new years

I Love new years goal setting time.  Here is what I think about goal setting. You really miss out if you do not set goals for yourself.  Sure, you might fail sometimes. Maybe you will even fail every year.  If your goals are lofty and help you improve it is worth shooting for the stars! That being said, I like to focus on one or two important things rather than have a list of goals, otherwise I get too distracted and overwhelmed. I figure if I do one good thing a year I am moving in the right direction and if I live a while longer I will be making steady progress.  When my Mom was dying of cancer one of the things she hated to hear most of all is "oh, it's too late to change."  As one who had only a few months to live, my mom thought it was preposterous to hear people say it was too late to change when they did actually have the time to make it happen.

"I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt  do nothing and succeed." Robert Shuller

"The credit belongs to the man in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and who comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause. The man who at best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who never knew victory or defeat." Calvin Coolidge

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." Thomas Paine''

Like these guys said -- the very worst kind of failure is not trying at all!


This years goals:
1. Finish the ward scripture reading program with Calvin and Clare. Our bishop put together and amazing scripture reading program that runs from Jan 1-Easter to help us know our Savior better. It is about 15 minutes/night. So far, it is great. If you want to check it out here is the link.  

2. no yelling. I am a yeller. I am feisty   I could do better if I use a gentle voice more often. One of my friends said that years ago she was talking to her kids about yelling and her kids told her she yells too much. She is not a yeller, but they lived in a big house and she'd often yell upstairs to tell the kids to get up or come downstairs!  She was shocked to find out that her kids thought she was a yelling mom!  I loved that she decided not to yell when she heard this. It was years ago and she is a great example of mothering to me.  This year, I am going to work on not yelling (as much)!   I want to have a more peaceful house and I know that this starts with me. I have some super sweet soft spoken friends whose kids are soft spoken and it is absolutely amazing to me.  Though we will never be THAT soft spoken I want to use more gentle words this year and walk around my big house if I need something rather than yell. (hey, it'll be good exercise too).  I want to save the real yelling for when the kids really need to be scared into stopping (like running into the road or doing something really dangerous). 

Here is my quote to go along with that "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

Keeping this in mind I am trying to find alternative ways to talk to the kids when they make me mad, don't obey and fight with each other.

Christmas 2012

We got SLAMED with sickness this Christmas. Lex threw up one time Dec 20th.  Then Chrsitmas Eve around 2am Clare woke up sick. Poor little thing was basically stuck downstairs (we had barricaded the stairs so nobody could come upstairs and peek). Clare made it through most of present opening but was so sick that over the next few days she was surprised at all the presents she realized she had or others had that she didn't remember seeing on Christmas Day. Alexey and Calvin got it on the 27th. Abbey got it on the way home in the car and on the airplane (poor dear) on the 27th also. Denise and Scott got it on the 31st (at almost the exact minute - though scott was back home in DC), Jo got it on the 4th. So far Dave is the only one who was spared. Lance didn't get it either but he was sick with something else all week. It was a crazy few weeks but on the bright side we were all done with kids sing, we were able to sit around and watch TV all day, nobody threw up in the car and really nobody was seriously sick. It is just awful but not life threatening or anything. And my kids actually thought it was awesome because they got to watch so much TV. The days after I had it we watched all the star wars movies together!

 

Anyway, in spite of the sickness we moved on as usual.

 

 

 

 

santa came...

Jo- talking doll and chair

Calvin -mario cart remote controlled car

Clare - CD player with CD's - Taylor Swift Red, Primary Songs and Peter Pan

Lexey - Play Kitchen

 

Also Santa brought each kid some sugar cereal. This was awesome since mom never buys sugar cereal, it was a special treat. Plus it was great becuase I didn't have to do anything for breakfast on Chrsitmas day!

calvin can't wait to come upstairs!

The entire gang (Clare is hiding) Abbey (far left) is scott's girlfriend who came to spend a couple of days with us

 

LOVE lexey's face when she first saw her Play Kitchen!

Clare

her favorite Christmas gift was this journal.  Who knew it would be the $5 little extra that is her treasured possession.

 

Lex wins prize for most darling on christmas morning!

She loves her new shoes.

 

This is her I - am- so- happy- I -am-shocked face!

well, maybe she tied with Jo! She was pretty cute too!

This toy shopping cart actually came with LExey's kitchen but Jo swiped it so fast everyone considered it hers. Lex was sweet to give it up to Jo forever!

It is perfect for pushing around babies and mimi's (her name for her little blankets).

Lance was not feeling well all week. Not sure what bug got him. He didn't eat and could barely lift his head up he was so tired. Unlike the rest of us, he didn't barf so he obviously have something different.

 

The best part of Christmas was Skyping with Dan! It was great to see him. He weighs 200 lbs, down from 300 lbs last May! He is amazing. He is definitely more serious than he was 6 months ago but still has his humor and cute personality! I am posting all of these pics b/c I didn't go through and pick out a favorite yet.

Lance loves tressel.

Calvin made this gingerbread house at school!  He had a lot of help. It sounds like he basically told the adult where to put everything and they made it for him. Glad he had a good time and was very happy about how things turned out.

meal planning

My cute sis-in-law has been posting weekly menus on her blog. It is nice to share ideas and also have a record of what has been done in the past so that hopefully meal planning in the future will be easier!

This week I'll join in the fun.

M - Pizza and Apple Crisp!!  National championship game!
T - stacked veggie enchaladas
W - stir fry- My Mom's recipe. I will write it out another time.
Th - veggie pasta. Saute veggies in pan with a little oil and garlic salt. Add a can of stewed tomatoes. Blend in Blender to chunky consistensy and simmer. Pour over hot lb of cooked pasta. Serve with parm cheese.
Fri - date night
Sat -  tortilla soup
Sun - crock pot enchaladas

Other things to try
mushroom barley soup

I like two peas and their pod. She is obviously a healthy eater and most of her meals are meat free, so we'll try a few of her recipes this week!

12 year anniversary!

Dave is so great!  Being married to Dave makes traveling life's journey and adventure!  He is fun, smart, hard working and so good to me!

We still haven't had our anniversary date since Dave was on call and we have been bombarded with sickness around here. I'm sure we'll do a dinner date soon and then we're also looking to do a one nighter somewhere fun in the near future.  The best anniversary ever was our 10 year where we went to the Rose Bowl (parade and football game)!  Maybe for our 13th we will get lucky with another Ohio State appearance at the Rose Bowl!

Here are some wedding pics:

Look how cute Dan was!  

Darling Shianne!

park day!

Jo wears pj's most of the time because our house is so cold and she still spends a good portion of the day napping.  In spite of it, she loves to wear her shoes so this is often the sight you'll see -shoes and jammies!  

sweetest little face!

 At this time (about a month ago) - jo was afraid of everyone. She started crying because a big guy with long hair looked at her and said hi.

Lex is so full of personality!

 Sweet Clare bear!