My First Real Blog of 2008...

You know, since the last blogs were getting you caught up and I haven't done the emotional, hope filled, where am I going this year, visionary post...so this is the first real blog of 2008.

I have written this blog in my head several times since last week, but have yet to sit down and put it to the computer, and now that I am here I am not sure where to start. Why is that? I am rarely at a loss for words.

I usually feel a tad bit depressed when the New Year dawn's - not the "usual" response is it. If you read most people's blogs you get that optomistic, warm fuzzy feeling of everything being new and fresh. Don't get me wrong, I get to that point, I just have to get over the fact that Christmas is over. Silly I know, but I get so sad. And this year was no exception...in fact perhaps a bit worse because our season was so choppy and the tree didn't light and warm the house for longer then 2 weeks. Now don't get me wrong, I realize that these are not the THINGS that make Christmas - but they are some of the things that make me FEEL warm and it was too short so I may start extra early in 2008!

Now that New Year's Day is actually MORE than a week behind us, I am coming out of the fog of woe is me, Christmas is over. I am being taken over by the, fresh start, clean slate, what do I want to accomplish this year and other such mantras running rampid through my mind.

Yesterday, my pictures arrived - the ones taken by Jake's sister and so I have "fresh" frames about....including the only one on my desk, which for 7.5 years (even at work) has always been one at my wedding of Jake and Brandon shaking hands. I still love that picture, but I replaced it with a picture of just Jake and I. Man, it sure catches my eye - in a good way. We don't look so bad for 2 kids and almost 8yrs of marriage, we haven't let our weight get too out of hand and our smiles are very genuine. I look at it and I get little butterflies. How strange. I guess there aren't too many recent pics of just the love of my life and me. Okay, none that I can really think of, not like this, of the professional sort, not since engagement....interesting.

Anyhow, so new pictures adorn the house and it is always a trip down memory lane when you open up the frame to see all that is in that frame, and then proceed to cover up the most recent picture. Kind of bitter sweet - the new picture is crisp and captures (in most cases) the kids in their current state of bliss, but what you cover up is a picture of the past, reminding you they are older and past that stage, sometimes I am not ready.

That is kind of how I feel about this year, I am not sure I was ready when the clock struck midnight and turned 2008. I felt like something was left undone, I don't have regrets in 2007, that I can think of. But I just wasn't ready. Guess what - God said we were going and so here we are. He said it was time for the journey of 2008, and I had to say okay. It is clean slate, just like when I say, "please forgive me", it is hopeful and full of joy - because He said it will be. There will be trials and tribulations, because that is a promise and when I need someone to know how I feel, HIS heart will beat with mine.

I have no resolutions, I have a few personal goals and I have made a few promises. Not because it is 2008 but because I feel like I am at a place in my life that certain things need to change, priorities shifted and passions rediscovered.

And at the end of this year it is my hope that each and every one of you will have a relationship with Christ that far surpasses your wildest dreams of anything you ever thought it could be....and then when you get there, remember it can get even better!
That is my biggest hope.

What you are really waiting for, some lists, right?

Anna's list of what is out for 2007 and in for 2008
Out - Dora the Explorer, In - anything Disney Princess
Out - Shows on Nickelodeon, In - Curious George, who we lovingly call "Monkey the George", Clifford and other PBS favorites
Out - Baby Einsteims *yes that is an "m", b/c that is how she still says it, In - Veggie Tales
Out - Mommy and Daddy dressing her, In - dressing herself (usually I still get to pick out the outfit, whew)
Out - Sippy cups, In - BIG GIRL cups (with constant reminders there is no lid
Out - baby dolls, In - Care Bears

Bo's List
Um....all baby stuff OUT - he is all boy
In - planes, cars, trains, tools and anything that makes noise or that he can make a noise to go with
First Sentence - said last week - "Go Tulsa" came out "Go Tusa" complete with hand motions - I KID YOU NOT
He learned to sign the word more and say it at the same time, go figure.
In a few short days Out - Crib, In - Big boy bed

Not sure what Jake's list is...you'll have to bug him for it.

Me

Out - making excuses not to go to spin, In - being a regular T/Th attender. I didn't like the, "where have you been Ms. Lyon" that I received last Thursday. ha!
Out - procrastinating on my Bible study HW, In - thinking DAILY BREAD
Out - DVR (sniff sniff), In - VHS, did I just say that, yep I did
Out - regular Mp3, In - MY AWESOME IPOD
Out - my coffee, In - an admitted addiction to Starbucks (that is why we had to get rid of the DVR, HA!)
Out - Not having date nights, In - calling the baby sitter for nights out, not just to watch the kids during Bible Study!
Out - gas burning fire place, In - we have it burning wood now!!!

Happy New Year everyone.

