The Return of Family Movie Night!

What better way to kick off the holiday's with the return of Family Movie Night, and what better movie to start with than Garfield's Christmas... Mom's favorite! We also watched Mr. Magoo's Christmas... Dad's favorite. We popped the popcorn, dug out the blankies, turned on the Christmas tree lights, and settled in for a fun evening with the kids.



(Devin was crashing on our couch downstairs watching the UNC basketball game... he wasn't feeling too well this evening.)

Yes, even Andy got in on it.. licking up every last piece of popcorn that got dropped LOL!

The kids enjoyed it so much that Paige is asking what we're watching next week. Hmmmm... I'm thinking "Yogi Saves Christmas"....

Decking the Halls...

While my Dad and Cassie were here last weekend, we finally finished decorating the house... or should I say "decking the halls"!

As always, it started with Mike spending over an hour just sorting branches, spreading branches, and putting the beast together. Then, he and Kayleigh put on the lights. After a short rest break, Mike handed out the ornaments one-by-one. Grandpa Casto enjoyed sitting back and watching this time!

It was over a two-hour ordeal... but we all had fun and when it was said and done the tree was "just perfect" according to Paige.

Happy Holidays!

What's Behind Curtain #1?

We had warm mid to upper 60 degree weather, sunshine, and even a rainbow at one point this afternoon.... what a better day to spend Christmas shopping!

Yep - Mike and I braved "Black Friday". It really wasn't bad at all! I drove... if Mike would have drove I'm sure we'd have been detoured to the police station for road rage!! We had a great time together and had fun finding the good deals for the kids, friends, and family!

Oh... and don't worry... the photos been blurred and there are 2 locking doors before anyone can even get to curtain #1 LOL!

Our Feast...

We had our true Thanksgiving Sunday when my Dad and step-mom were here. But - we couldn't have Thanksgiving go by without some sort of special meal. So - I braved a turkey caserole... Mike was a bit nervous so I had leftover turkey on a platter just in case.

But... much to my surprise... I DID IT! My Mom would be so proud! It was so good that Mike even had seconds and it wasn't just to make me feel good! The turkey on the platter didn't get touched!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29.13

Yeahhh Elijah!!

I just read that little Elijah is home with his family resting comfortably. What a blessing to be thankful for!

Now... if Megan and Dan can just get some sleep!

Today, I Am Thankful!

Today, I am Thankful for so many things!

• for the roof over our heads and bills that are paid
• for stability in this unstable economy
• for the food we are able to provide
• for our health and happiness
• for freedom to worship and for our church family
• for the safe travel of all those visiting their loved ones
• for the teachers who give their hearts to our children
• for friendships
• for my loving family, near and far
• for knowing my Mom is with me now and always

Take some time today and write down a list of all the things you are thankful for in your life!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sweet Little Elijah

Sweet Elijah is the 20 month old son of a friend of mine. He's been in a heart-cath surgery for the last 4 hours having ballooning and coils put in to help his blood flow. Although things are going well, they are going very slowly and his parents are quite anxious for their little man to be out and in recovery. He was born with a congenital heart condition called Tetrology of Fallot and is no stranger to open heart surgery.

Please say a prayer for little Elijah and his parents, Megan and Dan, tonight.

Family Pictures

We spent some time this afternoon out in our woods doing family pictures. Not bad for amateur snapshots! This top one will be in all our Christmas cards this year.

Lyons Family

November 2008

Mike and Michelle

Chase, Devin, Kayleigh, & Paige

John and Cassie Casto

Daddy's Here!

My Daddy's here, and look who's the happiest about it LOL!

Dad and Cassie arrived early yesterday. I spent the afternoon with my step-Mom baking pies and preparing for today. This morning, we went to church early and came home to celebrate Thanksgiving together.

I am so very thankful they are here this year and able to spend a few days!

I Can't Wait!!!

My Daddy is on his way!!! He's driving here all night long from Ohio and will be here sometime in the morning. I absolutely cannot wait!! I've had a horrible week and am so looking forward to hugging my Daddy for the first time since July.

Once a Daddy's Girl....
Always a Daddy's Girl!!!

Wordless Wednesday!!!

We're so proud of him... LOL!

A Party for Princess Paige

Paige and Juli waiting for the guests

We celebrated Paige's birthday today with a Princess Ball with all the extras! We waited for this weekend to come because her friend Juli (and Juli's family) were here visiting from Ohio. She's been looking forward to this party and Juli coming for well over a month!!

All guests wore their royal princess regalia. They played games to Disney Princess Character's Music and finished off the afternoon with an amazing strawberry-mousse Princess birthday cake.

What a special day for the girls!

Paige and her Princess Cake

Back Row: Mary Leigh, Madelynn, Paige, Emma, Adrianna Front Row: Emma, Carissa, Teresa

Presents, Presents, and more Presents!!

Strawberry Mousse Princess Cake.... YUMMO!

Paige and Juli... Long Distance Best Friends!

"Go God!!!"

I attended a Ladies Holiday Banquet tonight with my coworkers. It was held at Old Town Baptist Church - the church of one of the gals. After an amazing dinner and dessert, served to us by the men of the church; we listened to a truly wonderful speaker, Merrie Johnson. All I can say is "WOW!".

Merrie's motto: "Go God!". She has experienced much heartache in her life, yet finds ways to teach others that God was there with her every step of the way and answered each prayer she had. Every time a prayer has been answered she raises her hands and chants "Go God! Go God! Go God!" because she KNOWS that God is in control! She explained that there is always a reason for HOPE, no matter how difficult things may seem.

H - Hold on! In his time things do come

O - Remain Optimistic that things will work out

P - Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more

E - Expect good things from God!!

