20-11 Resolutions Wrap-Up

I started off well... but when I started these we weren't planning on moving back to Texas. And then I wasn't planning on planning a 5K or really putting effort into my photography business. So some resolutions changed, and some were crossed off the list completely... here's a wrap up.

MY TWENTY GOALS

I crossed 6 out of 20 goals off of the list, leaving 14 goals.

I completely finished 4 out of 14 goals.

I partially finished 7 out of 14 goals.

I didn't begin/finish 3 out of 14 goals.

THE GIRLS' ELEVEN GOALS

We completely finished 7 out of 11 goals.

We partially finished 2 out of 11 goals.

We didn't begin/finish 2 out of 11 goals.

BOLD = I worked on
Plain = Not done
Strikethrough = Crossed off the listRed, Bold, Italics= FINISHED

My Twenty
1. Go on three dates (3/3)
2. Complete three 5Ks (1/3) - I'm 5Ked out
3. Get down to goal weight by losing 18lbs (18/18) - Ten more pounds for 2012 :)
4. Refinish my antique dresser - It's in the garage, still untouched
5. Read 24 books (10ish/24) - I have no idea how many books I read. But I feel like I got some good reading in this year.
6. Read the Book of Mormon cover-to-cover - I read some, but not all of it. Priority for 2012
7. Make a Christmas activity advent calendar - Didn't do it. I regret it too. But I have different advent plans for Christmas 2012.
8. Improve photography skills by learning from 20 sources (20/20) - I've learned so much this year, from at least 20 sources and lots from trial and error and wonderful friends :) 
9. Go to the temple once-a-month - Next year I'm 
10. Find my father - As of right now it's just not a priority, my life is really full as it is and I am really blessed.
11. Cook a healthy dinner at least 100 nights this year - I did some. I have no idea how many, but I plan to rock this goal out for 2012.
12. Start and catch up on Addi's baby book - I worked on it but still have a ton to do.
13. Start Hannah's baby book - Started it, but still have a ton to do.
14. Make a book out of my old blog - This just didn't happen
15. Make a quilt - Don't care
16. Sand and paint kitchen stools and chairs - We don't need stools in our new house and the chairs are fine as is.
17. Learn to grill and grill during every Longhorn Football Game - I can make some mean hamburgers, and we grilled during most of the games :)
18. Make a monthly budget - This is a huge goal in 2012
19. Take some classes online  - 2012 will be the time for getting pre-reqs done for physical therapy school... it's back to school I go!
20. Get engaged (Hey, I can be ambitious) - Not even ready for this. MAYBE by the end of next year. MAYBE.

The Girls' Eleven
1. Go to a parade - We went to one for the Fourth of July in Corpus Christi!
2. Go out-of-state - We moved to Texas! Check.
3. Do a craft at least once a month (9/12) - We definitely colored every month, but as far as a distinct crafting experience... we did that more months than not :)
4. Go to Pioneer Farms - We have a season pass, but have still never been. We'll definitely go in 2012
5. Go to a dinosaur museum - We did with my mom and grandma right before we moved! And Addi loved it
6. Go for a walk on temple grounds once a month (3/12) - We did this before we moved, but drove past the temple twice since being back in Texas.
7. Go to the library once a month (12/12) - This is something we do almost every week. So glad that I made this a goal because it's become one of our favorite things to do. Followed by Round Rock Donuts of course!
8. Go to the aquarium - We did at Sea World, so I'm counting that.
9. Ride on the Hill Country Flyer - Just didn't happen this year.
10. Go to the beach - We went for the Fourth of July in Corpus Christi!
11. Go to Sea World. - We have season passes and went right before Thanksgiving as well as this week!

a lot of cookie jars.

The times there are a million things to do are the times to be the most productive.

Productivity in my life skyrockets when I have my hands in a lot of cookie jars.

Between...

- Being a mom

- Running a business

- Keeping up a house

- Applying for law school

- Preparing to apply for physical therapy school

- Figuring out what classes I need to take

- Spending time with friends

- Meeting new friends

- Church meetings

- Exercising

etc.... I am busy. And I love it.

going caroling.

People were invited, treats ready, hot chocolate warming... and then people arrived.

Copies of music were made, we practiced around the piano, piano app for the iPhone downloaded so we could play our notes before we sang.

We started walking. And then I fully regretted the decision of going caroling. I didn't really have anxiety for myself, but for the poor people who would have to stand at the door and awkwardly watch us sing to them.

We strategically picked houses that looked like they loved Christmas and baby Jesus, you know, lights outside, a Christmas tree, and some lights on inside to guarantee an audience. We made the guys knock because, well, they've been missionaries before and they're good at that kind of thing.

The first house was a teenaged girl and her dog, poor thing, she felt so awkward, so we only made her listen to one song.

Another house we knew REALLY loved baby Jesus because they had an entire lit-up nativity scene and the words "Happy Birthday Jesus" written out in lights on the side of their fence. They did in fact love baby Jesus as well as our singing.

At one house, people were home, but no one would open the door, so we sang "Silent Night" to a closed door. Then a little boy peeked out of a window above the door and waved to us. I like to think that he's trapped up there all of the time and we brought him Christmas joy. It's not true, but I like to think it.

