This past Tuesday, my friend Carin, passed away, suddenly, and unexpectedly. We were supposed to go for coffee in the new year, when all the holiday stuff was over and things were back to normal. Her passing, and the thought of never getting together for coffee with her again, saddens me beyond belief. "We" always figure that "we all" have so much time life in our lives, but we don't know what the future holds. I'm not into making new years resolutions, so I will say that this is a GOAL for the new year. I would like to TRY to get together with at least once girlfriend a week, whether it's going over to their house for a coffee/visit, or whether we meet up for coffee, or even go for a walk or whatever. My girlfriends are SO important to me, and I want them to know that, not just thru Facebook messages and emails, but in person. So, my girlfriends should each be getting a call from me in the next week or so, trying to set up a time to get together.

2008 RECAP

This year started off awesome! I married my best friend, Pete, Jan.4th! It was a small, intimate ceremony, with family. A week after we were married, Pete started at Fraser Way RV. He was there until the spring, when he left FWRV and went to the opposite end of the auto mall, to The Honda Way. I lost my job, working for an older lady, at Bevan Lodge. Mom, dad, and I started planning the summer reception we were holding, for family and friends who did not attend the Jan. wedding. Before we knew it, it was July, and it was reception time! After the summer reception, we went on a week long honeymoon up country. Fall was upon us before we knew it. This fall brought some losses. My parents had to put their beloved dog, Roxy, down, as she was old and sick. I lost a cancer buddy, Taylor, as well. I also started a new chemotherapy, interferon. It's been a rough go, but it's slowly getting easier. Soon people started counting down to Christmas! Christmas came , and my family (minus Pete and I), went on a Mexican cruise. A couple of days ago, I lost another little friend to cancer. This year, I lost some friends, but God was faithful, and brought me some new ones (Cindy, Tessa). I pray that as you reflect on this past year, you are able to smile at some of the memories. Soon it will be 2009, hours in fact. My new years wish for Pete and I is that God continues to bless our marriage, and that He blesses us both with excellent health.

Christmas Quiz (borrowed from Karen's blog)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? gift bags

2. Real or fake tree? fake, the pine smell is too overpowering for me

3. When do you put up a tree? this year was last week

4. When do you take it down? I will probably put it away after New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? I tried it for the first time last night and almost gagged! Then again, I don't like milk either, so......

6a) Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch doll

b) Favorite gift received as an adult? Last year Pete gave me my engagement ring on Christmas Eve, and that so far has been my favorite gift as an adult.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Pete........he mostly likes car stuff

8. Easiest person to buy for? my mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? not yet

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a re gifted present from my brother-in-law, that I had given him the year before

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas With The Kranks and Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? this year it was this past week

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes...LOL!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? EVERYTHING!

16. Lights on the tree? not this year

17. Favorite Christmas song? I love ALL Christmas music

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? How would Santa find us if we traveled?

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes, and for the last time, it is "Donder", not "Donner"

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I got a cheap angel at the dollar store this year

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up, we opened presents on Christmas Day, but Pete's family opens them on Christmas Eve. My parents still open them on Christmas Day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The way the Christmas season starts on Nov. 1.

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Don't really have a favorite

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? probably ham, stuffing and the works

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Just a fun day.

Last night was Pete's work, Christmas party! We had SO much fun!

Chris, and his "friend" Melissa

Pete's buddy Wolf and his wife Bonita. Wolf and Pete share an office together.

The food was SO yummy!

Pete won this awesome frozen drink station!!!!!! They had all sorts of cool prizes. I had my eye on this one, ALL night! LOL! Let's just say, IT'S MARGARITA TIME!!!!!! ;)

Well, last night was THE night. Both Sonya and Heather blogged about the whole night, hotel, food, Starbucks etc. but I'm just going to get right to the GOOD stuff! LOL!!!! The three of us gals, had been looking forward to this night, for MANY months. Finally, the night was here! For me, it wasn't "real", until the opening acts had left the stage, and GM place went totally dark! All you could hear was screaming! (I'll try to post video, since I videotaped the whole concert). We had REALLY good seats, and I was in excellent company, not to mention, the 5 hottest guys from Boston were there to perform for US! You can't go wrong!

Some hot gals that were sitting beside me ;)

Can I just say, YUMMY??????????


Some of the pyro technical effects......
Did I mention, YUMMY?????????/

We did NOT want the night to end, and neither did the "guys from Boston". They did a couple of encores, and left us wanting more! Donnie PROMISED that they would be coming back to Vancouver. Us three gals agreed we're going! The husbands all said we're on our own next time. which would probably be best, since the guys from Bean town will probably want some face time with us three gals, since we didn't get any this time around :)
Hey S+H, what do you say, next time we splurge for the VIP package? ;)

2 MORE SLEEPS!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, Pete and I took a drive to Fort Langley, since it was so sunny. We were walking past this one shop that sells outdoors things, mostly for the garden etc. I saw this bird bath, and fell in love with it! Pete bought it for me, because he said he had not seen me smile that big and be that excited about something, for a long time. Once we went into the shop, the guy told us that the one outside was his last one. Since it was the "floor model" and had been outside, he gave us more than half off!!!!!!!!!!!

We set it up right away in the back yard! We still have some winter birds that come around, and I've been enjoying watching them today, from the kitchen window, as I do dishes. It's going to be awesome in the spring!!!!!!
I also set up our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree today! I got it this summer on clearance at The Bay. It's perfect for us, since we don't have a lot of room, and we have a kitten this year, who is into EVERYTHING, and it's on top of our t.v.