Really? Can it already be 2010? Why is it that the 90's just don't seem like they were that long ago?!? Am I really getting that old? lol.
2009 was a crazy year. Sometimes crazy good, sometimes crazy bad. But crazy all the same. But I find myself at the end of this year in good health, with a healthy family and wonderful friends, so it was a good year.
2010 brings about so much potential, so many possibilities. I don't like to think in terms of resolutions, but instead in terms of goals. I think about the goals I have for the upcoming year, the things I hope to accomplish. And granted, most of them are the same ones I have year after year, partly because some of them I just can't seem to focus on as much as I would like to, and some of them are those never-ending kind of goals, the ones that you can work on for the rest of your life. For example I want to be the best mother that I can possibly be, so I always work on that, year after year. I want to be the best friend that I can be, the best wife that I can be, the best daughter that I can be, etc, etc. I just want to be the best person and do as much with this life that I have been given. So those things are my goals year after year. But then there are the goals like finally losing all the weight and getting into shape and being healthier. And goals like finally finishing my novel and submitting it for publication. And learning to be organized and learning how to keep my house clean and organized. I want to be more involved with volunteer work, and giving of my time and talents. I want to make sure I am always looking for ways to make someone else's life easier, or put a smile on someones face, or give them an unexpected surprise.
I need to get back on track financially and get our savings back where it needs to be. We had been doing so well with the financial peace program, and doing what we needed to be doing. But then somehow this year, I just stopped focusing on money, on saving, on being financially responsible, lol. Partly it was the stress of school, I just didn't have the energy or focus to sit down and write out my budget and focus on it. Part of it is because I look at money as just paper, and because I don't take it too seriously, in the end I don't treat it how it should be. I bounce back and forth between the mentalities of "Save for a rainy day, be thrifty, live simple" and "You can't take it with you, experience everything you can while you can!". I always think what if Alan, or I, or one of the kids were to die (I know, morbid, but it's always in my head) would I want us to have had all of these fun family experiences that cost money, or would I want a bunch of money in the bank and we didn't do very much? I go overboard though, and I realize this. I buy too many things for the kids, we are always doing things that cost money, but I never think of it in terms of money. I just think, wow, this will be so special for my kids or my family, and I do it. So I need to stop and become more thrifty and learn to take money more seriously. So this year, for 2010, I will learn how to be frugal, learn to pay attention to the price of things, learn to stick within a budget.
These are the things I will work on and focus on for the new year. 2010 will be a good year.
I hope 2010 brings you blessings, faith and love as well. :)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
We love the snow!
We have had so much fun playing in the snow for the past couple of days. We made snowpeople! :)
I have to say though, that I am thoroughly disappointed in the lack of snowmen around. I mean, how often do we get good snowman making snow?! I expected to see lots of snowmen and fun snow sculptures as I drive around town, but alas, I have only seen couple. How sad.
But we did our part. Maybe we will make a whole army of baby snowmen tomorrow......
We started building a snowball fort, in hopes to have two of them facing eachother, and the boys or Alan could throw snowballs at eachother from their own fort. But we didn't even finish the first one, however, we still probably have a few days of snow to play with.....
Starla has a blast throwing snowballs at Roman.
I have to say though, that I am thoroughly disappointed in the lack of snowmen around. I mean, how often do we get good snowman making snow?! I expected to see lots of snowmen and fun snow sculptures as I drive around town, but alas, I have only seen couple. How sad.
But we did our part. Maybe we will make a whole army of baby snowmen tomorrow......
We started building a snowball fort, in hopes to have two of them facing eachother, and the boys or Alan could throw snowballs at eachother from their own fort. But we didn't even finish the first one, however, we still probably have a few days of snow to play with.....
Starla has a blast throwing snowballs at Roman.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The christmas aftermath
It's been a pretty quiet couple of days. Due to the snow, we didn't get to see much of our family on Christmas, which is kinda sad. We did a quick drive-by dropping off of gifts at my brothers houses, which is better than nothing, but not idea all the same. My grandparents are rescheduling their Christmas with my extended family for next weekend, so at least it's not cancelled all together. As sad as it is, Christmas is about the only time a year I get to see some of my family, so I hate to miss it!
Bourbon left sunday to his dads and won't be back until wednesday, so it's just been the other 2 & I at home. (Alan's always either at work or asleep!)
