My Shopping List

Every year in January I feel like my house is very empty after having seasonal things out since September. I usually do pretend shopping online and fill up the shopping cart with all the things I'd like to have delivered to my house to fill up the bare spots. I spent a little over $700 at Piper Classics when I pretend shopped the other day.:-)I do have a real list of things that I'd love to try to buy over the next few months . I thought it would be fun to share my shopping list ~

Kinda Boring Around Here

I've been a boring blogger lately, but I really have nothing interesting to blog about. We dropped Brian off at the airport yesterday afternoon to leave for his deployment. I haven't heard from him yet. Hopefully he made it there safely. He had a couple of long flights, so I'm sure he was super tired by the time he got there.The kids and I are getting back into a routine around here. We enjoyed watching the inauguration this morning. I liked Obama's speech and hope that he does a great job as president. I think Michelle Obama wear's the prettiest clothes! :-) She always looks so nice. I was not an Obama supporter, but I am keeping a positive attitude and staying hopeful. After we watched the inauguration I rode my recumbent bike for an hour. Today I'm starting to count calories and work out every day. I need to lose 50 pounds and would like to have it off by summer. It's an easy goal if I can stick with the plan !I haven't worked on anything for my house or to sell since before Christmas. I need a break from crafting ! I do think I might start working on a sampler for my room this week. We've gone to a couple movies in the past week ~ Mall Cop and finally Twilight. They were both good, but we loved Twilight ! Paige is reading the first book and then it's my turn to read it. She is begging me to go see it again, but I think we'll just wait for the DVD to come out in March. Paige has been practicing on her guitar that she got for Christmas. Boy it's hard at first ! I had to watch the DVD with her a few times before we understood it well enough to start practicing. She's doing good,though and not giving up ! She's persistent, so I know she'll learn it. So that's all that's going on around here. I'm running out to get a few things at the base and then back to clean up a bit before we watch our shows. It's the best TV night of the week for us ~ Biggest Loser and American Idol !I should go check the mail too, I hope my Country Sampler is here ! Have a great week ! Paige and her guitar

Back in Nebraska and Big Cedar Pics

Well, we are back home in snowy Nebraska after our 2 week visit in Illinois. I have been miserable with a terrible cold the past couple days. I can't wait to feel back to normal ! I did get all my Christmas put away Sunday and now have a very empty feeling house. It's kind of nice , but I also have spots that just need something. I have a list of things that I would like to get over the next few months to fill those empty places. We had a fun trip to Big Cedar Lodge. When we got there on Friday afternoon we met Grandma Dixie at the registration building and just got settled in the lodge. That evening we went down to the clubhouse to swim and have coffee. On Saturday we went to The Hard Luck Diner in Branson for lunch. It's a restaurant where the waiters and waitresses take turns singing. Actually, Jason Yeager , a top 20 finalist on American Idol a couple of seasons ago works there. After lunch we went back to Big Cedar and looked around the gift shop, played miniature golf, took a walk ( it was 70 degrees that day ! ) and stopped by the coffee shop before taking the bus back to the lodge. The kids rested a bit while Papa cooked some hot dogs out on the grill. After dinner it was back to the clubhouse to swim again. We weren't ready to go home Sunday morning. Patriot really wanted to just move to Big Cedar. :-) We all love it there. Here are some pictures for you ~
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The coffee shop







Playing miniature golf with Papa




The Registration Building Inside the Registration Building




Lunch at the Hard Luck Diner in Branson



The stables

Taking a walk

New Years Eve

We had our New Years Eve party at my parents house like we have for quite a few years now. We have a couple traditions that are a lot of fun for all of us. When everyone arrives there is a Victorian gift game for the kids that my mom does every year. She has a colored piece of yarn for each child strung through a room with small gifts attached to the yarn. As they follow the yarn they find their gifts. Then we all eat lot's of yummy finger foods and punch. This year we had cheese, crackers, mini egg rolls, pigs in a blanket, layered taco dip and chips, meatballs, veggies and dip, mozzerella cheese sticks, mini eclairs, and chocolate cheesecake.After we all eat we have a crazy $5 gift exchange. Everyone has fun choosing and stealing gifts. Some of the gifts this year included a cowboy hat, mini nutcrackers, socks, a jump rope, chocolate candy, bubbles, star wars playing cards, and bean dip.:) It's always very fun and entertaining ! We are actually kind of boring around here. Everyone goes home around 8pm and we all try to stay awake at our own homes to watch the ball drop.Grandma went outside with the kids at 8 and they all threw confetti and yelled Happy New year before they went home. I actually went to bed around 11. Gabriel and Paige stayed up till midnight though. I did hear some fireworks in the neighborhood at midnight. Here are some pictures of our party. Tomorrow morning we leave for Branson. I'll take lot's of pictures ! Happy New Year to you all !