2009 Collage..Via Facebook

FACEBOOK GENERATED THIS "YEAR IN REVIEW" AND CHOSE MOST OF THE SAME PICTURES THAT I CHOSE! FUN!

A Year in Review

In 2009...

We rang in the new year at the Helms with friends! What a time!
I COMPLETED MY FIRST EVER MARATHON IN AUSTIN!!
AND CELEBRATED MY 25TH BIRTHDAY WITH WONDERFUL FRIENDS
HAD SEVERAL TIMES OF FELLOWSHIP WITH PEOPLE FROM MBC
CELEBRATED MOTHER'S DAY IN GRUENE WITH BOTH OF OUR MOMS
CELEBRATED MY GRAND PARENTS 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN PORT A
CELEBRATED KYLE'S 30TH BIRTHDAY AT THE HULA HUT..AND LATER GOT NEWS THAT I HAD THE SWINE FLU '09
MADE A TRIP TO KENTUCKY FOR FORTUNE FEST AND WON A NIGHT ON THE TOWN IN A LIMO FOR US AND 6 FRIENDS
WENT TO A MIDNIGHT SHOWING OF NEW MOON (PICTURED IS ONLY 1/4 OF THE GIRLS WHO VENTURED OUT)

ATTENDED MY FIRST EVER WOMEN OF FAITH IN HOUSTON WITH MY NEW FRIEND ASHLEY SNELL

CELEBRATED MY SISTERS GRADUATION FROM ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY
TOOK MY DAD AND DIANE TO MANDOLA'S IN DRIFTWOOD FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
AND RECEIVED THESE VINTAGE BOWLS THAT I HAVE WANTED SINCE I WAS 16

The Best New Year's Eve Ever

Happy New Year! I'm ringing in the New Year in a very special, captured my heart, kind-of-way! I have the privilege of having my nephew Landon spend the night with us in Austin. We went to 1626 for a pizza buffet, made cookies, had a cup of hot cocoa,posed for funny pictures, went for a walk, and are now curled up on the couch for Charlie Brown's Christmas. "I LOOOOOVE Charlie Brown", says Landon James! And I love Landon James! What a way to start a year!!!

Whew!

We made it! Christmas was WONDERFUL this year! My mom, Lindsey, and Landon were here with us at our apartment for Christmas Eve and Morning but Kyle and I were able to sneak over to his parents house at 6:30 AM to open presents with them. Here are some pictures from this wonderful day :)

Trattoria Lisina

I can always pick out a nice shirt, box of chocolates, or a movie for my dad for Christmas but I would rather just spend some time with him. I made reservations to have dinner with Kyle, my dad, and Diane at the Trattoria Lisina(Mandola Winery) in driftwood after having a B.L.A.S.T. at Erin Gardner's rehearsal dinner a few months back. I told my family that I wanted to keep it a surprise and that they would LOVE their Christmas gift this year! Guess what?? They DID!! Here are some pictures from tonight's event! "Best. Gift. Ever", said my dad :)

Thankful Thursday

Head over to Nocona @ Thoughts from the Treadmill to read what she is thankful for! I love reading my friends blogs and am blessed to have such encouraging friends! Today I am thankful for the following:

1. Blogs. I love having a place to journal my life without the buying of paper or scrapbook supplies. I love reading your blog posts and when you comment on my blog posts ;)

2. My friends. I love you all! I am blessed to have wonderful women in my life who have/will stick by my side.

3. Our church. We love Manchaca Baptist Church and are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful congregation.

4. My wonderful husband. Kyle and I love working together every single day. He is the best friend I have ever had and I never thought love like this was possible. I am so thankful for him.

5. My wonderful family. Kyle's family is such a blessing to my life. They mean so very much to me! I have a great family too! This year we have been asked to have Christmas morning at our house hosting my mom, sister, Lance, and Landon. We are very ready for next Friday and all the joy that Christmas day brings for a little one.

6. Our pets. Stetson and Lucchese have truly made our home a peaceful place. Our furry cat friends make us laugh all the time and sleep right next to us at night. We love them

7. Insanity workout program. Even though the second phase is literally the hardest of workouts I have EVER done. I have now lost 8 pounds but the more important thing is that I feel much stronger! Only one more week to go and I am sure ready to get back to running.

