin took take another nap. While she was sleeping, I did some work on the computer and then made dinner. CJ was diligently working on the house, which he’s been painting for a couple of weeks (and it is looking awesome)!
After dinner, we carved Munch’s pumpkin. I got our her shape flashcards and had her pick the shapes that she wanted to be the eyes, nose and mouth. That way, she could design it! She picked a star and octagon for the eyes, circle for the nose and rectangle for the mouth. CJ drew them on and carved away!
Once he was done, we showed Munchkin and she got a real kick out of it!
 

Munchkin seeing her first jack-o-lantern

 
 
Then of course we had CJ and Munchkin pose together!

So proud!

 
And Samson  trying to get at it!
Costumes, zoo trips, pumpkins, yummy comfort food and roasted seeds. Yesterday had all the makings of a perfect fall day! I went to bed a very happy camper.