A.C. (After Christmas)

Our post-Christmas happenings, were a bit scattered.

First of all, we enjoyed 1 week off from school...that was really nice! ;0) We also enjoyed a break from all extra-curriculars...but that break extends for one more additional week. I looooove all of the programs the kids are a part of...but the occasional break from being "Taxi Driver" is a nice change of pace too. :0)

This week we attended the Big Bay Balloon Parade...our 3rd year in a row!  The prior 2 years we have jumped on the trolley, and have taken that down to the parade. But this year, I decided to leave the "trolley drama" behind us, and spend the additional $5 to drive ourselves down to the parade. It was toooooootally worth the extra $5!!!

We had so much fun with our friends...

 

 

 

 

 

...especially when our friends are the bearers of bagels...

 

...AND donuts, lol!...

 

Time to snuggle up...

 

...and actually watch the parade...

 

 

 

 

 

(Just look at THIS chance shot!)...

 

 

 

I love this parade tradition we have!

After the parade, our week consisted of only 2 things...

1. For me, I had an unexpected surge of "Must.Organize.All.Things.Disorganized." Our house is very small...so on the daily I keep our house clean and tidy...or in a heartbeat, this very small house can look quite chaotic. I'm not sure if it was all the new Christmas presents that the kids got or what, but all of a sudden, everything felt very disorganized, lol.

So my first projects were organizing the kids' toys. I was so pleasantly surprised when I went to Target and found the organizing things I wanted to purchase for the kids rooms, to all be on sale!!! :0)))

Now all of Bea's toys are sorted and stored in these cute little cubbies...

 

And now all of Wyatt's (thousands of) Legos are displayed in these cubes...

 

The most intense organizing project I completed this week, was dealing with these...

 

What are these? These are my post-marriage-but-pre-baby idea of fun and organization, lol. Inside each of these categorized binders are clippings from magazines of various things...there are multiple recipe binders (categorized by meal, of course), "general" crafts, "Special Occasion" crafts, scrapbooking, diet/fitness techniques, etc.

 

I took pride in these binders...

Years ago.

But in the heat of my organization frenzy this week, my eyes locked on to these binders, and I knew I had to do something about them. I haven't touched them in what felt like forever. I have a personal policy of not keeping things around that I haven't used in forever. I needed to go through them and pull out only the necessities.

What a job that was.

Going through those binders was bittersweet. On one hand I remember fondly what it was like to have time to clip magazine articles and categorize them so neatly. I remember what it was like to actually MAKE the recipes in those binders, and COMPLETE the project ideas that were in those binders. I actually WAS "Pinterest" before "Pinterest" was invented, LOL! But on the flip side, those memories were of a totally different season in my life...almost a lonely season. So while I think it's natural as a young/busy mom to occasionally pine for a break in the day/week, I also fully acknowledge that this season (the young/busy mom) is the season I have been pining for since the day I could play house with my Cabbage Patches and Strawberry Shortcakes!

So in the end, I tossed HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS (maybe thousands?) of papers into the recycle bin...but I DID keep about a dozen project-idea-articles from those binders that I thought I would realistically accomplish...because after all, I am not all "mom," there is still some of the "individual" Elizabeth under this skin. :0)

2. While I was fully engulfed in the organizational fog, the kids' post-Christmas plans were ALL about playing!!!...and 99% of that time, it meant, playing LEGOS!...

 

I never had an actual doll house when I was a little girl...but I was the QUEEEEEEN of playing doll house, so I just made do with whatever items were at my disposal to use as a house and/or furniture. As I was constructing Bea's organizational cubical, the urge to "play house" came flooding back! These cubes would be the PERFECT rooms for a doll house!!! So when my organization projects were completed, I joined in on the play, and I showed my girl a thing or two on playing doll house! :0)

 

 

It was SO MUCH FUN to play house again...setting up the furniture...dressing the dolls...and placing them strategically in the house. I can hear Barbara Streisand singing now..."Meeeeeemorieeeees...."

 

So that was it for us!

SSSSSHHHH...if you can keep a secret I'll also tell you that I snuck out of the house after the kids were asleep, and I met up with my sister and my mom for ladies night...(thank you hunny!!!) :0)

 

It's sad when the "most fresh produce they have had all week" comes from the 2 fresh strawberries on their strawberry shortcake dessert, BAHAHAHA!!!

 

Now that's truthfully the down-low on our up-and-up! Until next week!...

...And a Happy New Year! (Resolutions 2013)

I really liked my 2012 Resolutions! I feel really good about how I carried through with MOST of them!

