Welcome 2009

My first instinct was to say "Good Riddance" to 2008. It was such a hard year for us. Brian had hip surgery, then he had another hip surgery (this time on crutches for 7 weeks), my Mom had emergency intestinal surgery, my Dad had both knees replaced, and Brian's Grandma died. No it was not an easy year. My husband, 7 months later, is still in constant pain. Some days are better than others, and if you ask him, he'll say he is fine. He doesn't like to complain so he lies. But I know, and I worry.

But 11 months ago he sent me a Valentines card that said if we stick together as a family, there is nothing we can't get through. And he was right, and still is. We have gotten through a lot, and we will get through the rest. Meanwhile, while we were "getting through" some pretty great things happened in 08 too:


*Alison started soccer
*I was baptized on Easter Sunday which also happened to be my birthday
*Baby Maddie was born
*Brooklynn Hope Ausman arrived to complete our family
*We got a new car
*My baby brother got married
*Alison learned to write her name and peddle a bike
*The girls started preschool
*We took all three to their first Kings game
*Ellie turned 3
*We went to Disneyland
*Nick and Rose got married - finely
*Obama won the election
*Alison turned 5
*It snowed in Vegas
*Visited Santa
*Christmas in California


and then there are the little things like:
*Ellie not wearing a diaper during the day
*Brooklynn's smiles
*Seeing them get excited for story time with Dad every night
*My training for the half marathon
*Sitting on the couch with Brian after all the kids are in bed and the house is quiet
*Meeting up with good friends - here in Vegas and in SoCal
and many more, Im sure I could list and list

SO...I will focus on all that was right with 2008. I will be happy for everything great that happened and I will look forward to even more great things in 2009!