How true this is! Moving to North Carolina was something Mike and I prayed about for a long time.... a LONG LONG time!! . We waited patiently for His timing and we knew when that time came. It felt so right! We remained very optimistic about what was to come once we got here and remained hopeful of what was to come. Every step of the way we prayed about it and look how good God has been to us!! "Go God!!"

I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful group of therapists to work with!! We are not only a great team, we are great friends who enjoy each other both at work, and at home and tonight was true proof of that!

L to R: Rene (ST), Beth (PT), Evelyn (OT), Lisa Jo (PT), Michelle (OT), Tricia (PT)

Rene, Tricia, Beth Evelyn, Michelle

More Birthdays...

First... I owe a huge apology to Jenni for forgetting to tell her Happy Birthday yesterday!! I can't believe I forgot! She's actually on her way to North Carolina to our house... I'll have to make it up to her by having something special here waiting!

All the kids with Grandma and Grandpa Reinhart

At the Cottage - Summer 2008

Next, Happy Birthday to Mike's Mom, Mary!! We miss you and can't wait to see you in January!!

Love You Both!!

I Am NOT a Good Patient!!!

For the first time ever, I got hurt at work today. I was transferring a patient from his wheelchair to his bed - usually he's "stand-by assist" or supervision. He lost his balance and I reacted by breaking his fall and twisting myself into a pretzel to get him to the bed instead of the floor! Now, I know that we are trained as therapists to assist a patient to the floor and not be Super Hero. But really - once you're in the situation - "it just don't work that way!".

During the transfer something in my lumbar spine "snapped". The nurse heard it across the room and I did all I could to not alert my patient that he had indeed hurt me. She stepped in immediately and I very calmly, and SLOWLY, walked out of his room, stood in the hall, and then just froze in pain... excrutiating pain!!

So - tonight I'm barely moving, not comfortable, aching, whining, complaining, and yes - even crying at times! It hurts. That's all there is to it! I seriously think that this pain is worse than labor!! I've taken the Skelaxin they gave me, as well as 800 mg of ibuprofin and Mike coated me with Biofreeze. So far... nothing's working and i'm just plain miserable. Mike had to leave for work and I had to pee.... poor Devin had to help me get off the recliner because it hurt so darned bad to even stand up. Then he had to help me get all the pillows back in place to attempt to be comfortable again!

I have a newfound respect for all of those who have chronic back pain. This is a first for me and let me tell ya... it sucks!

Drug me... someone please just drug me!!

Wordless Wednesday Week 7

Sums up our week perfectly...

Guess What We Did...

By now, everyone knows that Mike and I are Christmas crazy! We have always decorated the weekend before Thanksgiving. This year, we have company every weekend up through the 1st week of December so we decided to start even earlier. OK... so I did have to twist Mike's arm a bit, but he didn't put up much of a fight!

After we retrieved all the kids Sunday afternoon, we put up all the Christmas decorations - with the exception of the tree. I forgot that last year we realized this house is so big we need MORE decorations thoug!! We'll finish with the Christmas tree when my Dad comes for Thanksgiving next weekend.

The problem now... Mike and I are ready to do some serious Christmas shopping and we don't have time!!

Grinning to Grouch in 30 Seconds!

This is a small sample of Paige's temper tantrums we've been dealing with around here. This particular one was set off because she didn't want to share her birthday cake with her brother - she immediately started screaming, followed by yelling and crying in a matter seconds! She had been warned earlier in the day that if she continued to have outbursts she would not be going to gymnastics tonight... as you can tell, that did NOT make her happy at all!

If anyone has tips on how to get these tantrums under control - have at it! Believe me... we're burnt out!

The Kids Weekend Away

This was our weekend getaway to Charlotte, and the kids weekend getaway from us! We cannot thank Leigh, Dawn & Brian, or Beth & Mark enough for their part in it!!

Devin stayed with his best friend David. His Mom, Leigh, is also a good friend of mine. According to Devin - they just "chilled" all weekend. That's all I could get out of him... typical teenage response. Leigh had her hands full with 4 kids of her own, 2 soccer games, and an extra kid around!

Kayleigh and Chase both stayed with Dawn & Brian. Chase and their son Justin had a blast all weekend inside and out! Kayleigh and their daughter Ashley have been friends for a few years now - they spend a lot of time together either here or there. Dawn was in a bad car accident on Thursday, yet was still willing to take on our kids for the weekend! Bless her!

Beth and Mark have only been married a few years and have no children as of yet. So... for them... to have PAIGE, of all kids, was quite a handful! Beth kept Paige entertained all day Saturday as you can see in the slideshow! They started off with another coworker of mine and her son with a hike to Pilot Mountain, which Paige apparently loved until they hit the big cliff - then she freaked out! Along the way they were able to some horses. From there they visited SciWorks Science Museum with Tricia and Tristan also. After heading back to the house, Beth and Mark took Paige to see High School Musical 3 (poor Mark!!) Then it was off to Applebees for dinner. I tried to call to say goodnight - but Paige was sound asleep!! Paige attended Beth's church today and then had a blast at Beth's parents house with all the other kids.

As for Mike & I. We spent all day Saturday in Charlotte at the Concord Mills Outlet Mall - literally! It took us over 4 hours to go through the 2 mile long mall (yes, it really is 2 miles if you walk it all one time!!). We followed that up with a wonderful dinner at Texas Land & Cattle. We enjoyed sleeping in without hearing "Mommy, can you get me breakfast?" and got a good start on Christmas shopping.

Thank you again: Leigh, Dawn & Brian, and Beth & Mark - for giving us this getaway for our anniversary!!!