Happiness in the New Year!

With the theme of our blog being, "A Continual Happiness," I thought it appropriate to discuss the new year. I personally love making resolutions every year and seeing which ones I can stick with. It's not easy, but goal-setting is a good thing. It's like taking an inventory of your life and micro-managing it, decluttering away the pile of things that are not working. Of course, there is only so far one can go. I will never wake up and see myself onstage, belting out tunes like Celine Dion because I don't have the voice for it! Nor can I move into the big mansion up the street because I haven't won the lottery yet. But, seriously, resolutions help us reflect and indulge in our dreams. Here are my resolutions for 2008:

*Find a great job!

*Be the best I can at the new job!

*Give my daughters all the lessons I can afford (dancing, swimming, music, etc.)

*Curb the spending and start saving money!

*End bad relationships that aren't working.

*Surround myself with positive people.

*Spend more time just playing with my daughters and let the house be messy for a change!

*Let my nails grow out. They are very short and brittle!

Okay girls, I posted my New Year's Resolutions, now let's see yours!

Calendar Disclaimer

By this time I hope that you have gotten your calendars. Although the gift is from Kelly and me, Kelly is the driving creative force behind the photos, the layout, the mailing and the idea in the first place. I was just her partial benefactor.

I'm enjoying that you are enjoying our little project. I just want to make sure that we give credit where credit is due, to our own in house graphics gal!

Thanks Kel, you are so talented!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday... I know that I did!

Thanks so much to Kelly and Karianne for the adorable calendar! What a neat idea! I love it and am so glad that I was included. I feel like a "pin-up" girl. :)

I wish you all continued peace and joy today - this day after Christmas - and all the new year through.

Much love,

Karen Beth :)

Thank you, Sweetest Girls, and Merry Christmas!!!

Karianne and Kelly -- what a sweet gift to receive in the mail from you... to open up this little calendar and see my name among yours... to know the love that surrounds this little group of girls.. and to know that I'm included in it.. You have no idea how much this means to me right now. Please know that you are a blessing and I'm so thankful for you all!!!

Christmas at the Prells was a nice and quiet time this year and I have a photo to share of the 4 of us..

I pray that all of your holiday seasons are blessed and full of love, laughter, and peace!!!

With so much love,

Catherine

A White Christmas

For the first time in my life, it snowed ON Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas, Dear Blogging Chicks!

Just wanted to take a minute and wish you all a beautiful Christmas tomorrow.

We have so many crazy plans tomorrow that we celebrated today as a family. It was one the best, most relaxing, enjoyable Christmas days ever! Both of my boys, ages 2 and 4, were able to fully understand the sheer delight and joy of the day. It was a joy watching them experience the joy of it. My oldest was able to really understand the real meaning of Christmas this year, and my youngest semi-got it. It was just so amazing. On top of that, I wasn't sick and was able to eat. Ah, tis sheer bliss!

Thank you to each of you for your friendship over this past year. I have enjoyed really getting to know some of you, and look forward to getting to know the rest of you even better in the coming year!

Thank you to Kelly and Karianne for the beautiful gift - how thoughtful and creative! You two are some of best hearted girls I know, and I count it an honor having 'stumbled' across you two. (More like divine intervention I think.)

Here are some photos from last night (our Christmas Eve). We always do candid pajama (no make-up) shots with our timer and tripod. :)

From our home to yours, merry, merry Christmas!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all my Happy Friends!!!

I just got the gift in the mail (I only get my mail every few weeks-- hate the bills) and I was so excited to see the little gift for the girls. You guys are so thoughtful. I will display my calendar and my January page with pride and always smile as I know it came from my "happiness" friends!!

Thanks for your thoughtfulness and Merry Christmas to you all!!!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Julie Andrews sang a beautiful song in the Sound of Music of little things that make her happy. It's so appropriate that this song is associated with Christmas with all the wonderfully winter favorites sprinkled throughout the song!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Speaking of "brown paper packages..."

