A quick look back at 2008

We had a pretty eventful year with both ups and downs. We had much to be thankful for and did a lot of praying. My Mom fought a battle with breast cancer on one side of the spectrum and on the other we watched our baby grow into a little boy! Tommy turned one and started running everywhere! Mike and I celebrated the weddings of 2 of my cousins and a high school friend as well as our 5th anniversary! 2008 ended on a good note and we are looking forward to a great 2009!

Happy New Year!!!

More presents!

I can't believe I forgot to post the photos of him opening his Christmas presents from Santa! We opened them on Christmas morning before heading out for the festivities. He was so funny, he would open one up and then run away. I had to rip a little paper on the next one to get him to run back to open it! What a goofball!

Opening his new tub crayons, which he loves!

He got a monkey since he loves making monkey sounds with Grandpa!

Look at all the presents!

A new Elmo tub toy

Surrounded by the contents of his stocking, what a lucky boy!

He also got a kitchen from my parents. He has been cooking up a storm! He loves all his new presents, thanks everyone!!!

A nice visit with Aunt Shelly

Mike's sister Shelly came to visit us on Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. Tommy had a great time playing with her.

With a new truck from Great Grandma Evelyn! Thanks, I love it!

Playing with all his new cars!

He loves cars and trucks!

Sitting with Aunt Shelly!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a great day yesterday, even though we are still hanging on to our colds and now Grandma Jo and Grandpa Steve have colds too. :(

Mike ended up having to work for a few hours so Tommy spent the morning at Laurie & Jeff's house along with Katie, Becca, Elise and Eva. He had a great time being Jeff's little shadow and playing with the girls and Digger.

Then I picked him up and got him fed and down for his nap. We went to church at 4 and sang as the choir.

All cleaned up and ready for church!

After church we headed to Grandma Rosie's house for the usual Christmas Eve gathering.

A nice family photo

Santa Tommy

Opening his gift from Grandma Rosie with Uncle Jim

He really likes playing with his new pots and pans!

Peeking out of JP's tent

Wrestling with Uncle Jim

Christmas Eve wouldn't be complete without Tommy throwing a fit!

Cuddling with Grandma Rosie

This morning we opened gift at home, went to my parents to open gifts and them went to Bill & Cindy's for Christmas dinner. It was a great Christmas and we are very grateful to have family and friends to share the holiday with! We hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Early Christmas with Amy & Paige

On Sunday afternoon we exchanged presents with Amy & Paige. For Tommy's we opened the box and just wrapped the toy to save time after he got it open.

I made it start talking and moving before it was opened, it confused him a little bit!

Starting to open it after figuring out there was something inside the paper!

It's Elmo!

He really likes it!

Paige got a lot of presents from Grandma and Grandpa!

She was very excited about everything!

She got some pretty cool dvd's, books and wii games!

Her new Tony Hawk sweatshirt from Grandma and Grandpa!

They decided to color while we made dinner.


After dinner we went to the "Winter Wonderland" light display in Brainerd. It is a neat trail with many different moving lighted figures.

Mike and me

Tommy, Mike and me

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas! We are off to church this afternoon and then to my Grandma's house tonight!

Sick, sick, sick

That is right, all three of us are sick. What horrible timing. Tommy was starting to get it last week I think, but I started feeling worse as Saturday went on. Sunday both Mike and I woke up feeling horrible. All three of us have horrible colds and headaches. We haven't been able to slow down at all either. Amy and Paige were only in town Saturday through today, so we spent all day Sunday with them and they came over to our house with my parents and cousins Katie & Becca for dinner last night. We had a fun time, but I am exhausted and there is no rest for the weary. Tonight we have choir practice at my aunt & uncle's house. More partying, more family and more good food! Hopefully we will start feeling better soon!

Getting ready for the Holidays!

We are looking forward to the next week which is filled with many festivities! It all starts tomorrow with my sister arriving. Sunday Paige will be coming up too! They are here until Tuesday and we are looking forward to spending some time with them! We gave Tommy a bath to get ready and since we haven't done any bath photos lately, I tried to get some cute ones!

We hope you all have a good weekend and avoid the big snow storm we are supposed to get again!

A visit with Atty and Kyndel

On Tuesday night Atty and Kyndel came over to visit us. Tommy and Kyndel played together and we got to catch up with Atty. It was very nice to see them since they are moving to Nevada next week. :(

One of Tommy's new favorite places to hide, the end table.

Kyndel

Kyndel and Tommy playing with her birthday gift from us, I don't know how much Tommy actually let her play with it though...

Tommy with the beads that he ripped off of our Christmas tree. He is quite the undecorator!

Here is the making of Tommy's newest trick.

He puts his sippy cup into a Christmas cup he got from my work friends.

He then lifts the Christmas cup and uses it to drink from his sippy cup.

What a goofball!

The Light Depot Holiday Party

This year we had my company's holiday party at our house. Everyone came over on Saturday evening for a fun night with lots of good food and a ton of laughter! I think Tommy thought they were all friends coming to visit him and he was in heaven running from person to person being quite the little host! Here are a few photos from the night.

Tommy and Rick waiting for people to arrive.

Tommy and Russ

The Rhode family trying to get a good photo, harder and harder to come by these days.

Ruth and Tommy

Bev trying out Wii Ski on the balance board!

Rick giving it a try!

Everyone had a very good time and we really enjoyed having everyone to our house. Happy holidays!!!

Cragun's - Sunday

Sunday is just a day to mainly wish everyone a happy holiday and pack up before heading home. We woke up early with Tommy and had breakfast with many family members. Tommy played cars with some of the little cousins and we packed up. We went to my parents house for lunch to spend a little more time with Amy, Paige and Brian before they left. Paige and Tommy played a lot and had some fun together!

Paige and Tommy with the talking Cookie Monster stocking Mom got Tommy.

He was dancing to the music it was playing.

Tommy and Paige dancing!


We had such a good time celebrating with my family. It was fun to see everyone and let Tommy play with his cousins. He loves Paige a ton and we are very excited to see Amy and Paige again this weekend!

Cragun's - Saturday

Grandpa, Mike, Tommy and Paige went swimming on Saturday. Tommy really didn't enjoy it very much. He whined pretty much the whole time he was in there and clung to Mike. We didn't make him suffer too long!

Trying out his fire engine with Paige and Daddy

Clinging onto Daddy

Tommy with Daddy

Mike tried very hard to entertain Tommy in the pool, but he wasn't really interested!

Tommy trying to placate us with a few kicks.

Here is Tommy walking along the pool through puddles. It was so cute to watch his little butt wiggle as he walked. I had to end it when he started veering toward the pool and I had to catch him!

Saturday night we went to the big family dinner and played some games. After Tommy was in bed Mike and I joined some others at karoke in the hotel bar. We had a great time as you can see from the videos in the last post! It was a great weekend with family and really got us into the holiday spirit!