Goals

Since it is now February, I think I should start focusing on some goals. Not that I'll accomplish all of them this year, but to be striving to achieve something is a good idea, right? So here's the list, not necessarily in any order:

1. Drink more water every day.


2. Start doing yoga/pilates on a regular basis

3. Meal plan. At least one week at a time.

4. More quality time with my husband and kids. None of us are getting any younger.

5. Show people that I love how much I love them, even if it means stepping out of my comfort
zone.

6. Organized reading. I'm so bad about starting a book, then starting another one without
finishing the first.

7. Paint the remaining white walls in my house. A hallway, a stairway, bathroom and laundry
room.

8. Teach Ben how to read. We're working on learning the alphabet right now.

9. Run a half marathon.

10. Read my Bible daily. (This should be at the top of the list.)

Christmas

I decided I'm not the best at taking really good pictures. Maybe I will make that one of my New Year's resolutions.

Christmas is such a special time to me. Even though it has turned into such a crazy time of spending money and trying to remember to get a gift for everyone on my list, I try to keep in the front of my mind the real reason we do all this in the first place.

One idea I had that I hope to try next year is to collectively give to a charity at Christmas time. Myself and the family members that would like to participate can pool our money...money we would have spent on meaningless gifts, and give it to a worthy cause. And then we could do a simple gift exchange, like exchanging board games that we could play on Christmas Day. That's my idea for next year and hopefully it will be more meaningful for us...

Some pictures from Christmas...

What We Do On A Snow Day

Sled down a hill...

Take a nap...

Play a game...

Eat a grilled cheese sandwich...

...and yummy soup.

Also, we read books, baked bread, addressed Christmas cards, and watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Finding Our Tree

We took our annual trip to the Christmas tree farm last week. We chose the right place, because finding a great tree was not difficult. There were many beautiful trees to choose from...

The kids had fun walking around looking at all the trees. They would find one they liked and put a branch over it to mark it so we could find it again...

Halloween Fun

A friend and I organized a little Halloween party for kids this past weekend. The kids played games, decorated cookies, and did a pumpkin craft. It was slightly chaotic, but we expected that. The kids all had a great time, I think. We're brainstorming ideas for next years party...

Balloon popping craziness
Mummy time!

Most of the group

Crusoe

I don't watch very much T.V, but when Trevor told me about a program showing tonight, I knew I wanted to see it. It is Crusoe. It is based on the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and we happened to read the book together earlier this year. Tonight was the premier, and it was two hours long. Amazingly, we were able to watch the entire program, and we both enjoyed it. Of course the story has been embellished a bit, but that just made it more entertaining for me. I love the relationship between Crusoe and Friday. And the drama that is already unfolding. Oh, and the gentleman who plays the part of Crusoe, Philip Winchester...totally hot! Can't wait till next week!

Every little boy needs one...

...oh make me a red cape

I want to be Superman...

~John Mayer

I recently purchased some red fabric to decorate for Hannah's "High School Musical" birthday party. As I was waiting to have the fabric cut, I pondered in my mind what four yards of red fabric would be useful for after the party. And then it occured to me. A superman cape, of course! Trevor had one when he was younger that I made for him so he could be like a favorite computer game hero, Pajama Sam. He loved it. And I don't know where it is now, but it got so much use that I'm sure we trashed it. Doesn't matter though, because I had the makings for a brand new one, special for Benny. And with left over fabric, I'll make a second one for Ben's little friend Harrison.