All the ladies that were kind enough to post pictures of themselves or send them to me, you will be getting a special surprise in the mail soon from Karianne and me (Kelly). It's coming through the US Post Office. I'm not quite sure if it will make it in time for Christmas, but I should think it will make it before the beginning of the new year. So be on the look out!

Sending you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

For Katiefucious, And the rest of us!

I'm tired of Christmas music today. Get up and dance/skate girlies,access your inner ONJ!

Thanks for the Memories

My Grandmother died today.

My Grandfather died in the middle of September, just about four months ago.

Amidst all of the sorrow that usually accompanies an event like this, I find myself feeling grateful for the 29 years of my life that I was able to spend with my Grandparents.

When we visited my Grampa in the hospital before he died, people were saying things like "If only we had spent more time with him." And to be honest with you, I think that they will be saying the same things at my Gram's funeral.

Why live your life that way? If there is ANYTHING that I have learned in three decades on this earth, it is that time is something that you can never replace. If you don't spend the time you have with the people you love NOW, you will never get that chance back!!

I am GRATEFUL for the time that I chose to spend with my Grandparents instead of doing something else!

I am GLAD that I got to know two such WONDERFUL people in my life!

I hope that someday someone will feel about me the way that I feel about my Grandparents.

See you in 80 years, Grampa and Gram. Tell Jesus I said hi. Thanks for the memories.

Daddy Daughter Love

 

Happiness to me is watching my hubby and my daughter interact. They are just so darn cute!! It is amazing how much inlove they are. This is happiness to me!!

Photo Winners!

I just wanted to let you all know that everyone is a winner in my book. So keep your eyes open in the mail. You'll received something in a few weeks! :)

Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

My sis in law in spirit manages a Hallmark store in town. Ivy and I were visiting her last week and hanging out at her candy counter when I saw a new item, Chocolate covered potato chips! She gave us a sample and I fell in LOVE!! I have been trying to get back down there to purchase some, but haven't gotten to that side of town. These chips are from my dreams!

Here is a recipe that I tried today and it is pretty good. I think that I like Hallmark's better, but these will do great for the cookie exchange I'm in next week.

Chocolate Covered Potato Chip recipe

Introducing Mandy!

I think it is so cool how spread out we all are--all over the country: California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi. . . just to name a few!

Well, now it's time to add a new state to the mix! This is my friend Mandy. We were college friends and even had an internship together one summer. I was the designer. She was the writer. Now Miss Mandy is an editor in Tennessee. I don't want to share more than that because I don't know how much info she puts online. Plus, that's a cool thing about blogs. You discover all that while you read!

As you can imagine, she's an awesome writer! I thoroughly enjoy her blog, and I thought she could use some more comments. So ladies, get to it, okay? ;)

Her blog is titled Unfinished Business. Go take a look!

My photo and 7 random things

First off, I want to apologize for not being here in forever. I've had severe morning sickness that has been pretty debilitating, and I ashamed to say I fell of the wagon and haven't gotten back on. I'm feeling a little more human for the past week, so I wanted to post!

The first picture is me at 14 weeks pregnant. (I am currently 17 1/2 weeks.) Don't mind my son, he thinks it's hilarious to lick my stomach. (Don't ask - he's a boy!)

1. I got married in a field. In my bare feet.

2.I love long lazy mornings when all 4 of us (myself, hubby, and two songs) all snuggle in our bed before we get up for the day.

3.My Christmas shopping is 90%+ done!

4. I am a die-hard bargain shopper, and am super proud of my 'gift closet' (where I store great deals for random gifts. I seldom have to go shopping for showers, birthday parties, etc.).

5. My knees are double jointed. As well as my thumbs.

6. I flipped my husband's car less than a year after we were married, in the first snow storm of the season. 5 years later I am just learning not to have panic attacks driving in inclement weather.

7. I talk to my mom at least 2x daily on the phone, usually more. And I haven't lived at home for almost 7 years.

Somewhat Under Duress

I've cropped my daughters out of a photo
that my husband took of the three of us.
It's the best I can come up with.
I wish I had something better.

(It's good for me to get out of my comfort zone.)