8 Great Things in 2008

This past year has been a wonderful one for Kermie, Ella and me.  I hope it has been just as well for you who read our blog.  While I'm sad to see the year go and am reminded that Ella is only getting older, I'm so excited to see what God has in store for my family!  Here are 8 great things that happened in 2008!

1.  Kermie launched his business "DonovanCain Hardwoods" and has been going strong since.  I'm so proud of him and thankful to all the family who have been supportive of his decision.  

2.  My first official summer off work!  Every summer before I have at least babysat to occupy my time.  This past summer was wonderful in that Ella and I had every single day together with nothing to do!  I can't wait for summer 2009! ha

3.  Graduate school.  I actually dreaded going back, but have found it very refreshing instead.  I like having something to look forward to and it gives me time with old friends who are experiencing life in much the same way I am at the moment.  So, to those that are postponing....it's not bad!

4.  My five year anniversary!  In August, Kermie and I celebrated our five year anniversary.  I don't quite remember what we did, but know it was a special time :)  There is nothing better than growing old with your spouse :)

5.  Ella's first birthday.  Ella turned one in September which was sad but so exciting at the same time.  I spent a long time planning and preparing for the day.  I know she had just as much fun as I did!

6.  Job change.  I was switched to fourth grade this year and have fallen in love with it all over again.  It's nice doing something I've done before and trying to get "good" at it.  I have become good friends with a teacher across the hall which makes the day fun and exciting.  My kids are great on most occassions as well!

7.  This one may seem a little vain, but at one point this year I felt the best "physically" that I have felt in a long time.  I lost all the baby weight and was even below where I was before becoming prego.  My goal is to keep it somewhere in between until the next baby arrives (hint..hint.. Kermie).  

8.  Christmas as a parent.  Although I absolutely loved Christmas as a child, I think I love it even more as a parent.  I enjoyed playing Santa and seeing the joy the season brings to everyone.  I was excited to set traditions with my own family and watch Ella enjoy everything we did together.  The time off was precious as well :)

Four Christmases

I thought the title was perfect since the movie came out this Christmas and we too have four Christmases!  So, here's the scoop :)

Christmas this year was so much better than any other year!  Ella was more excited than ever and Kermie and I enjoyed watching her enjoy the season.  On Christmas Eve, we spent the morning with my family for brunch.  Ella enjoyed all of her gifts and we all loved breakfast!  There is nothing better than spending a relaxing day with family.  Kermie received lots of gift cards to he and Bekah (which is a strange combo) headed to the mall for a shopping spree!  The rest of us lounged around until it was time for Christmas at my Nanny's house.  Our family is so large that we barely fit in her house anymore!  We didn't exchange gifts this year, but we did play lots of fun games and a dirty santa with dessert.  Ella and Anna were best buddies for the night.  I think we may have her over soon to play with Ella.  

On Christmas Day, we opened gifts at home from Santa.  Ella was so excited to play with all of her toys and dance to her Mickey Mouse music.  After she woke up from her nap, we headed over to visit with Kermie's family for a chili lunch.  Ella and Ava are getting so good at playing with each other!  It's funny though because they are both getting jealous and want what they want!  I'm sure the fighting over toys will only get worse :)  Later that evening we headed back to Sadieville for Christmas with my Grandma and Grandpa.  Ella was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the people, but she warmed up quickly.  By the end of the night we were all worn out and came home and went straight to bed!  I'm always sad that Christmas is over, but excited for what God has in store for the upcomin year!

Nashville Birthday Bash

Dad could you speed up please! haha... She wanted her sucker!

Mommy and Ella in the jungle gym.

We're in trouble when she turns 16!

She loves pizza and loved watching the singing animals.

Daddy and Ella in the tire store.  She's such a trooper.

The manger scene.

One of my favorite scenes in Ice.

Ella all bundled up.

Mom, Dad, and the Grinch

We look silly!

Daniel and Jessica

Dad and Bekah

Dad and Mom

In front of the biggest tree.

The whole gang -- with the outsiders! haha

The Cain's :)  

In front of one of the million trees at Opryland Hotel.

