Goodbye to 2011

This is the last post of 2011.
It has been a year of ups and downs..
I finished school and got my Master's Degree
I applied for a new job that I would have been qualified for but didn't get
Had a great year at work as far as goals were concerned and stayed on top
We reached out a hand to a family member
Made some great memories with her and her kids in the short time they were here
But she walked away from the chance we gave her.
We made some improvements on the house
I knocked down some walls
Painted a few rooms
Created a new bathroom
Cleaned out some rooms
Worked together
We learned some valuable lessons this year.
Together we can make things happen
Not everything will turn out the way you want them to
There are people out there who won't chose the path you want them to
and looking at their backs as they walk away can break your heart.
My husband has been my rock, my sounding board, my balance and is still my best friend
I have lost a few very important people in my life,
some to illnesses and some completely unexpectedly.
It has been a whirlwind...
and no matter what, at midnight, the calendar will flip to a new year.
Who knows what the year will bring...
I do know that it will be wrought with challenges,
some to be faced head on
and some that will need sneak attacks
but at the end of the day,
the challenges will be met,
angels will walk next to me,
and this time next year, hopefully, I will be older, wiser and have some more accomplishments under my belt.
To all of you in the blog world,
thank you for taking this ride with me,
for reading,
for commenting,
for giving your opinions
and for always supporting me.
The year will bring more posts,
more smiles,
more tears,
more laughter.
hang on- cause the ride continues..and I thank you all for riding with me.
I wish you all peace and happiness this year.
I hope you are all safe in your celebrations,
I hope you find that dreams come true this year
and I look forward to sharing your smiles, your laughter and your tears with you.
Tonight, as the fireworks sparkle in the sky, I wish you peace, love, happiness and look forward to the year to come!!
From our house to yours- Happy 2012!

Opinions needed

Okay- so we have our national sales meeting in a month.  The theme for our awards dinner is Hollywood red carpet and I have been looking for a dress.  I have narrowed it down to a few different options- Can you let me know which one you like the best (or two).  Thanks guys!! I promise a real post soon!

Dress 1

Dress 2

Dress 3

Dress 4

Dress 5

Dress 6

all dresses and pics from http://www.nexteve.com/

Thursday's Smile

Some pictures

Some random pictures from the past few days....

Hubby and Nan

Aunt Gayle, My mother in law and the newest baby

Santa's little helper

Santa came to my inlaws house

My oldest nephew opening his present

My youngest nephew and his favorite present

Santa came to my house

Hubby opening his present

Me opening my new griddle (YAY)

Kitty enjoying the paper

Merry Christmas

I hope that you all had a wonderful morning.
Wishing you all a very very Merry Christmas today.
Love and hugs...

Merry Christmas Eve!!

The pitter patter of feet

Auntie, please

Unckie can I 

The unexpected snuggles and hugs

The sounds of kids in the morning

Wrapping of presents

One last present that no one could find

Walmart and the craziness there

Hanging out in comfy clothes

The excitement for Christmas morning

It's been full of smile..

Some tears today..

the magic is here....and I am grateful for these people, who sometimes drive me nuts, who have become family. 

My mother in law choked up last night as we were talking about the last few months and for the first time ever, I felt like she considered me one of her kids.

that my dear friends is an amazing Christmas present...and one that is so unexpected that just thinking about it makes me tear up.

Wishes of magic, love and laughter today and always.

Love and hugs from all of us.

Thursday's list

How is everyone on this longest day of the year???
Today was my last day of work for five whole days...I am pretty excited.
The person I had as a secret santa loved their gifts- which always makes me smile
Hubby and I spent the evening together, first eating dinner at one of our fav places and then we went to BJ's to get appetizers for the weekend...fun stuff..I tell you
My cats are all curled up and snoring quite loudly.
The last christmas gifts are wrapped and packed up to head up north tomorrow
We have the weekend with some kiddos who are awfully excited to see us, wanting to know exactly when we are going to be there..
I hope that you are all well and things are falling together for your holiday weekend..
i will check in when I can up north...hugs and love to you all.