Best of 2013

I know this is kind of picture overload, but here are some of my favorite shots from last year.  It really was a good one for our family.  We had happiness, heartache, rest, fun, messes, and all that comes with life.  We met people who opened our minds and our hearts, and lost some who left behind a hole that can't be filled, and a joy that came from knowing and loving them.  We loved each other, we loved our life, we loved others, and we truly loved 2013.

 

Resolution

New Years Resolutions are one of those things that I always love, and always end up hating.  I've kept a few in my day, but the reoccurring ones seem to...well, reoccur year after year.  I've never been a great goal-setter, mostly for the fact that I either reach too high or they have no real definition (i.e. lose weight, be more spiritual, etc.)  This year, I'm hoping that the goals I set will be different and attainable. 

1. Lose 50 pounds this year.  I wish that was the end of the road, but I still have more to lose on top of that.  That will be a task for 2015, I think.  I'm very optimistic about this goal, because at the end of last year, I had already started losing by tracking my calories on www.livestrong.com and by working out (going to the gym to do the treadmill, elliptical, etc and by going to Zumba twice a week).  I will continue to do those things, but happily for me, they are now offering more Zumba classes each week.  I'm ready to be healthy.  It's about stinking time.

2.  Read 50 books this year.  I LOVE to read, but somewhere between three kids and laziness, my reading has seriously slacked in recent years.  So my goal is 50 books, which is almost one a week.  And the real kicker is that half of them have to be books I have never read before.  I love love love the books I love, and so I revisit them often.  I'm trying to broaden my horizons, though, and so would love suggestions.

3.  Read the scriptures more this year.  This seems like a "no real definition" kind of goal, but it isn't.  I will read at least a verse, every day.  No matter where I am or what is going on around me.  I will also finish both the Book of Mormon and the New Testament this year.

4.  Spend time every day with each of the kids playing and reading.  That means meaningful play.  Sometimes when I tell them to play, they (especially Andrew) looks around as if to say, "But how?"  So I am going to make sure to get down on the floor every day and show them how to have fun with their toys, puzzles, games, etc.  And that also means reading at least one book to them each day.  They love to read, and I love to read to them, but there are days when I find that I haven't cracked a single book.

So that's it.  I'm hoping that this will make me more accountable.  I love making New Year's Resolutions, and I especially love completing one.  What are yours?

Brace Yourself for Christmas!

Creativity

Andrew has been so creative lately.  I love seeing him grow up and come into his own.

These are balloons, so left to right from top to bottom we have: a grip, Daddy's toothbrush, a smiley face, circle, the happy boy, a hat, a cannonball, a horse, and a firefighter.

Growing Like a Weed

Charlie is 10 months now.  He is getting so big, and doing so many things.  He can say dada (daddy), Ah-duh (Andrew) and Baba (bottle).   He has said Mama one time.  Little punk.  :)  He also can crawl like lightning, cruise around the house like a pro, and on Friday he decided to start standing up on his own without supporting anything.  He loves clapping, and applauds everything he does.  Wonder where he learned that.....  The best part is that he also applauds most everything I do.  I sing a song, he claps.  I read a page of a book, he claps.  I do a silly dance, he claps.  And I don't even have to pay him.

Charlie is such a joy to know, and we love him so much.

He also thinks that every moment is about him.  When I get the camera out, he instantly hurries over and starts grinning.