Best of...

Alright, I really really tried to stick this thing out. But I just really don't care about the best webtool, stationary or ad of the year. And those were the best ones coming up. So, maybe I'll try something else some other time. Thanks for sticking around for the boringness that this turned out to be. I do apologize for it.

Best Start Up

My friend Erin's business The Peanut Paintshop takes the prize here. It is so cool to see this talen that Erin has that I had no clue about. If you haven't checked it out yuo really should. What better gift to give yourself or someone than something personal and handmade?

Best Project

I can't really think of any projects that I did myself. I guess you could say my projects were growing babies, and I feel like that is going succesfully so far...

Best New Person

BENJAMIN GRAHAM SHELTON is the obvious winner here!!!

Best Car Ride

It would have to be coming home from the hospital with Ben. We were both so excited to get home. We were ready to be in our home as a family of four. We were ready for Zeke to meet Ben. I was just ready to see Zeke. So, this car ride was full of anticipation with us ready to get back into our familiar world that was going to be completely different.

Best Shop

I don't buy things often, but I have become a HUGE fan of online shopping. I have a couple of deals sites that I visit daily:
www.babysteals.com
www.kidsteals.com
www.scrapbooksteals.com
www.mamabargains.com

Best Word/Phrase

"I love you" because we get to say it to more people (Zeke & Ben). I probably say it a zillion times a day, so it could be our most used phrase...
It means so much more between Spence and I now. We are more in love today than when we were silly 15 & 16 year olds. We are more in love than the day I became Mrs. Shelton. We are more in love even than the day we became parents. Saying these words means so much more now than it used to. Behind it isn't just a romantic love, but an admiration and respect for one another. He and I have a shared affection for one another in the midst of our life, as crazy as it is at times. We are able to point one another towards Christ with our love for Him and each other. We choose daily to love Christ, each other and our children. And yes, it is a choice.

Best Tea

Not trying to brag or anything, but I make a mean sweet tea. Just the right amount of tea bags to sugar ratio. Not too sweet, but definitely sweet enough.
What a random, weird topic, by the way...

Best Packaging

Really? I have not noticed that at all. I can tell you the worst packaging is anything for small children. All those stupid twisty tie things... UGH!

Biggest Rush

My biggest rush has to be this story.

Best Change to where I live

I would have to say changing the purple room into Zeke's big boy room. I need to finish it still so pictures are yet to come...

Best New Food

This year was my first attempt at making babyfood. I really enjoyed making Zeke's food when he first started eating it and I look forward to making Benjamin's as well. Love the Super Baby Food book and plan to use it again :-)

Best Place

OK, time for a cheesy moment. Seriously, anywhere my hunky hubby is is the best place for me. I don't care if we are hanging out in pjs watching tv, going to see a show at DPAC, or exploring a new place (Richmond, this year), wherever he is is my best place every year.

Best Album

Best album of the year? Really? The only thing I listen to now is kiddie music. Even when I am in the car by myself, I generally am pulling into the parking lot of wherever I am going before I realize I could have been listening to real music. But seriously, if you are a parent and kid music drives you bonkers, you must check out Go Fish. They are a Christian group, but not cheesy at all. One of the things they like to say is they make children's music that won't drive parents crazy. So far, so good. We have two cds "Snazzy" and "Party Like a Preschooler". They are in my cd player almost anytime we are in the car.

Best Challenge

has been learning how to parent two babies. We definitely haven't figured it all out and there are good and bad days. But I am thoroughly loving learning how to do this whole two kiddos thing.

Best Moment of Peace

Anytime these two things happen at the same time is a best moment of peace for me:

Best Blog Find of the Year

My newest favorite blog is The Intentional Home. I stumbled onto Su's blog and boy am I glad that I did. I took Su's coupon class this fall. I absolutely love her and her blog. She is just so cute! And totally not in the way you think someone who teaches a coupon class would be. She doesn't have a hair style from 1982 and she doesn't wear Winnie the Pooh embroidered overalls. ;-) She has found ways to use coupons to spread Jesus' love and I think that rocks. I hope you visit and enjoy her as well.

Best Workshop/Conference

HA! Big fat HA! I haven't been to any workshops or conferences, unless you count my children training me up. Spence went to Texas for Leadership Network though and seemed to really enjoy that...

Best Night Out

I couldn't narrow this one down to just one. Spence and I have been super blessed this year to go to some great shows at the DPAC. We saw Rent, The Color Purple, Fiddler on the Roof, and Brian Regan. We got to go out to eat before hand with groups of friends. Each of these nights was wonderful. Good friends + good shows=fun times!

Best Book

The best book I read this year was A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming. I recommend it to all the moms I know. It is such a sweet book about how important my job is. It helped me put into perspective what my role is in my family. I didn't have a hard time going from working full time to staying home, but there are definitely days where I wonder why it matters that I am investing into my kids in this way. This book is a MUST read.