8. Dave Ramsey!!!! I am so thankful to know how to get out of debt. We aren't there yet but because of this sweet man we will be soon. Praise the Lord!

9. Beth Moore. I am currently studying Esther with 2 of my dear friends and Beth. I am so inspired by Beth Moore and her teaching that I am going to name one of my daughters (if I am blessed with one) Katy Beth :)

10. Life. I don't want to take a single day for granted! "You only got 86,400 seconds in a day" -Kris Allen. Live Life to the Fullest!!

Christmas Fun

Answer these fun Christmas questions and post to your blog :) Enjoy!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? My friend Jenny Helm wraps my presents (and you should let her wrap yours)

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My American Girl doll named Kiersten

7. Hardest person to buy for? Kyle's dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? My sister

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I really want the Willow Tree one some day

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail (they are on their way folks)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably socks

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf has been until this year when I saw "It's a Wonderful Life for the first time EVER (sad huh?)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Early. I hate stressing about gifts

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Who hasn't ;)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Our family tradition is to have Tamales and queso on Christmas Eve..I love this tradition!

16. Lights on the tree? of course! Pre-lit

17. Favorite Christmas song? Baby its Cold Outside (you know you are now singing it)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like to stay around home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Comet ,
Blitzen, Donner, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen, Rudolph.....I could have done it too :)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Family Drama

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I like our "First Christmas" ornament

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? My mom makes lasagna and its yummy

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To be with my family!!

This Morning

This morning my friend Stephanie Helm had the following as her status on Facebook: Wrapping presents, drinking hot chocolate and watching Elf. Reading this made me immediately get out of bed, make coffee, and turn on the movie Elf once again (I watched it on Sunday night too). I love this time of year and feel especially peaceful this Christmas season. Thank you Stephanie for getting me out of bed and in the Christmas spirit this morning!

Oh Happy Day

TODAY my sister Lindsey Kay graduated from Angelo State University with a degree in Education. We had a fabulous time! Here are some pictures from the event.

OH HAPPY DAY!

This Year

Still waiting to see how the pictures that we took with Kyle's family on Saturday turn out but I think this is the layout I will choose. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas Cards

I LOVE CHRISTMAS CARDS! I love sending them. Receiving them. And hanging them up in my home. I actually love ALL cards. I have a Rubbermaid box full of them and have been saving cards that people send to me since the 8th grade. My love languages are "words of affirmation" and "gifts" so a card as a surprise just fills my heart up! I am ordering our Christmas cards tomorrow so please keep a look out. If you did not receive a card from us last year please "comment" me your mailing address so I can send you one.

Merry Christmas!

There's No Crying in __________!!

We have all heard the line, "There's no crying in baseball!" however there is crying in INSANITY!

Yesterday we started our last 4 weeks in the INSANITY program and I am seriously considering starting over. Yesterday's workout I completed with exhaustion and today's, I flat out telling the truth cried my eyes out at one point. I am finding every push-up sequence very difficult which is making me think it might be smart to start from the beginning, master the push-up, and then 4 weeks from now I might be ready for phase 2. Thoughts? I am waiting to hear back from my Beachbody coach and will let you know what she suggests. I love the program and am committed to completing it. I may just need to start from the beginning to get the best results. Thanks for all of your encouragement as I try to "bring it" every day!

COACH CHARLINES RESPONSE:

"Girl, this is where it gets mental...and to be honest, you are going to have days like that. It's VERY VERY VERY important that you are eating and fueling properly before your workout because it's so easy to hit that wall with this workout. What you are describing is NOT unusual with this program. I am going to be honest... Push ups have always been and will ALWAYS be my challenge .... so don't beat yourself up!

So.. here's what you do....

You keep going... you do YOUR personal best for that day... some days you feel like you can kick anyone's @ss and the next, you don't feel like you could get out of a wet paper bag... that's normal!

You keep going and do your best.... know you'll have your down days, you're not going to be able to do every set perfect... but that's not what it's about anyway... I promise you that. :)"

HERE GOES NOTHING..