Starla & I have had a head cold for what seems like forever. But it seems to be getting worse instead of better! Her poor cough is awful. She actually had a fever yesterday, but it went away quickly. So we haven't done much of anything. On saturday we went to the Lego store at the mall so the kids could use the gift certificates that they got from Nanny & Papa, and we dropped gifts off at a couple of places, but that was it. Yesterday Starla & I didn't even venture outside at all. I wanted to take them to the omniplex today, but we still aren't over our colds, so maybe tomorrow....
But just to get out of the house we went to wal-mart today, How sad is that, to go to wal-mart just to have an excuse to get out of the house?! lol. But the kids got to
play at the fun center, and Starla got to ride the little rides, so at least it felt like a little adventure to them.:)
We did get outside and make snowmen today too! I will post pictures of that later! I know, I'm a blog-aholic. :)
So we've had a lot of video games, board games, movies, legos, puzzles and book reading going on in the last few days. It's been relaxing and fun. I've actually gotten to read for pleasure and not for school, woo hoo! I probably have over 50 books I've bought and not had the opportunity to read, so I have LOTS to keep me busy. :)
Starla got candyland & chutes and ladders from Jamie, and has been having a blast playing them!
Roman got 5 different Lego Harry Potter sets for Christmas. He had already gotten 3 for his birthday, so he's pretty excited. They are retired, so we can only buy them used (and ridiculously priced) on ebay, but he doesn't mind. They are coming out with the new Lego Harry Potter video game in March, so I am quite certain the Lego Harry Potter sets will become availbale again, which Roman is thrilled about. He's already saving his allowance so he can buy the game when it comes out. :)
So yesterday while Starla took a nap, Roman & I watched the new Harry Potter dvd I got for Christmas while I put together his Lego hogwarts and chamber of secrets sets, lol. It took me the entire 2 hours, but they are complete now! It was actually pretty fun. I might have to play with legos more often. :)
Starla loves playing the piano and singing songs
playing Webkinz on Momma's laptop. :)
Bourbon left sunday to his dads and won't be back until wednesday, so it's just been the other 2 & I at home. (Alan's always either at work or asleep!)
Starla & I have had a head cold for what seems like forever. But it seems to be getting worse instead of better! Her poor cough is awful. She actually had a fever yesterday, but it went away quickly. So we haven't done much of anything. On saturday we went to the Lego store at the mall so the kids could use the gift certificates that they got from Nanny & Papa, and we dropped gifts off at a couple of places, but that was it. Yesterday Starla & I didn't even venture outside at all. I wanted to take them to the omniplex today, but we still aren't over our colds, so maybe tomorrow....
But just to get out of the house we went to wal-mart today, How sad is that, to go to wal-mart just to have an excuse to get out of the house?! lol. But the kids got to
play at the fun center, and Starla got to ride the little rides, so at least it felt like a little adventure to them.:)
We did get outside and make snowmen today too! I will post pictures of that later! I know, I'm a blog-aholic. :)
So we've had a lot of video games, board games, movies, legos, puzzles and book reading going on in the last few days. It's been relaxing and fun. I've actually gotten to read for pleasure and not for school, woo hoo! I probably have over 50 books I've bought and not had the opportunity to read, so I have LOTS to keep me busy. :)
Starla got candyland & chutes and ladders from Jamie, and has been having a blast playing them!
Roman got 5 different Lego Harry Potter sets for Christmas. He had already gotten 3 for his birthday, so he's pretty excited. They are retired, so we can only buy them used (and ridiculously priced) on ebay, but he doesn't mind. They are coming out with the new Lego Harry Potter video game in March, so I am quite certain the Lego Harry Potter sets will become availbale again, which Roman is thrilled about. He's already saving his allowance so he can buy the game when it comes out. :)
So yesterday while Starla took a nap, Roman & I watched the new Harry Potter dvd I got for Christmas while I put together his Lego hogwarts and chamber of secrets sets, lol. It took me the entire 2 hours, but they are complete now! It was actually pretty fun. I might have to play with legos more often. :)
Starla loves playing the piano and singing songs
playing Webkinz on Momma's laptop. :)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas day
It's finally here! Christmas morning!!
Santa brought Starla a bike!
"Now I can ride my bike to school like the boys do!" she says. :)
Emptying the stockings
tearing into the gift from Santa
Roman kept saying how he wanted Santa to bring him a PSP (playstation portable) in his stocking, so that technically it would just be a stocking stuffer and not THE gift Santa brings. I said he shouldn't hold his breath, because that was one expensive stocking stuffer. However Santa is much nicer than I, because Roman got a PSP inside his stocking......
