New Year - New Me........ Maybe

I stopped making "NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS" a long time ago because I found that I had the same ones year after year because I never did accomplish them!

I then decided that I would choose a few goals that I would work toward throughout the year. It worked a little better but still not great.

This year after some personal evaluation I came to the conclusion that I don't like to be told what to do... Not even by MYSELF. However, I did type up some goals that I will post on my mirror and hopefully by looking at them several times a day, I will finally accomplish a few goals. If not I won't beat myself up because I'm really not holding myself to it! As long as I can continue to progress forward personally, spiritually, emotionally, financially, and intellectually I'm ok with myself.

Here are a few things I listed........

GOAL
Increase my Food Storage
HOW
Using the coupon system that I am learning - Thanks Ashley and Ricki

GOAL
Teach myself how to play the guitar FINALLY
HOW
Take a few introductory classes that start on JANUARY 23 and continue with my DVD' s

GOAL
Learn a bit more SPANISH
HOW
Cambria wants to learn so she will push me to do it. Found a website that teaches and we will take a few other classes during the Summer.

WANTS THIS YEAR:
PIANO
GO TO AFRICA IN DECEMBER

HOW:
Picking up extra shifts and I may have to join a few of my friends and co-workers and become a plasma whore!

What have YOU done?

I found this list on Dr. N's blog and decided to copy it just to see what I have done of the 100 things. It's a new year and maybe I can accomplish a few more on this list. Since I don't have any pictures on my last post and I think that blogs without pictures are kinda boring I will post a few on this one.

Copy the list and highlight the ones that are true about you

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars- one of my favorite things

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii- was too long ago I need to go back

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a Praying Mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped - with my MOM

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - not at sea but lightning storms are my favorite

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David- only the one in Las Vegas

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted - centeral park and paris

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in movie

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check- but never ment too

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- I'm not very sentimental

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar -only once it's not good- very salty

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone -one when I was 2

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible - Although I might take Dr Nelsons challenge

86. Visited the White House - just from the outside, I didn't take the tour

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - just fish

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Talked your way out of a ticket

It's Christmas and you WILL like it !!!!

Anyone that knows me can tell you that this is my favorite time of year. However, it usually comes with self inflicted ChAoS between Christmas cards, neighbor gifts, making candy and treats, parties, school activities, church activities, and anything else that I can be of service with. Rob hates it because I am dragging him a million different ways and he just wants to enjoy himself and relax. My answer to this ... It's Christmas and you WILL like it. Just as the past years I agreed to overextend myself and so I had ANXIETY up until .........

* the scrapbook pages were done

* Christmas Cards were sent

* the school play got cancelled because it was on the one "snow" day they have had here in years

* the company parties got cancelled because of lack of funds

* the family party didn't ever get planned

* I didn't make one piece of candy or goodies because it doesn't comply with my approved intake on my never ending diet.

We didn't go ANYWHERE and it was actually kind of nice. Here are a few things that we did do.....

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA - They served Pancakes with Ice Cream on Top. Lets load them up on sugar first thing in the morning!! Oh Well It's Christmas and you WILL like it.



Cambria was explaining to Santa that she hadn't written her letter yet and she hoped he could still bring her a Hot Pink Bike.

Thank goodness for Santa's Elves that are ALWAYS watching!!!!!

Throwing out our REINDEER FOOD Christmas Eve so Santa will stay Longer!! Yes I am in my PJ's- Can't believe I am posting that but it's the only picture I have of this and we are all friends!!!!

Carson was in Florida with his dad so it was just the GiRLs. We really missed him this is the first Christmas that he wasn't with us. But I guess I would have chose the beach and Grandma Dena's food at Christmas too.

Christmas Eve P.J.'s the only gift we are allowed to open before Christmas.



Cyrie had so much fun opening gifts this year and it was fun to watch.

CHRISTMAS DAY - SPENT WITH FAMILY AND OUR TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST.

The kids played and rode their bikes and roller blades inside the garage since it was SNOWING - That was so much fun I don't ever remember a white Christmas here.