Proof

One thing I did in 2007 was "grow" my hair out. Now, most people that know me will know that this doesn't mean shoulder length, it just merely means not spiky short.
It hit its longest point the weekend we took pictures in Ft.Smith. I has an appt. that next week for a cut, by a new gal, and she said I looked "matronly". Hmmmm, at 29 - I look matronly? Really? I thought I was doing pretty good. In the last year I have lost over 20lbs and 4sizes...I put makeup on most days and actually DO my hair, not too mention I have shopped recently for clothes.
But anyhow, I was up for a change. Funny thing is, she did exactly what I had worn for the last few years - and so I don't think anyone has noticed, b/c I have looked kind of like this more than I have with "longer" hair.
But I wanted you to see my proof, that my hair did grow out this year. The first two pics are in Fort Smith, The second two pics are in Branson one week later. Yes, I DID make it to my hair appt. in the midst of the ice storm. NOTHING messes with a hair appt. Oh and now you have the only 2 family pictures we managed to get where Bo is not screaming.

Long for me...




And the short cut...

As Promised

I think I'll just start with what we have been up to since Thanksgiving. So, if you need to go grab your cup of coffee or a better chair, now is your chance.

This year, Thanksgiving was spent at our house! It wasn't a first for us to be "home", I recall doing that one year in Boise with the Donaldson's. However, it was our first time to "host" family for the celebration. My parents came for a week long visit. This, in itself, was a first for them as well. Seeing as their first year of retirement has inluded a few moves, moving a few people and trying to figure out which clubs to join and what not - Thanksgiving ended up being the first chance, but yet perfect week for them to come visit.

Of course the week passed all too quickly, I am sure not for them, sleeping in their pink paradise of a room, complete with a double bed pushed up against the wall so mom doesn't fall out, ha! I do believe they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and all of the "energy" that abounds throughout our house. Grandad worked feverishly on the play house giving it what I dub an extreme makeover, all new paint, inside and out, new vinyl flooring, fixed our leaky windows, they now shut and latch, the front door is now working and with a little insulation we could pretty much just "move" the kids in there permanently. He worked so hard, and though winter came the next week and we haven't spent much time out there, another 2 months and I see it being a haven for 2 little ones. So, thanks dad - it is GORGEOUS.

My mom kept busy using her talents as well, crocheting us scarfs and working on roman shades for our bedroom (that would go with the new widows our house got in early Dec.). We picked out Bo's new decor for his big boy room, shopped a little and enjoyed Starbucks everyday, I kid you not! A couple of days I think we might have gone twice.

We managed to put together a "Lyon" Thanksgiving dinner - with Jake and mine favorite dishes, Brisket (no turkey)and dinner rolls (which are dishes from Jake's side) and then my mom's green bean casserole and apple pie. Last but not least mashed potatoes that come from both sides and a store bought pumpkin pie....which come to think of I don't think the Lyon's ever have pumpkin pie as a desert option (which I don't miss), and I am not sure my side really MAKES one...we just MAKE the Apple. So - there you have it, our perfect dinner!

Seriously, it was an amazing visit for the big kids (us) and our little ones and Anna shed a tear as we pulled away from the airport which led into our first conversation about why some people we love have to live far away. Sniff Sniff. I had gotten good at not crying when we separated, but seeing your 3yr old cry cause gma is gone is a whole new element. I was holding back.
We have so much to be thankful for, both materially, familially (nice word huh), emotionally - I have never felt more blessed. Of course thoughts were with my brother abroad, who wound up with Sweet Potatoe pie instead of Pumpkin and for him this is a BIG let down! But we spoke with him twice that week.

Okay, so November is over.....
Onto December

The first weekend we got to see a much anticipated "Hide and Seek" Christmas production at church, put on by the preschool program. We had a gorgeous angel who participated and sang her little heart out.
The next weekend we went to Ft. Smith to visit with Jake's sister and family and see if we could get some pics done of the kids and a family picture - you know for Christmas presents and cards. Well, it was a fun weekend. Anna did a great solo job. Bo, well we managed to get a few good ones. As for brother sister shots - Bo didn't think that was a good idea. I have two that I consider "DOABLE" and folks this is out of 153 pictures. The boy does not like pictures. Then family pics. Well - let's just say, if I feel really gutsy I'll post one for you to see. Shelley did a great job we just had a very non cooperative 19mo old. Can you imagine such a thing?
Still -a very fun weekend.
We arrived home Sunday night, went to bed with a mess of laundry and such, with ice starting to form around us, woke up Monday to no electricity...and thus the ice storm of 2007 began. Bo, Anna and I had already started getting sick from something. So we were not the happiest of campers. Thankfully Jake didn't just leave us, he tried calling into work, no one answered. A few phone calls to friends in all parts of town and NO ONE had power. Hmmmm, what to do.
So, we ate on our gas stove, we bundled up, we charged our portable DVD in the car while we sat in the car with the heater (but no not in the garage...no CO2 poisoning here), then we come in, watch a movie and start all over. For dinner we would drive (the roads were clear) in hopes of finding some warm food. But nothng. EVERYTHING was black - it was so eerie, no walmart, no gas stations, no nothing, miles of BLACK. We bundled up in our hats and such and slept. Tues. still no power, but three very sick people, so luckily the Dr.'s were open by now. All of us on antibiotics of sorts, sent back to our cold house. But heck all the Dr.'s and nurses had no power either. It was just the craziest thing. Ithink at one point, in Tulsa Metro alone over 200k people had NO power.
Tree branches down everywhere, they are all still in people's yard b/c the city is supposed to come pick them up "sometime". It is the closest thing to a disaster are I have ever seen. We were sick but that was it, by Late Tuesday we had power. 30 some hours felt like 3 weeks. We were dirty, sick and tired. But we made it!
Thursday we left for our trip with the Lyon sideof the family to Branson, MO. it was planned back in Oct. and a welcome relief to the chaos of Tulsa at the time. We had a great time celebrating the season and being on "vacation" with family. We came back Monday night and unfortunately had two kids that were more sick then they were the week before - back to the Dr. they had both acquired ear infections while on antibiotics for the tonsilitis. Hmmm.....so $75 later in HIGHER power antibiotics, another 2 copays, we were out the door. Was Christmas really a week away?

