The Hanks Home: December 2007

With 2008 just hours away I think of what it will bring! In February, our moving contract with the mine is over and we would be able to leave without having to pay back any of the moving expenses. I'm hoping to stay here one more school year so as long as Chris stays happy at work (meaning if he doesn't have to drive the lube truck) we should be here another year. I really like our church, the girls have made some great friends (as have I) and we're actually able to save some money with my part time jobs and Chris' higher income and the lower cost of living. Who knows where we'll end up. Chris is pretty intent on working in an underground mine so wherever that may be, we can make our home anywhere!

We had a nice Christmas. Super hectic the week before with concerts, parties, etc that we were all pretty exhausted by the time the day actually came! This was, I think, our first Christmas without ANY family. My parents flew to Winnipeg to spend time with my brothers and sister which was really hard on me. Not because I missed my parents but I miss my siblings deeply. I so wanted to be there but Chris had to work through the holiday season and $1600 for flights just seemed too much. Chris' family was all together in Flin Flon and no one was jumping at the chance to come down here!! So it was just the four of us Christmas morning and then we had another family come over for dinner and spent the evening with us so that was nice! We all got great gifts! Santa brought Alyssa a MP3 player and Brooklyn a stick horse and a Hannah Montana barbie. I got some work out pants, my Backstreet Boys cd and Celine Dion's new one, a corner bakers rack, Clinique perfume, a palm pilot and purses! A pretty good haul if you ask me! The girls got dvd's and Wii games, some clothes from Old navy and lots more! My favourite part of Christmas was giving my mom the scrapbook I made for her of the Wootton family. We had Christmas with them week before and I was so excited for her to open it! She LOVED it!

Anyways, 2008 brings lots of fun and excitement. Starting with the concert I'm taking the girls to in Las Vegas on January 18th! I found tickets for the Hannah Montana concert and had to jump at the chance to take them. Because Chris is working, my mom's coming with us so it should be a fun girls weekend!! This summer we'll be heading up to Regina for Chris' sisters wedding and are very much looking forward to seeing family and friends. We are 'possibly' taking a trip to Disneyland in October. This is many months aways and lots could happen between now and then so we'll see! I do hope to get a chance to head to Winnipeg maybe in the spring to see my siblings but again.....we'll see!! Resolutions??? Still trying to lose at least another 10 pounds and to be a better mother. More patience for sure. Some days it's hard, especially when Alyssa has been home for over a week with Christmas break and still has a week to go :p My girls deserve my best and I hope that I can give it to them.

I leave you now with some pictures from the holiday season. I don't have many of Christmas morning as we video tape everything and forget to take pictures! I pray that God blesses you and your family this new year and you have a happy and healthy 2008!

Faces painted at the mine Christmas party!