One house none of us wanted to stop at, because they were lacking in the Christmas decorations... in fact they still had spiders up from Halloween. Derek insisted on stopping. So we did. It ended up being a lady and her 5 dogs, she came outside (it was FREEZING) and listened to us sing songs to her. She told us she's never had carolers before... so ten points for us! (fifteen points for Derek)

The last house we stopped at was a dad and his two young daughters. They loved it. Then I noticed a lady out of the corner of my eye holding up her iPhone and recording us. She must've been the mom... I seriously have NO idea where she came from. Maybe she hides in the bushes for unsuspecting carolers. Regardless, I'm sure we'll be YouTube famous shortly.

All in all, we rocked the caroling. We sung 4-part harmonies (very well I might add), and spread some Christmas cheer. Next time we're bringing pass-along cards because quite a few people asked us what group we were with. In fact, we're going to start a new trend of Fourth of July caroling, Easter caroling, and St Patrick's Day caroling (???)

We came back for some overly chocolately hot chocolate (my fault completely), which we followed with glasses of water to dilute the sugar rush. We then watched <slash> talked through Elf.

The end.

"Prepared"

Everything changed with one word yesterday...

Putting away a very important piece of paper, one word stood out from the many many words... "Prepared"

Telling me that this is right. A good choice. The right decision.

So "Play On" as Carrie Underwood would say. :)

the hunt for the perfect song

I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween ended.

My philosophy is that there is SO much Christmas music that you're allowed to listen to it ASAP to get through all of it before Christmas.

Christmas decorating, however, must wait until after Thanksgiving.

But now... I find myself choosing to listen to other music besides Christmas music. It's one of those times in my life, where I'm on the hunt for the perfect song to explain exactly how I'm feeling. But the problem is that my feelings and emotions keep changing. 

So... I find a song to explain my feelings/emotions, listen to it over and over, and then my emotions change, so I have to find a new song. So the hunt continues. I found something close... but not quite.

Side note, Christmas music is playing in the background as I type... so I feel like I at least have my music priorities straight. :) (Even though part of me would really rather be listening to music to try to find the perfect song. Any perfect songs out there? Send them my way.)

Thanksgiving, bah-humbug

After this year, Thanksgiving had officially become my Official Least-Favorite Holiday.

For the past 3 years, Thanksgiving has been proceeded with or included some awful/not fun event, that was out of my control. In fact, I even wrote out a blog post venting out my frustrations with each of the past 3 Thanksgivings, explaining how not fun they were.

But at the same time, I found it totally ironic, that on the holiday of thankfulness I could not find anything to really be thankful for. I was basically the Scrooge of Thanksgiving. "Thanksgiving, bah, humbug!" I really wanted to get out of that funk.

And today, a week and a half after Thanksgiving, it hit me.

There really is opposition in ALL things, and even though the last 3 Thanksgivings have been rough, with each of these Thanksgivings there has come great clarity in relationships with those closest to me. It has brought forth changes in my life that have been extremely positive. And each year I've been able to have clarity and see the positive changes in my life more quickly.

2 years ago it took about 5 months to have clarity and see the positive changes.

Last year it took about 3 months to have clarity and see the positive changes.

And this year, I am already able to have clarity and see the positive changes.

I am blessed. I am thankful for Thanksgiving. So instead of Thanksgiving being my "Official Least-Favorite Holiday," I'm going to view Thanksgiving as a time for clarity and positive changes... and turkey.

Hannah turned ONE

Hannah turned ONE on Saturday, November 19th!

It's mind-boggling to think that a year has already gone by.

We had a small party with close friends.

For her party...

Presents: She didn't care about opening them, but was interested and loved on everything she got

Cake: Unsure at first, then liked the frosting, but never got to the actual cake. She had a frosting beard/mustache.

Other: She had Claritin before her party, and even though it was "non-drowsy," I highly doubt that claim. She was ready to zonk out, so she took a nap towards the end of her party.

Friends: Three little girls came to the party and the rest were adults. Hannah didn't care, cause well, she's one and doesn't have too many opinions.... yet.

Hannah:

- walks more than she crawls (and she's pretty fast)

- wears size 3 diapers

- wears size 12-18 month clothes

- is between sizes 3-4 shoes

- loves to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" (the verse about clapping and shout "hooray")

- wakes up once at night

- is not a picky eater

- tattle tales on Addi by screaming and yelling (even if Addi did nothing wrong)

- takes one nap a day

- likes to bring things to you so you can say "thank you"

- likes to dance with Addi

- likes to play "Ring Around the Rosie"

- loves when her grandma tickles her face with her hair

- loves balloons

- loves to eat... and eat everything

- won't eat baby food anymore

- no longer drinks from a bottle (except for nighttime feeding)

- likes to have her teeth brushed

- likes to sneak into the bathroom and play in the toilet water

- likes to sneak up the stairs if we leave the baby gate open

- can go up and down the stairs

- loves "Popcorn Popping"

- will ask for "more" food (with sign language) and then will throw the food on the floor

- is a lot more interested in books

- will reach up to play the piano