And Santa brought both the boys awesome new scooters (Santa, like myself, thinks the kids need to get outside and play more!!)
"wow, is all this for me?!" (Have I mentioned that my kids are spoiled, and that I tend to go overboard buying gifts?)
We take turns opening gifts, one by one, youngest to oldest, so we can all see what everyone gets. It takes a while, but it stretches it out and makes it last longer! :)
Bourbon picked out this hat for Roman and bought it with his own money. Roman LOVES it.
I have been asking for this cookie jar from Alan for every birthday, christmas, mother's day, etc for the last several years, lol. I wanted the kids to paint one and put their handprints on it. So this year, I took matters into my own hands and we went to the paint it yourself pottery place and I painted it and had the kids put their handprints on it. :) My friend Lori picked it up after it was fired, and wrapped it up so that I at least wouldn't know what it looked like when it was all done. It was exactly what I wanted! :)
The boys' big gift this year were gifts together for the both of them. Bourbon's drum kit for his rock band on the Wii broke, so we found them a new Rock Band set and a new guitar hero set for the Xbox instead.
Time to find the pickle! We always hide the pickle ornament, and the one who finds it gets an extra gift!
This was the first year Starla actually looked for the pickle, although she wouldn't have been too happy with the prize since I only picked it out with the boys in mind......
Bourbon found it! He gets the extra pickle present!
Just what they needed, another video game. :)
It's so nice that the kids are old enough to take decent pics now, lol, so Alan and I can actually be in a picture together sometimes. :)
and we have our annual Loot pictures. Each year I load each kid up on the couch with all of their presents (or as many of them as I can round up, it gets hard when we open gifts for like a week, with different family members & friends on different days, so there are always things missing from the loot pic, which just goes to show how spoiled my kids are.......)
And of course I made a huge breakfast. I swear I could feed an army, I don't know how to cook for less than one. :) We had blueberry spice bread with my homemade bluberry jam, apple hot cross buns, sausage & cream cheese crescent rolls, french toast and sausage balls.
The kids had a blast playing out in the snow!!
Christmas afternoon, Alan is smooth asleep in the middle of the living room, lol, the boys sitting in PJ's playing their new video games (they kept their PJ's on all day,. When they went outside, they layered clothes over them, and then when they came in from the snow, they would strip their wet snowy clothes by the door and be left with PJ's), and Starla playing with her new dollhouse. What a great day.
Starla loves her new toys
It was so nice not having to go anywhere or do anything on Christmas day, for the first year ever I think! We got to just break into all of our new toys and hang out and relax and have a great day!
Santa brought Starla a bike!
"Now I can ride my bike to school like the boys do!" she says. :)
Emptying the stockings
tearing into the gift from Santa
Roman kept saying how he wanted Santa to bring him a PSP (playstation portable) in his stocking, so that technically it would just be a stocking stuffer and not THE gift Santa brings. I said he shouldn't hold his breath, because that was one expensive stocking stuffer. However Santa is much nicer than I, because Roman got a PSP inside his stocking......
And Santa brought both the boys awesome new scooters (Santa, like myself, thinks the kids need to get outside and play more!!)
"wow, is all this for me?!" (Have I mentioned that my kids are spoiled, and that I tend to go overboard buying gifts?)
We take turns opening gifts, one by one, youngest to oldest, so we can all see what everyone gets. It takes a while, but it stretches it out and makes it last longer! :)
Bourbon picked out this hat for Roman and bought it with his own money. Roman LOVES it.
I have been asking for this cookie jar from Alan for every birthday, christmas, mother's day, etc for the last several years, lol. I wanted the kids to paint one and put their handprints on it. So this year, I took matters into my own hands and we went to the paint it yourself pottery place and I painted it and had the kids put their handprints on it. :) My friend Lori picked it up after it was fired, and wrapped it up so that I at least wouldn't know what it looked like when it was all done. It was exactly what I wanted! :)
The boys' big gift this year were gifts together for the both of them. Bourbon's drum kit for his rock band on the Wii broke, so we found them a new Rock Band set and a new guitar hero set for the Xbox instead.
Time to find the pickle! We always hide the pickle ornament, and the one who finds it gets an extra gift!
This was the first year Starla actually looked for the pickle, although she wouldn't have been too happy with the prize since I only picked it out with the boys in mind......
Bourbon found it! He gets the extra pickle present!