I can't believe that the kids and I haven't consumed fast food AT ALL in 365 days! I am still passionate about my grievances towards fast food, so while I am NOT making it a resolution to abstain from dive-thru's in 2013, I still have no intention/desire to return there. Although, I think I hear something in the far distance..."McRib, is that you calling my name?????" ;0)

Unfortunately, the organic food thing didn't really stick. It wasn't outrageously expensive, but is was MORE expensive than non-organic. So when unexpected bills come your way, and when you are a young family, it seems like there are always unexpected expenses!!!..."extras", like organic foods, are the first things to be cut out of the budget. Even though I didn't stick with the organic thing, I am totally impressed with the way we shifted our intake of foods. So much of our foods in the past were highly processed. But this year I transformed our diets, and the GREAT MAJORITY of our foods were fresh and natural.

I feel very good about what I accomplished in the fitness arena. With the exception of just a few lame-duck-weeks over the course of 2012, on average, I think I DID exercise the 5 days a week like I had intended to. :0)

My spiritual goals were much like the result of my fitness goals. With the exception of a few lame-duck-days, in general, I was in the Word daily. In addition, 1/4 of the way through the year, we started a family devotional, and that has been such a blessing to our every morning. The ending of my service to MOPS was a great burden lifted. I loved being with the women, but the amount of responsibility was great...too great. In May, it was bitter-sweet to say goodbye to that position, but now that more than 1/2 of a year has passed, I can say in great reflection, that my burden is so much lighter now that that chapter has closed. I welcomed a new position serving as Co-Director of "Sparks" for 2012/2013 at Awana, and I'm prayerful about whether I will continue in this position for the 2013/2014 year. My most rewarding/enjoyable position at church this year has been the one thing I was not anticipating being a part of! I have SOOOOO LOVED being the teacher of the 1 year old class at Sunday School!!! I absolutely adore those not-quite-a-baby-not-quite-a-toddler-munchkins!!! This past year I have struggled in my heart with wanting another baby for our family. This little Sunday School class has been such an aid to me in this arena. Some weeks I walk away from that class saying, "Oooooh, holding those little ones gave me just the baby-fix I needed!!!" ...and other weeks I have walked away from the class saying, "Oh my word, that was ROUGH! Thank you Lord that crying ends (for me) after 90 minutes, and that I don't have to bring any of the criers home with me for a lifetime!"...is that horrible!?! LOL!

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So, for 2013....

Physical- I'm going to finish what I started! Through the continued use of Weight Watchers, I am going to reach my goal weight in 2013!

I am closing the chapter on the "Fast Food Ban of 2012" (but again, I STRONGLY PREFER that my family does NOT consume FF in 2013...I'm just not going to have an emotional heart attack if we do)...and for 2013 I am going to introduce a new challenge...just for myself (my family not included):

I will not drink anything but water in 2013.*

*Exceptions: 1. My mom was gifted a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne early last year...we vowed to open it when we both reached our goal weight. If that should happen in 2013, I will be drinking that champagne. :0) 2. If there is a period of spiritual fasting in 2013, then I WILL be consuming beverages other than water for nutritional purposes.

The purpose of this goal is to weed out additional junk I'm putting in to my system. I NEVER drink milk (or milk alternatives), so I will not be losing nutritional benefits from that aspect. While water is the liquid I consume through most of my day, there is the occasional real soda, diet soda, coffee drink, juice, various alcohol, milk shake, smoothie, diet Powerade, hot chocolate, etc. that are all ridden with sugar, fat, and/or chemicals that I don't need to be putting in to my body. In addition to the physical benefits of abstaining from these beverages, this challenge gives me the opportunity to sharpen my "self control" skills.

Mental- I am going to copy my 2012 resolution of: I will exercise 5 days a week. Yes, this is for my mental stability…my head-game functions superior when I am consistently exercising.

Emotional- My emotional resolutions are directed toward my relationship with my husband. Not to worry, everything is just peachy with us :0)...but with intentional attention, I'd like to take what's great, and make it even better. I have plans and prayers to put my desires into action...but that's all I'm going to say about that. ;0)

Spiritual- I will continue to read my Bible daily. But the new thing I would like to add for 2013 is that I would like to journal on the daily...even if it's just a couple of sentences...reflecting on what I just read, and how I can apply it to my life. I would also like to use this journal to note my prayers, and check them off as they have been answered.

So that's it for me.

I don't think New Years Resolutions are Bible, but I do think they are fun. Whether new beginnings/plans fizzle or stay-put, I am not deterred. I LOVE a fresh start. I love the first day of the new year, the first day of a new month, the first day of a new week, and during my journey through Weight Watchers, I have even grown to embrace the next/new hour in my day (if I have just made a poor eating choice, I don't have to throw everything out the window for the rest of the day, and re-start my diet "tomorrow"...I can begin making better choices "now".)...in a nutshell, living in a world that will always be flawed, and being a person that will always be flawed, just like my hope in the return of Jesus Christ, I LOVE the hope of fresh starts and new beginnings!!!

