1.07.2011

The 2011 List

So here is my list of goals for 2011, there is an easy section and a hard section:

The Easy Section
Get back on track with going to the library:  We were doing really well with going to the library for storytime and to check out books twice a week but ended up dwindling down to not at all during the holidays. With all the birthdays, Travis being gone, festivities happening, medical issues going on, I just stopped going and that is not okay with me, so back to storytime (which starts again for the new year next week)

Get back on a sleep schedule:  This is another thing that happened after Travis left and the holidays hit. The load pretty much doubled on me so I was staying up trying to complete everything I used to accomplish in one day. While I was doing that I was pretty much ignoring the girl's sleeping schedule and everything was thrown out of whack. Now they are back to normal naptime, bedtime still needs work but we're almost there! Now all I have to do is force myself to go to bed at a normal time and wake up at a normal time and we'll be set, I've resorted to setting a bedtime alarm (which I ignore on Wednesdays for Top Chef...) and I think I'll start setting a wakeup alarm and that will help things run more smoothly in this house.

Go outside everyday:  Even if it is just for 5 minutes. There have been quite a few days when I've realized that I haven't even unlocked the door when I've gone to lock it at night. It's pretty amazing what a little fresh air can do to up your spirits too.

Start using my sewing machine:  I got a sewing machine for my birthday and I have ideas in my head and now 2011 is the time to start putting them into action. Look out for sewing posts because they are going to be popping up everywhere!

Potty train Alexis:  I hate using the word "train" but I'm sure you all understand what I mean. She already uses the potty a lot, she will be out of diapers by the end of the year.


The Hard Section
Have a vegetable garden:  Every year I say to myself, "I'm gonna grow veggies" blah blah blah, it never happens. This year is the year! Produce prices in the grocery store is motivation enough. I feel confident that I'll be successful, I've read the same book over and over again about square foot gardening and I've picked out the area I want to put the garden. The hardest part I think will be deciding exactly what I want and buying it (plant prices aren't cheap!).

Start a compost pile:  I have this under the hard section only because I don't know anything about composting. I suppose a little more research will help me out but it's still kind of intimidating, but honestly, how can you mess up a compost pile?

Curb appeal:  I really need to do something about the outward appearance of our house. It is so boring, dreary even. Since I'll be outside with the vegetable garden, I might as well be gardening in the front too! First thing to go, the rusted old chain link fence around the front.

Wean Alexis:  This is exactly what it says. I have been working on a post about breastfeeding but it's taking me longer than I thought to get my thoughts out exactly the way I want to. It's in the hard section not for me but for Lexi, so far she's down to about 4 times a day; sometime during the day, naptime, bedtime, and once during the night.  I think she'll have a hard time letting go of the very last one, but she may surprise me.


So there you have it. I think this list is manageable, looks like a lot but we're already halfway done with a few of them so it shouldn't be too hard to complete my goals for this year!

1.03.2011

Shutterly {Sweet}...

During the end of November, I  scheduled a photo shoot for the girls so we could get our Christmas cards done. I had never hired a photographer before, we just always went to JC Penney portrait studios to get portraits done but had started feeling as if they looked unnatural and felt rushed and that there wasn't really any real connection with the photographer. Anyways, I found a photographer who works part time doing photo shoots at the location of your choice for a very reasonable price and I loved her portfolio on her Facebook page.

[Enter Holly Hill from Shutterly {Sweet} Photography]

I wanted an urban setting because I really didn't want the pictures to seem "Christmasy" and she suggested Olde Towne Portsmouth, so away we went!

I was VERY pleased with the way the shoot went, even though it was absolutely freezing on the day we went (the wind was bone chilling,) Holly did a great job keeping the girls laughing and smiling and happy as could be and captured some fabulous shots of my sweet girls.






What an easy going personality Holly has too, after talking to her throughout the shoot I found out she literally lives about a minute away from me, I've walked past her house countless times, such a small world!

1.02.2011

How To Spend The First Day Of A New Year

Here's how we celebrated the new year. We let Char stay up and Lexi woke up shortly before the ball dropped so we let her stay up too. As soon as the ball dropped there were kisses all around, the lights went out and we all crashed. The weather was pretty mild on January 1 so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go back to Kid's Cove at Mt. Trashmore. Of course the weather was nice but there was tons of snow all over the ground from the previous week and it was slippery and melting which meant falls and wet toes. We had fun though, nice to get out and run around like a crazy person when you've been cooped up for a while due to bad weather.










 My 3 kids passed out in random spots



 The girls with Uncle Mikie the before he left early the next morning

1.01.2011

I Resolve...

I've been thinking about this quite a lot. I think it's important to set up goals that you want to accomplish for the new year and thought Travis and I should sit down and discuss what we want to achieve in 2011.

Of course he told me making resolutions was stupid and he didn't want to make any goals or plans.


So I've been thinking about it by myself...

I haven't actually completed my list yet, I don't want to make some easy to obtain goal that I would have done wether or not I resolved to do it, so I carry around a little notepad and write down whatever comes to mind. When I finally get my list together, which will hopefully be by the end of the first week of January,  I will be sure to post it for the world to see. Maybe that way I'll actually stay on track!

2009-2010: I resolved to take a "real" family vacation every year. We didn't take a vacation last year so I've already failed that one!

What are my lurkers resolving to do this year?