Catching Up....after 2 months!

Andy has shamed me into blogging. I have learned so much about him from reading his blogs. You think as a mother you should know your kiddos inside and out, but not true. I continue to be delighted when he shares his and Lisa's story with humor, sincerity, and thoughtfulness as he grows into fatherhood, advances his career and matures with the love of his life, his beautiful wife, Lisa. Today, on his 33rd birthday, I celebrate him and all he means to me. I treasure the memories of this day throughout the years and the belly laughs he has always had for me. While he will always be my baby, I'm very, very proud of the man he has become and the example he sets for his girls! I love you Andy and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So where have I been these last few months? I guess it took me longer to recoup from the musical than I thought it would. Actually I took off for Texas the day after closing to see the family and haven't stopped traveling since. Sam and I enjoyed a very unusually quiet Christmas and New Years. All the children were busy doing their own thing so we stayed here and they stayed...well...there. Christin and Tom, C, R, & O were in Florida spending their last Christmas in Florida before the big move to California. Scott and Ally, A & T moved into their new home the week between Christmas and New Years. Andy and Lisa, A & C socked into the cold and snowy winter in Anchorage where Santa lives close by. .....And a good time was had by all.

I'll include some pictures from some of our trips but here's the rundown; After we got home from Texas we went to Williamsburg for the Grand Illumination. We took the kittens with us for their very first vacation. They loved it. Sam, not so much. He practiced being a "cat whisperer" and tried to come up with an authoritative sound that would whip the kittens into submission. They thought the "psssst" was pretty funny and it just made them scamper faster up the curtains. I think he was thrilled to head home after the week-end.

During the holidays we stayed by the fire most nights, went to see several movies and FINALLY put the Christmas tree up on the 25th. I called all the kids on the 26th to wish them Merry Christmas because we celebrated a day late! BTW, if you haven't seen Australia do yourself a favor and go see it. Sam and I loved it. It truly is an epic and a wonderful film.

Right after the New Year I went to Columbus Ohio for the Leadership Conference. It almost felt like a vacation because I had so much fun, well, not counting the fact that I had hive from the day before I left to after I got home. Don't know what caused them, but they didn't keep me down! B and I went to Baltimore the night before I left for Columbus because I had such an early flight. That was a fun night away for us and a night without being awakened by kitties. They spent their first night at home alone...and did just fine! My flight home was delayed twice because of weather and I finally got home on Sunday afternoon, tired but inspired. I love the Longaberger Company and once again have been given tools to go out there and make my business fit me! Look out world!

The day after I got home, and everyone that knows me know I always take a day off after a trip TO DO NOTHING, I got a call from Alison telling me that Scott had been admitted into the hospital with a raging mean, angry "bug". I felt I needed to go and help out wherever and however I could, so off to Texas the next morning bright and early. He was in the hospital for 3 days and then it was an uphill climb for strength as he recouped. I got to visit one day with Larry, I spent time with Mom, and one Saturday Jan and I had a blast being together. THE I GOT THE BUG! It wasn't pretty and again I had to delay my flight to come home.

Now, a few days later, I'm trying to get caught up from what seems to be several months of getting nothing done. Everything is messy and in a state of disarray here and I think it is due to lack of attention. I'm hoping to jump into the many projects in my "I need to do" list. First I have to heal my back though. I messed it up two days ago and even though it's a little metter today, it is very hard to move and get things done.

Okay, I need to stop NOW. This is beginning to sound like a version of the Perils of Pauline and I have found that once I go down the pity party road it's hard to make a quick comeback.

Check out the pictures and let me know what you think. Oh, I guess I should tell a few more people about my blog. That might help the response!

HEY, It's SNOWING! I love snow.....