It may have been the second Christmas we spent in our house but it was the first one we spent as a family.  This year was the re-start of Christmas as we have known it for many years.  Each year we gather with our family's, celebrate the year and enjoy each others company.  This year however, a new tradition was started... Christmas morning @ the Neilson's.  I was actually so excited about this Christmas, that I awoke at 4:30.  I stayed in bed until 5:00 trying to go back to sleep, but couldn't.  Obviously, Lily is to young to know what Christmas is all about, but over the next few years it will just continue to become a larger and larger part of her year.

This year was a rough year for us.  For a good portion of it Ashley was pregnant and had several issues along the way.  I was laid off this year and was out of work for a few month before landing in a new job.  In addition to having the baby, Ashley had a tonsillectomy and I had my gallbladder taken out.  Add to that a few coughs and sniffles along the way and you have our year in a nutshell.  We did however hit a major milestone in our lives on August 14, 2009.  Some people would know it as the completion of baby step number 2, but for those that don't, we became debt free.  Through all the challenges this year brought to us physically and financially, Ashley and I above all were able to stay focused on our goal.  Our goal to bring a new little person into a world where her parents were not living paycheck to paycheck and not borrowing money or living on credit.  With the support of our families and the strength of each other we will achieve our goals.  We are still a long way from getting there, but we will get there!

For all of you out there, I hope that you 2009 was enjoyable and I sincerely hope that your 2010 is much better.  With the start of a new decade it is a time for a renewed since of hope and a new view on life.  I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and and incredibly happy New Year...