Playing With Fire

New Years Eve was so much more fun than I anticipated it would be this year. Last night (the 30th) the kids spent the night at grandma's house so Trent and I could go on a date and sleep in the next morning. It was dreamy! Trent recently became a preceptor so he has tutored several PA and Nurse Practitioner students over the last few months. We have acquired several gift cards from these students and were able to enjoy a much needed night on the town, though the the house was eerily quiet upon our return without our sweet kids. By the way, head to Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ for some fine southern style dining. Yum!

After picking up the kids this morning, we spent most of the day at my sisters house. The kids played and played and played and before we knew it, the day was almost gone. On our way home, Trent decided it was high time we get a fire pit - I think the 40 degree weather may have been his inspiration. Off he went to fetch us our final family gift of 2010.

Before heading out back to cozy up to the fire, we made homemade pizza and drank sparkling cider. After watching Despicable Me 10 times since Christmas day, Ty insisted we "cwink" (clink) our cups several times while drinking our bubbly. We toasted to a happy new year, our 2011 family theme "Love One Another", and Trent's toast was to a year without emergency room visits. We could only be so lucky!
The kids thought the fire (or hire as Ty calls it) was great and were anxious to roast some marshmallows. But first Trent put on a mini fireworks show (legal in our neck of the woods).




Some of our most memorable/teachable adventures (and misadventures) in 2010 include:

• Buying our first home together
• Ty began integrated preschool
• Brooke grew hair. Finally!
  
• Rachel spending mothers day weekend in the hospital with an evil kidney stone
• Gracie (Rachel's beloved car) died and was replaced by the Black Beast
  
• the Blake family reunion on the Oregon coast
• Ty's diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Rachel started her own preschool
• Trent bid adieu to his 20's
• Thanksgiving with the Anderson family at the cabin/driving through a snowstorm
  
• Trent serving in our church in a time consuming calling, but one that has blessed our family
  
• Brooke usurping Ty's status as most dramatic child
• Ty's communication skills improving 10 fold
• Trent gets his first shiner
• Brooke lost her baby look and is growing much too fast
• Ty cut his chin open (x3) and got his second set of stitches this year
• Our 2nd attempt at a family dog (I haven't finished my Christmas post yet, explanation coming soon)
• Learning to accept the Lord's timing, accept his plan for me and my children, and have hope that all things are possible through Him. I have to relearn these truths frequently.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!