Just what they needed, another video game. :)
It's so nice that the kids are old enough to take decent pics now, lol, so Alan and I can actually be in a picture together sometimes. :)
and we have our annual Loot pictures. Each year I load each kid up on the couch with all of their presents (or as many of them as I can round up, it gets hard when we open gifts for like a week, with different family members & friends on different days, so there are always things missing from the loot pic, which just goes to show how spoiled my kids are.......)
And of course I made a huge breakfast. I swear I could feed an army, I don't know how to cook for less than one. :) We had blueberry spice bread with my homemade bluberry jam, apple hot cross buns, sausage & cream cheese crescent rolls, french toast and sausage balls.
The kids had a blast playing out in the snow!!
Christmas afternoon, Alan is smooth asleep in the middle of the living room, lol, the boys sitting in PJ's playing their new video games (they kept their PJ's on all day,. When they went outside, they layered clothes over them, and then when they came in from the snow, they would strip their wet snowy clothes by the door and be left with PJ's), and Starla playing with her new dollhouse. What a great day.
Starla loves her new toys
It was so nice not having to go anywhere or do anything on Christmas day, for the first year ever I think! We got to just break into all of our new toys and hang out and relax and have a great day!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas eve
I'm big on traditions and creating memories for the kids. I love our Christmas eve traditions, and I wonder which ones the kids will remember the most, which ones will be thier favorite momories to look back on. :)
We had tickets for Alan & the boys to go snowtubing at the bricktown ball park at 2pm on Christmas eve, but it got cancelled due to the blizzard and they are rescheduled to go next week.
A blizzard on Christmas eve?! Really?! As excited as we were to have a white Christmas, I have to say, it was really sad to hear about all the deaths in the process. :( I can't imagine losing a loved one on Christmas eve or Christmas day because of snow.
But that being said, I loved watching the excitement in Starla's eyes when she noticed it snowing! We ventured out into the blizzard for a few minutes, but we didn't last long. It probably took us longer to bundle up to go outside! But Starla enjoyed it!
My friend Lori gave us the cutest matching mommy & me aprons for Christmas! Aren't we cute?!
Starla helps cook!
My brothers & families, my aunt and Jamie in addition to my parents were supposed to join us for Christmas eve, but due to the blizzard, my parents were the only ones who came! They braved the snow to spend Christmas eve with their grandchildren. :)
Every Christmas eve the kids get to open one present, new PJ's to wake up in on Christmas morning.
We always have our cookie making done before tonight, but we decorate cookies as a part of our Christmas eve traditions, then we eat a few and leave a few out for Santa!
Hot cocoa and cookies for our evening snack!
We always track Santa's flight on the NORAD tracking system online. It not only shows us where Santa is and where he has already been, but it gives us a running cookie counter to show how many cookies he has eaten so far....
The boys get really into it, and fret about making sure they are in bed by the time he hits the USA..... :)
Alan reads the Christmas books, ending with "Twas the night before Christmas", our annual tradition.
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.....
We had tickets for Alan & the boys to go snowtubing at the bricktown ball park at 2pm on Christmas eve, but it got cancelled due to the blizzard and they are rescheduled to go next week.
A blizzard on Christmas eve?! Really?! As excited as we were to have a white Christmas, I have to say, it was really sad to hear about all the deaths in the process. :( I can't imagine losing a loved one on Christmas eve or Christmas day because of snow.
But that being said, I loved watching the excitement in Starla's eyes when she noticed it snowing! We ventured out into the blizzard for a few minutes, but we didn't last long. It probably took us longer to bundle up to go outside! But Starla enjoyed it!
My friend Lori gave us the cutest matching mommy & me aprons for Christmas! Aren't we cute?!
Starla helps cook!
My brothers & families, my aunt and Jamie in addition to my parents were supposed to join us for Christmas eve, but due to the blizzard, my parents were the only ones who came! They braved the snow to spend Christmas eve with their grandchildren. :)
Every Christmas eve the kids get to open one present, new PJ's to wake up in on Christmas morning.
We always have our cookie making done before tonight, but we decorate cookies as a part of our Christmas eve traditions, then we eat a few and leave a few out for Santa!
Hot cocoa and cookies for our evening snack!
We always track Santa's flight on the NORAD tracking system online. It not only shows us where Santa is and where he has already been, but it gives us a running cookie counter to show how many cookies he has eaten so far....
The boys get really into it, and fret about making sure they are in bed by the time he hits the USA..... :)
Alan reads the Christmas books, ending with "Twas the night before Christmas", our annual tradition.
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.....
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