We watched movies and just relaxed. We made the guys watch Mama Mia it was the fasted movie I have ever watched because they fast forwarded through the singing (which if you've seen the movie most of it is singing!) I think it was a record 20 minutes!!

It wouldn't be Christmas without the movie CHRISTMAS VACATION! Here we are doing our best Christmas Vacation impersonation! (Notice our moose mugs!!!!!) Gotta Love Cousin Eddie !!!!!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A VERY RELAXING MERRY CHIRSTMAS TOO!!!

DECK THE HALLS

This is my favorite time of year !! I had One of my trees up before Thanksgiving and the other up the day after. My lights are strung, the pine bows are hung along with the holly and mistletoe!



The Halls are Decked the Party's Started the Lists are made and the Christmas Cards will be out this week!!!! Hope I have all of your current addresses friends and family!!!!






Here's a little preview..............





LIFE IS GOOD !!




I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Holiday and that we all remember that Christmas come in 3 levels. (Taken from an article out of I believe the Washington Post several years ago.)

THREE LEVEL OF CHRISTMAS

...... Let's call the first one the Santa Claus level.....It's the level at which we eat too much and spend too much and do too much and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of Christmas.

But there is a higher more beautiful level. Let's call it the Silent Night level...... It's the level of the crowded Inn and the silent holy moment in a dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth.... How beautiful and meaningful it is, how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of Christmas.

These two levels don't last. They can't.

The trees dry out and the needles fall. The feast is over and the dieting begins.

The second level of the Baby Jesus can't last.The angels the star and the shepherd, that holy night itself, can't long satisfy humanity's basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in the end, be disappointed and empty.

For Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it t have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level- not as an infant- that our Savior brings His gifts of lasting joy, peace, and hope.

It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who loved the unlovable, who so loved us ALL that even in His agony on the cross He prayed forgiveness for His enemies.

This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked us to follow Him.

Merry Christmas All !!!

I am ThAnKkfUl FoR.....

Thanksgiving was spent at home with just our little family this year. I had to work in the afternoon so we stayed home and had a cozy little turkey dinner. I got up early and made Pumpkin Pies and got everything ready to cook so all Rob had to do was put it in the oven. We pulled out the fine China and and the Crystal glasses- the kids thought that was cool. Carson had a hard time drinking from the stemmed glasses. He spilled on his shirt a few times. It was a good time for a lesson on table etiquette.

We made Hand Turkey Place Cards! The emitting excitement from Carson is overwhelming isn't it? This activity intended for the kids ended up entertaining Rob for hours as the kids were done in 15 minutes. I think it was just an excuses to NOT help peel potatoes!!!

I had my ActiVitY DaYs with the girls and we did Gratitude Journals. We are supposed to write in them the things we are thankful for each day for the upcoming year. I thought I better update and list a few. I have been slacking a bit on the Blog Thing. Or, it could be that I worked 5 out of 6 nights/days over Thanksgiving and I truly have not recovered from it and my sleep (or should I say NO SLEEP) pattern is totally out of WaCK!

" You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: The more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you." - Sarah Ban Breathnack-

I aM ThAnkFul FOr...... (In no particular order)

My Family -(of course)

My Savior Jesus Christ and his Atoning Sacrifice

My Health & the Health of my Children- (1 more year without a visit to PCMC!)

The Chance to meet Aaron this year!

My Job -(sounds weird but it's true some people don't have one)

LaUGhTer! I love to hear my kids laugh!!!

Del Taco's - 3 for $ .99 taco night!!! One less night I have to cook!

Magic Erasers - Love These things!!!

Pictures of Great Memories

My soap from AfRiCa -gets even red dirt out of whites

OnliNe ShoPpIng

GooD FrIeNDs

When Loralee cleans out her CLoSeTs

When I sleep for more than 4 HoUrs

SuNny DayS

WatChIng the LiGhtNing and RaIn wiTh the KidS.

a Black sky full of Shinning Stars

Sunsets and Sun Rises.

I will continue this list throughout the year as I enter things in my Gratitude Journal.