Ringing in the New Year....

I wanted to get one more post in before it became officially 2009!!

This year has went by surprisingly fast. I never thought that we would be where we are now with our lives. If you asked me last year....what are your predictions for 2008. I would have said....I would be without my husband for half of it. That is all I could tell you. I knew that things would come up but not the best one....having another baby! That was his decision...something that I was waiting on since the birth of Damien!!

This day/night is very hard for me because we have always made it a point to be together when the new year rang in. Something that I make him do...lol!! But this year...will be the first year that I don't even get to be on the phone with him when the clock strikes midnight. But I will have the next best thing...my son and my friends...well, if we all can stay up...lol!!

As for our plans for this evening....Cassie has decided that we should do a New Years Eve dinner!! I am beyond excited for this because I know that I will get to be with my friends for the evening and be surrounded by loved ones!! Just knowing that I will have them...makes ringing in the New Year...just that much easier!!

Anyways, sorry for the scattered thoughts. I just wanted to let it out and hopefully I will have some pictures from the dinner and night.

Happy New Years to all my friends and family!! With out you all....this year would have been a very hard one to swallow!! I couldn't have picked better people to know and hope that I will be blessed again next year like I was this year!!

With all our love,
the Sledds
Barry, Marie and Damien

Christmas....

was a good day. Damien and I started the morning by opening all his presents and then just hanging out and playing with all of them..lol!! After that....I got tired of the mess and began cleaning around him and trying to find a home for all his new toys!!

Later that evening we went over to a good friends of ours....the Potters....to have Christmas Dinner with them and our other good friends....the Ingles and the Shippees!!! It was so nice to have someone to celebrate the day with!! The food was great and like always....so was the company!!

Damien and I were blessed this year because of our great friends that loved us while our husband/daddy was away!! You don't come across many people that are your friend with no strings attach!! And I will forever hold them in my heart and never let the friendship die!! They have become so much more to me...they are now my family!!!

So, I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas because even though I didn't have my soul mate with me this year....I had the next best thing!!! And it made the holiday season that much more bearable!!!

All of our love,
Marie and Damien

Becky came for a visit with Kaya!!

Damien showing his love for Kaya

both of them being cute!

I swear he is just like his daddy!!

On Thrusday, we got to have my sister over for the day!! It was so nice seeing her and playing with Kaya!! It was a very short visit but better than nothing.

Damien was so in love with his cousin, Kaya! He wanted to hold her and love on her! He kept trying to give her the pacifier...lol!!

I can't wait to see her again...I am hoping that it be a long time til we see her again. I am sure she will be back after Lance is born but hopefully...I can go see her before then. Who knows...we shall see!!

Damien's Christmas Party

opening his book from the exchange

trying to take a pic...but he loves his food!

On the 18th of December....Damien had his last day of school til the next year. They celebrated Jesus' Birthday! We(the parents) got to join them and have fun!! I love going bc they always say a prayer and I love how they get them to put their hands together and say "Amen!" It is very cute!! I might have to post a video of it one day...

They had snacks, did a book exchange and then went home...lol!! Damien had so much fun...I am really happy that he is going to this school. He has learned so much already!!

Visit with Santa

Well, I was so worried that this would be the year that Damien would find the fear that over comes many children...SANTA!!! So, I decided to go with another friend....Vicky and Spencer....to let Damien watch and see that it is not that bad!! Don't know if it worked or if he just isn't scared of him...But we got a picture with Santa and there were no tears!!

Now I know he looks scared but if you were there for the whole thing...You would have seen a very calm child that just wanted to get it over with so he could see the picture after it was taken!! LOL!! Oh and his mommy brided him with a peppermint!! That is what he is holding onto....hehehe!!

Damien and Santa....2008

Our family pic...trying to keep up the tradition

Well, even though we are minus one....I was trying to keep up the tradition and get a "family" photo to go out in our Christmas Cards. So, this is the best that we could do with just Damien and I running back and forth to the camera...lol!! Enjoy and you should be getting these soon!!

Damien by the tree

Damien and Me

Here we are again

Getting into the spirit...

Well, after Thanksgiving...My good friend Cassie came over and put up my christmas lights for the house! And then the following week, she came back and helped me lug my tree into the house and put it in the stand!If it wasn't for her...I wouldn't be all ready for Christmas!!

And these pics are the result of having good friends while your hubby is deployed!!

Our home

Our tree!!