Favorites in 2008

Happy New Year! We just spent the evening with our babies on our bed and a big bowl of popcorn, watching home movies from the past year. It has been the highlight of 2009 so far!

Favorite things from 2008:

Caroline (4)
making projects, anything princess related, chocolate milk, dance class, writing her name, playing dress-up, Treasure Hunters youth group, Joey the Puppet, Monkey Joe's, pink "night-night" blanket, Daddy's "Once upon a time..." stories, Mommy's versions of The Three Little Pigs, finding a Christmas tree, Snow White, Spring Creek's Art Camp, VBS - twice, roasting s'mores especially with strawberry marshmallows, pirates, ballet birthday party, hot chocolate, drawing hearts, Dora umbrella, new big girl bed, Christmas caroling, preschool, Chuck E. Cheese's, riding on Granddad's four wheeler, Mary Poppins, painting her toe nails sparkly pink, Chapstick, her very own CD Walkman, playing in the sprinkler, playing in the rain, and last but not least - dancing with Daddy

Jackson (1)
Elmo, playgroup, walking, kissing, throwing balls, sippy cups that are not his, playing in Grammy's birdbath, Granddad's puppies, the thrill of a tent, trucks, cars, airplanes, choo-choos, helicopters, "trac-tors", smearing cake on his 1st birthday, construction in his backyard, cookies, "night-night" blanket, climbing everything, being outdoors, "Big Buck" = all deer, Chuck E. Cheese's riding toys, the word no, ball popper toy, "doing the Jackson" - his very own dance move, climbing up slides, the vacuum cleaner, pushing strollers, blocks, riding in his push car, his big belly, Eskimo kisses, big sister LaLa, second helpings, Dada

Moi
hearing my kids belly laugh, watching Donald play with them, time at Mom's house, Wanda's mac & cheese, HOME (Mom) group, teaching the young couples class at church, Bible study, new friendships and fantastic older friendships, family trips to Wilmington, NC, camping, visiting Aunt Leni in Lakeland, keeping up with Grandma in California via email, playing on the beach in the rain, surprising Mom for tea at Keswick Hall, Book Club, visiting Laura in GA, road trip to Deeper Still conference, visit from the Rollins, creamer with a little coffee, "Good Will'n" with my sister, Guadalajara, watching Caroline dance in ballet class and sing in the kids' choir at church, answers to prayer, apple/strawberry picking, Pee Wee's BBQ in Scottsville, the hours spent on Mom's John Deere this summer, American Idol (minus the beginning shows), http://www.grocerygame.com/, my love-hate relationship with blogging, reading my friends' blogs, meeting our friends at the playground, tutoring Emily, teaching "school" to Caroline, how Donald folds back my side of the bed each night, and I could go on and on...

The Big Kahuna
camping, family trips to Wrightsville Beach, Spring softball champs, building our backyard, teaching Caroline to ride her bike, wrestling with the kids, building blocks with Jackson, cooking big breakfasts, hunting season, UFC, 24, Christmas caroling with Caroline and her friends, playing with our kids at Lake Monticello, Cabella's catalogue, R.U. Alumni baseball game, serving our church, the Cowboys, golf, The Oceanic Restaurant on Wrightsville Beach, funnel cake, Kite Day at Pleasant Grove, pool volleyball, When We Were One, Under the Overpass, carrying the kids on his shoulders, sweet-sweet-SWEET tea, a cold beer after cutting the grass

Here's to your favorite things in your 2009!
(Thanks to Erin for this great idea!)