Happy Birthday...

To Me and to Doug and to Sarah's mom and to Marcy and to Forney and to everyone else who was born on this glorious day! We are kindred spirits and I hope all of us have a spectacular day regardless of where our age needle happens to fall.
I am the third in my group of girls to hit this mark; thanks to Abby and Denise for forging the road ahead of me and setting a great example. With another group of friends I am number two (technically three but the real number two is dead to us, only chris counts at this point!), with number three not far behind in just a couple of weeks; dude we've been through worse together, I think we can handle this!
Leading up to this day I have to admit, I was worried. but now, I embrace it. I have lived quite a bit in my first thirty years, not as much as I could have but definitely more than I ever thought I would have. And I am looking forward to the next thirty years (shout out to Tim McGraw and his entertaining song on this subject) with my fabulous family, my stellar group(s) of friends, and myself. My old (old meaning former not old meaning age) self who remembers how lucky she is to be alive and have friends and family to love and love her. My old self who understand what it means to have God in her life and what it means to not have Him. My old self who laughs loud and talks loud and lives loud. My old self who is not a scrooge, or a grouch, or a general bump on a pickle.
WELCOME BACK OLD SELF, WE'VE MISSED YOU!!!

Do pictures put you in the lead?

I am pretty sure I promised pictures LONG ago of the boy. Some are from pre-holiday madness but most are regular holiday stuff.

This is from his first school field trip, with Grr-Pa to the pumpkin patch

In front the the tree at Grr-Ma and Grr-Pa's house in Warrensburg.

Playing with the reindeer, and nearly stabbing himself with an antler!

Wondering why he is sitting in a cauldron....(There is a back story, we do not cook little children at our house! Doug's aunt is very into cast iron cookware and one of her presents was this huge pot they plan to use in the front yard for flowers. Colin seemed to fit in it perfectly!)

Giving up and watching the present opening festivities from his seat in the cauldron!

And cheesing it up for Grr-ma and the camera from inside the cauldron!

Driving his new car (from the grandparents) straight at Grr-Ma (she is the brave one!) and the camera. He got to take it outside after a few crashes in the basement. have I mentioned how much he (as a little boy) love this thing (since it has a motor)?

Say it with me people....I think I am winning!!

Snowed, well iced really, in and loving it!

It appears winter is still here and decided to not let us forget that over the weekend. We have been enjoying unseasonably warm days during the month of December and January, well except for the freak blizzard in early December. that is until Friday. Mother Nature decided that enough is enough and it was time for a gentle, scratch that...HARSH, reminder that it is January and you people must wear your coats! I think that is what it really boils down to. I might be speaking for myself only, but I personally HATE wearing a coat, and a hat and gloves and scarves, etc. This is left over from my childhood where one did not EVER leave the house without a coat of some kind and at least one of the above mentioned accessories. A jacket was even required in the summer months because (and I quote) "you just never know what could happen". Now I do keep a hat, gloves and blanket in my car (well, not in my new car yet, but in my old car always...I'm still stocking the new one), however I rarely take a coat places. This is my defiant "I am an adult and you can't make me" streak shining through. Well, fine Mother Nature. I am wearing my coat. And I have a hat and gloves in my car. I raise the white flag in defeat. However, be warned, I am NOT purchasing a raincoat for spring!

Happy New Year!

So I was late on the wishing of a Merry Christmas, and now I am late on the whole Happy New Year thing....good thing I made no resolutions to be on time with more stuff in 2007 (side note, I was also late to work this morning...sheesh!!). Speaking of which, have I mentioned to anyone that I not a fan of the whole new year's resolution process/idea? I detest it. I sometimes make them (thank you peer pressure!), but in all honesty I think if you want to change something about yourself you should do it when the mood strikes not just when the ball falls...for some of us they happen at the same time I understand that.
So for those of you that made resolutions...good luck.
For those of you who made "non-resolutions" (*throat clearing* Cogswell *throat clearing*)...good luck.
And for those of you who think you are perfect and don't need to change anything*eye roll*...good luck to you too.
Peace out and Happy New Year from cynical me!