In the back of my head was, "Keri get Christmas cards, just pic a picture, it doesn't have to be new", "Keri don't forget to decorate the house, ha!" "Keri this is your favorite time of year and there is only a week left, enjoy it".

And so, the decor went up, a tree was purchased and I made sure it looked like Christmas was coming. The nativity took center stage at kid level and we played with Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. Anna really got into hanging ornaments and I LOVED that - Jake was concerned she might already be a Christmas crazy as me!

The weekend came, the kids wore their Christmas outfits to church and I managed to snag some pictures on the 23rd (see last post) that were card worthy, but time had just ran out.
24th we were off to Lindsay, OK to see Jake's ENTIRE family on his mom's side. I haven't counted lately but I think there are 35+ people in total now that most are maried and there are 6 great grand children. We spent the night, were lavished wih gifts and love all day on the 25th and drove home fairly late.
Jake and I then stayed up, wrapped all our gifts and my parents and gma's gifts thatthey had purchased for the kids. We woke up the 26 and started over again, just the four of us.

Now, let me tell you, this is the first time in 29 years I have not seen my family at Christmas. And I survived! In fact, though I didn't love it, I stll felt warm and fuzzy and watching my kids, with my husband open their gifts was amazing. It was our first time being "HOME". We stayed around all day, playing and playing and I think it is fair to say a good time was had by all.

Jake had two days of work, we had Dr. re-checks (we are all healthy) then the weekend came, all the decor came down, we watched more bowl games and even went out on New Year's eve....we were home by 10pm but then had our neighbors over and played games and stayed up until 2am - we haven't done that on New Year's in well, probably since we got married!

So - one highlight of my Christmas day was a phone call from my brother whose voice I had not heard since Thanksgiving. Another, just the comments from Anna about Jesus and his birth. And most know that even though I grew up with Santa I am not a HUGE fan, and people would ask Anna what she asked for for Christmas and she just stared at them. It just reiterated to me that she understands what we want her to think about Christmas, that it isn't about asking, or making lists. It is about the joy of receiving whatever, of givng to people. She had no clue what asking or listing as about! Though my brothe and Erin were not around and my Grandma and parents were alone and I missed them terribly, it was a wonderful experience to have a new kind of "family" Christmas.

Whew - so now you know the ins and outs.
Here are some pics.

Grandad and Grandma Come to Visit




Bo's Good Picture that WILL be framed




A Decent Kid Picture




And Here is our Princess




A Little Ice Anyone?





And Here is Where the Branson, MO LYON Family photo should go, but I don't have a hard copy of it!!!



The Christmas Tree I would not go without!




Christmas in Lindsay, OK







Lyon Family of 4 Christmas










I don't have any New Year's Pictures. But here are a few of my favorites from Dec.






My Brother is in the Middle of this Picture - This was taken on Christmas. Thank you for working while we celebrated!

A Recap of December and 2007

This is the picture that should have happened in the BEGINNING of December, so it would have made it on a Christmas card, therefore you might have actually received a Christmas card from us.
But, it happened Dec. 23, long after the Christmas budget was shot and the reality that for the first time since marriage, there would be NO Lyon family Christmas card.
They are cute though aren't they??

So, this is really just a pre-cursor to a long awaited and anticipated blog.
I just wanted to let ya'll know that yes folks, it is true - we are here...all four of us, five if you count Wilson.
And YES I have missed blogging. I have several excuses, none of which you really want to hear.
But, I thought before I lost my audience FOREVER I will tell you the RECAP is in the works. And if you bare with me, I'll get it done before 2009 is dawning. HA!

Seriously, resolution #1, finish a blog or two by January 3.

There you have it, keep me accountable. If you are nice I will include more pictures.

Check back.....