Right after school let out on Friday, my family headed to Nashville to celebrate my mom's and my birthday.  It was an extremely fun and relaxing weekend!  It's so funny because most people say they would hate having a birthday so close to Christmas, but I guess my parents have always been cautious of the fact that it could very easily run together.  So, in result, I have always had fabulous birthdays!  Thanks mom and dad! 

On Saturday, we woke up to a flat tire so that kind of put a damper on the day.  My car has those locking lug nuts and we bought it used and didn't have the key to get the tire off so we had to hitch a ride with my parents the rest of the weekend. Early Saturday morning we made a trip to the OpryMills mall where we did lots of shopping and Ella visited Santa.  We did lots of shoe shopping (I think between all of us we came home with at least 4 new pairs of shoes) :) After our shopping extravaganza, we went to Rainforest Cafe for lunch.  There is a chop salad there that mom and I love!  Ella enjoyed the scenery even more this time than she did in Disney.  Later that evening we stopped at the Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas decorations and to eat dinner.  Ella really liked this as well!  The coolest thing was the vine lady on stilts!  She was beautiful in a very weird way :)

Sunday was spent packing up, visiting Ice, and eating at Wild Horse Saloon.  Ice was very cold, but very pretty!  We all looked a little silly in our winter gear!  By the end of the tour I had Ella completely covered up with blankets and jackets!  The Titans were playing Sunday so our experience at Wild Horse Saloon was animated with all the crazy men screaming for their team! Ella clapped right along with them.  

Overall our trip was great!  While the rest of the gang left for Kentucky Kermie, Ella and I stayed another night to wait for the VW dealership to open and fix our tires :(  It actually turned into a great extra day.  We went to the mall for smoothies, ordered food into the hotel, and took Ella to Chuck-E-Cheese for lunch!  It was wonderful driving home on four new tires knowing we were finally safe and didn't have to keep an eye on the crazy flat tire! 

Checking in at 15 months

On Monday, Ella and I went for her 15 month check up.  Dr. Q said Ella is growing wonderfully. Although she may be an extremely petite baby... her growth curve is perfect.  She finally hit the 20 pound mark and still has a huge head!  We think we may have overcome the milk intolerance or at least cooked milk.  I have not been brave enough to attempt straight dairy so Ella is still doing Soy milk in her sippy.  One day in the near future we will attempt "the real thing".  So, I guess overall, our visit was great besides two shots in her arm.  Here is an even better look at Ella at 15 months :)

Ella's Favorite:

food:  spaghetti

drink:  tea--she has an obession with it

tv show:  Baby Signing Time, Sponge Bob, Seasame Street

word:  Duke, paci

thing to do in her spare time:  read books, go shopping, stroll her babies around the house, dance with mommy, play hide and seek, mess anything and everything she can

animal:  ChaCha, all of mom's dogs, and ducks

color:  green--she picks out all the green apple jacks to eat (forget the orange ones!)

place:  anywhere I guess.... she loves going to all of her babysitters' houses and likes being home... she's easy to please

toy:  books, stroller, or Dora car

Military Christmas Dinner

Kermie and the "A" team or so they call it :)

Kermie and the rest of his platoon in formation.  They were promoting another soldier.

Ella and Grandpa in front of the big truck!

Ella, Mommy, Daddy in front of the big truck!

Daddy, Mommy, Granny, and Ella in front of the big truck!

Daddy and Ella "driving" the big truck for the millionth time.  She loved it!

On Sunday, Ella and I went to Kermie's military Christmas dinner in Walton, Kentucky.  This is the first one I have been "allowed" to go to in the eight years Kermie has been in the service, so I was excited to go.  I think Ella enjoyed it more than anyone because she was allowed to drive in the big truck (as you can see from the pictures), play with two very cute dogs, bounce the balls, and talk to everyone she saw. Kermie looked cute in his uniform as always!  I will be sad when he doesn't have to wear them anymore come October, but so happy he is finished!!  Ella and I are so proud of him and loved getting to see him in action this weekend.