2012 was INCREDIBLE...I'm SO excited about the prospects for 2013..."HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"

We Wish You a Merry Christmas...

Our 2-Day Merry Christmas Celebration was packed full of fun!!!

On Christmas Eve morning, we finally got to open the final box on the advent calendar!!! This was our first year doing an advent calendar, and it was SO much fun!...it didn't hurt that it was a "Lego" advent calendar (their current obsession in life, lol)...

 

Christmas Eve is always spent with my family. Before our evening of "party" started, we met up with MOST of my family at my sister's church to celebrate to the TRUE meaning of Christmas...the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!...

 

 

What happens between the pews, stays between the pews...

 

After church, we caravaned over to my dad & step-mom's house for dinner! :0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner, some of us just relaxed...

 

 

...Some of us wanted a nap...

 

...And some of us competed in the Doll-House-Derby!...

 

We took some pictures in front of the tree...

 

 

(Samantha in standard grand-kid-photo-form, lol...)

 

Then, it was time for the annual musical performances!!! Wyatt and Trevor had been secretly practicing on a piano duet of "Little Drummer Boy" for several weeks! However, because of locational differences, all practicing was done separately...but with their piano instructors. Their first chance to practice together was ON Christmas Eve while the grandparents were otherwise occupied. Much to our (the 2 boys, and my sister and I's) disappointment, the boys just couldn't get the timing/tempo right, and the duet was a no-go. :0((( Such a bummer!!!

BUT the (independent) performances must go on!

Some of my favorite life moments are watching my son perform his talents. :0)...

 

 

 

 

We missed having Brady play the guitar this year :0(...and hopefully Zack will play the piano for us next year! :0)

Our night continued on with the opening of gifts, gifts, and MORE gifts!!!

 

 

Beatrice was up to her ears in presents...literally!!! :-0

 

 

Our night together ended with dessert, of course!...

 

We had so much fun with our family!!! Now that I am older (and wiser?) I can honestly say that material gifts are REALLY NICE, but being with the people you love is even BETTER!

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The kids and I woke up to a wonderful surprise on Christmas morning!

The normally empty tree, was now FULL with presents...

 

The stockings were overflowing with treats...

 

And SOMEONE ate the cookies we set out for him! ;0)...

 

Rick had to work Christmas Eve night, so we waited to open our gifts until he got home in the morning. During that hour-or-so-waiting-time there was a lot of inspecting of the packages. Wyatt was SOOOOO SHOCKED and EXCITED that "Mrs. Clause" had presents for him too!!! Bea and I had listened to him say over and over (and over again) "I wonder what Mrs. Clause gave to me!?!?" When Rick got home, the Mrs.-Clause-Mystery was finally revealed!!! Inside the 4 packages from her were.......drum roll.....socks and underwear!!!...BAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

Of course Christmas wasn't a total bust though, lol...

 

 

 

I was super excited about my new robe...

 

...and my new fitness heart rate monitor!!!...

 

Christmas Cuddles were the VERY BEST!!!...

 

After hours of constructing new toys, it was time for me to get in the kitchen and make Christmas Dinner happen! I usually make a pot roast for this occasion, but I had a B.O.G.O. on the Thanksgiving Turkey, and so it was turkey for Christmas as well! :0) At Thanksgiving we ALWAYS have my mom's-family-recipe-stuffing...and so for Christmas, I decided to make my dad's-family-recipe-stuffing! This stuffing is way involved! First, you have to buy 5 loaves (!!!) of french bread, and then cube it up. Then, you soak those cubes in milk/water (GAG!)...

 

After you squeeze the liquid out of the bread, you add the rest of the ingredients...the most exciting of "other" ingredients, is of course the POUND of melted/browned butter! MMMMMMMM...

 

After the stuffing is prepared, you separate the skin of the turkey from the meat of the turkey, and you shove this stuffing in between those 2 parts...you have one VERY STUFFED turkey!!! And then it's on to roasting for hours! It wasn't uber pretty, but it sure tasted A-MA-ZING!!!!

 

For dessert, we had a couple of options...I had thought about making that incredible vanilla pound cake that I had been dreaming about...and then I had considered making the "Hot Chocolate Cupcakes" that were eyeing me in my cupboard...BUT in the end, one of Bea's Christmas gifts won out the competition...the Dairy Queen Blizzard Maker!!!

 

 

 

Rick utilized some of his stocking stuffers for his treat, lol!...

 

So that was our Christmas!

I can't believe how fast this holiday season came and went!

Every year life passes by quicker and quicker! :0/ Some days that's a good thing ("Kids stop fighting!"..."Seriously!? You spilt your milk!? Again!?"...), but over all it's too fast for my liking. These kids are growing by leaps and bounds on the daily, and before I know it they won't fit comfortably in my lap anymore. :0(

OK, enough about that...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!