enjoy the last bit of 2008 by having one new and fulfilling experience in October, November, and December! Woo Hoo Yee Ha!

I made gingerbread muffins for my neighbors and I took them on over!
They seemed pretty happy about it!
It made me feel good!

I also made a gingerbread cake with a gingerbread house mold!
It turned out really cute & tasted really good too!

And my gingerbread man made out of brownie mix!

Ta-Da!
Yay for baking!

So now that 2008 is over – will you join us for the next new and fulfilling goalin 2009

And yes, we have a team there, but its awfully small – wanna join the team when you join the goal?

Going to Yucatan definitely qualifies as both new and fulfilling. We went to see the pyramids at Chichen Itza, the ruins at Tulum, and the snorkeling off the reef at Akumal. And all this from the convenient base of an all-inclusive hotel on the beach. What a wonderful way to end 2008! On to 2009!

I attended church all by myself!

And I had a really nice time too!
Proving to me that I can go to new places by myself!

Stepping out of my comfort zone, even if just a little!
Makes me proud of ME!

There are certain things I don’t mind doing by myself, like shopping.
Other things not so much.

I haven’t been to a movie by myself before maybe that’s next!

• holiday card exchange – definitely doing this again next year. (: way fun !
• second annual hoodie avatar fortnight. :D not new, but definitely fufilling.
• successfully curled my hair. i liked it.
• turned sixteen.
• spent the night at ally’s for new year’s. fun, fun. (:
• probably some other stuff that i don’t remember. :P

a good year.

In November I sang Karaoke at family/friend house!

I don’t know all of these people really well.
So I did have to step out of my comfort zone to sing!

But I really wanted to sing!
Needless to say, after asking if I wanted to sing which I did!
No coaxing necessary.

I sang for hours!
I sang a ton of songs I knew, and even some I didn’t know very well at all!
Everything from Britney Spears to Avril Lavigne, & even sang Mr. Brightside by The Killers!

It was so much fun!
More fun than I have had in a long time!
I almost lost my voice.

And it was worth it!

I moved out of home, brought my first car, got my restricted license, and started life-after-school. December was a time of change, and I was able to accept it rather than shy away from it. I’m excited about where things are headed in my life. :)

December also marks the date where I have followed my New Years Resoloutions all year. For the first time I stuck to my resoloutions until the very end, and i’m looking forward to doing the same this year.

Welcome, 2009!

Attended my Dad’s wedding to his friend and lover of many years… a small, informal family celebration. It turned out quite nicely, the weather was crystal clear and chilly, but most of all, we enjoyed seeing these two get married and find so much joy with each other. Nice.

In December I was pretty busy wrapping up my photography class. I am so glad I took it and have met some new friends with the same passion around it. Its nice to have this new sect of friends.
I also had two wishes that I met with in December for Make a Wish. Both are great kids and glad to see that we are able to bring a bit of brightness in their lives.
The holidays was great, very low key and NO drama.
I also met a few guys, some bad, some worse and one so far that is stayed around. So we’ll have to see how this goes.
:)
I am so looking forward to 2009- Bring It On!!

The last two weeks of the year were spent with those I love the most. OK, not new at all, but nothing gets any more fulfilling than that.

The girls all came home for Christmas and we have been having lots of adventures together. The oldest finished her Master’s degree in August and was conferred in December’s ceremonies in Tucson, so we spent a weekend there, which was fun.

On Christmas Day, the Motherless Cousins all spent the day at our house, playing games and having some nice family time. The two nieces lost their mom in 1997 and have relied on us for emotional support, especially since their dad remarried a woman who has never welcomed them into her home. The nephew just lost his mom in 2006 and his “dad” remarried a few months later, so he’s pretty much on his own, too. It was fulfilling to have a house full of noise and laughter on Christmas.

I spent my Christmas and the two days after, arranging wedding flowers. New, in that I’ve not contracted a Christmas Wedding before, but only fulfilling in the compliments received, not so much in the slaving through my family time to get it done.

The REALLY fulfilling moment was when the wedding reception was over and I realized I still had a week left to enjoy my family before everyone heads back to school and work. So I guess I’m on vacation!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday, whichever one you celebrate at this time of year!!!!!