Goodbye 2007!

Unbelievable! This year has absolutely flown by! Sometimes, Christian and I look back at everything that's happened this year, and we can't believe it.

Looking at how quickly Brennan has grown makes our heads spin. We know that the rest of the years will fly by - and we want to make sure that we make the most of them.

Which leads us to the whole New Year's Resolution thing. I really hate New Year's Resolutions. Don't get me wrong - I think the start of a new year is a great time to take stock of everything and look for areas of personal improvement. Maybe it's the pressure of having the term "resolution" attached to your new goals.

So, this year, Christian and I will spend New Year's Eve with a nice bottle of red wine and a list. We're going to sit down and create the goals for our family and for our personal lives for 2008. It won't be a resolution list - it will be a gaol list. Somehow, even though they are pretty much the same thing, the different 'label' makes it so that the list seems less threatening. :)

We wish you and yours all the best this New Year. We hope that 2008 brings all the joy and love that you can stand!

Lots of love~

Kris

Playoff bound!..by 21 points. (ST is with the Skins!)

Tonight was a great night in our house - thanks to Gibbs, Collins, Portis & Moss! LOL! Perhaps I should clarify a little, huh?

You see, Christian is a RABID Skins fan. Very vocal. Very "in" to the game and every play. In fact, he usually calls the plays to the TV with the same gusto, emotion (and volume level) as one of the coaches on the sidelines. And, because of this, and because of our little one's ears (not the back-to-back ear infections, mind you, but the fear that her first word will be an expletive! ha!) Christian usually heads to some other place when the Redskins play - especially if it's a crucial game.

So, today's game didn't just fall into the "crucial" category, it was a double whammy: we played the Cowboys AND it was the determining factor if the Skins went to the Playoffs. Did I mention crucial??

We originally had plans to go up to DC, tailgate with some of my family, and go to the game at FedEx field. (Thanks, Aunt Jeri & Uncle Tim! :)) But, as all of you with children know, sometimes plans have to change. The Munchkin was recovering from a horrific cold and (yet another!) ear infection, so we made the decision to stay home. So, the three of us (and Bear!) donned our fan gear and settled in for a nailbiter!

While my fan gear consisted of the earmuffs that I had prepped and ready for Brenn in the event of a bad call or interception, we put Brenn in her Redskins cheerleader outfit for the first time. It must have been a lucky outfit - I didn't have to use the earmuffs once and they won! The boys played a fantastic game - full of emotion and, well, what can you say about the step-up job that Collins did? If he doesn't start against Seattle, Gibbs will definitely need a noggin check!** (**Disclaimer: Statement made by a female, who still has a difficult time understanding punt return rules, so take it with a grain of salt if it offends.)

So we all made it through our first "big" Redskins game at home together - all of us happy and none in tears! (My work here is done. LOL!) We were jumping around with Brennan, but the happiness still had a little sting to it when we saw the 21. It still chokes us up to see all of the Sean Taylor tributes, and to think about what could have been, but we know his spirit will always be with the team. And tonight especially - I mean, c'mon...they won by 21 points?? Sylvia Brown couldn't have "predicted" it better.

Anyway, the Skins season goes on for a little bit longer. And I'll keep those earmuffs handy. Who knows? If we're lucky - I mean REALLY lucky - we may have the most perfect decor for the planned Superbowl party.

Hail to the Redskins!

Kristen

Coooookie!! Cooooooookie!!!

So, the TMX Cookie Monster has been giggling nonstop in The Perry Household since Christmas morning.

Brenn thinks he's absolutely hysterical, and Christian thinks so, too!

I just hope that we never run out of AAA batteries in the house ~ I can't imagine the fallout (from the both of them!)

Who would have thought that such a small, furry blue creature would create so much joy???

Tidings of Comfort and Joy...

The first Christmas with the newest addition to The Perry Clan was wonderful!

Nana and Granddad Gary came down from Richmond and celebrated with us. We had a low-key, but festive Christmas Eve dinner (where Kris managed not to burn anything or set anything ablaze!) and then started the newest Christmas tradition for our family - letting Brennan open her gift from Uba & Goose. Brenn loves books, so she was excited to open the box and find 3! After we read The Night Before Christmas and put her to bed, Kris and Nana made chocolate chip cookies for Santa. (He loved them, by the way! ; ))

Christmas morning was wonderful. There's nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child (albeit a 6 month old! LOL!). There truly is magic on Christmas morning with a baby - and I don't think it's just because a Tickle Me Cookie Monster appeared. It reminded us of the simpler things - the simpler joys and the need to just look at things with new eyes constantly.

We joined Kris' Menma and her mom's side of the family for Christmas dinner, and enjoyed spending time with more family. And, although we missed seeing Rocco & Sassy and UBA & Goose at Christmas this year, we know we'll see them next year!

We hope that you enjoyed your Christmas ~ it was a wonderful time for us, and was a great opportunity for us to sit back and reflect (while we could in between baby naps!) on how blessed and lucky we are to be surrounded by such wonderful and loving friends and family. We love you all and hope this Christmas was all that you hoped it would be and more!

Lots of love ~
Kristen