Resolutions?

I love new years resolutions.  I love goal setting and reaching my goals.  I love the feeling of accomplishment when I check things off my list.  However, this year, resolutions were very difficult.  I am not working out because I don't have a gym membership and I can't run, so setting a workout goal was not an option (nor do I really want to).  Typically, a physical goal is a top priority so I was missing this.  We have discussed and planned our finances a lot since buying a house, so again, not really an option to set new financial goals.  I am out of energy and feel like having a baby makes so many things 'unknown' so I felt like it was difficult to set any other social or family goals.

Anyway, in my search to find fulfillment in setting and reaching goals, I remembered a friend of my who is doing a 101 goals in 1001 days.  Since it is such a long period of time, I could set goals now, to be accomplished at a much later date.  Also, I could start working on projects to finish much later.  Plus, there is a million things piling up that I need motivation to do, so starting this list was therapeutic for me.

I started on Jan 20, so I will end on Oct 18, 2015.  I am missing a couple of goals because I thought I could add some come next year :)   I realize some of these are out of my control (Witness a miracle, Add another best friend) and others are lofty, but I think that by having them in mind, I am more likely to accomplish them. 

1 Hire a photographer & take family photos outdoors

2 Read 50 adult books

3 Visit 20 temples

4 Print blog into a book

5 Make 72 hours kits

6 Make a list of food storage needs

7 Decorate a room!!

8 Vacation with just Dave

9 Do an online class (relicense for teaching?) - work on ECE license

10 Go on a mommy/kid date with each kid

11 Finish Wedding album

12 Put important document in one place for emergencies

13 Watch 25 movies I've never seen

14 Try a different hair style

15 Go a month without sugar

16 Go skiing

17 Treat both sets of parents to dinner

18 Write and send $ to sisters on a mission

19 Send birthday cards to people who are important to me 

20 Send Christmas cards before Dec 12

21 Have 24 Date Nights

22 Make dinner for someone in need

23 Go camping

24 Go to a drive in

25 Plant an herb garden

26 Make a recipe book of my favorites

27 Try 50 new recipes

28 Ride the tracks/frontrunner from the airport

29 Ride the light rail in phx

30 Fingerpaint with the kids

31 Buy a full outfit for myself complete with accessories

32 Plan halloween costumes before October 20th

33 Visit AMY in Mesa

34 Fly to New York

35 Visit Florida

36 Visit 3 places I've never been

37 Refinish baseboards in our house

38 Run 3 races

39 Complete a triathlon

40 Complete personal history (on blog) and print

41 Make lunch for Dave and leave a note in it

42 Go on a trip with friends

43 Have people over for FHE 3 times

44 Get a massage

45 Make sushi

46 Go to a new Hawaiian beach/island

47 Take the kids bowling

48 Buy a new table set

49 Add a new best friend

50 Print 1st year scrapbooks for Hallie and #3

51 Freeze 40 meals 

52 Sew something

53 Wash all the blinds in the house

54 Attend Gilbert open house and dedication

55 Buy a van

56 Do 12 on the 12th photo collage for a year

57 Finish and publish '365 activities to do with a baby' 

58 Do a good deed for a complete stranger

59 Refinish bunk beds

60 Sew a quilt for new baby

61 Learn 5 new songs on the Organ

62 Teach Jackson to read

63 Teach co-op preschool for Hallie (3 year old)

64 Hike Camelback

65 Picnic at Papago Park

66 Go to Hot Air balloon show in NM or Glendale

67 Digitize my parents photo archives

68 Make my own laundry detergent

69 Read 1000 different books to Hallie

70 Read 1000 different books to Jackson

71 Get a mother's necklace

72 Have a technology free weekend

73 See the Grand Canyon

74 Complete 15 activities pinned to pinterest

75 Eat at 5 new restaurants

76 Volunteer in Jackson's class

77 Plan a party for Hallie's 3 year old

78 Find the perfect gift for Dave

79 Make photo calendars for MIL and Mom before Dec

80 Visit all 3 great-grandmas with a plan to do something specific with them

81 Learn to fix-it myself (complete a project on our house/car/etc)

82 Stay within all budgets 3 seperate months

83 Play tennis

84 Plan a fun group date

85 Throw out clothes I haven't worn in over 2 years

86 Only buy clothes I LOVE

87 Take a community photography class/course

88 Complete and print 2012 scrapbook

89 Make a travel photo album (double page spread per travel destination)

90 Pray uninterrupted for 15 mins once a month

91 Read the BoM - with a study guide

92 Read Japanese BoM - all of 1 Nephi

93 Contact an old friend 

94 Witness a miracle

95 Hike Havasupai

96 Have a gospel centered conversation with a someone who is not LDS

97 create a family mission statement & display in home

98

99

100 save one dollar for every item completed (Splurge on something)

101 Make a new list when this one is done

Here's what I'd like to accomplish .  . . what do you hope to do in the next 3 years?

This week

US Airways offered all its employees free entrance to the children's museum this month so we took advantage.  The kids loved it as always.  Jackson really likes this mini ice cream stand where you dish out balls into foam cones.  Hallie was scared and hesitant at first, but eventually ventured out and enjoyed herself.  She likes having Jackson around.

We had a family date night including games, ice cream sundaes and a movie, Brave.  FYI: Brave is SCARY!!  with bears fighting and the mom turning INTO A bear!!  This was not a good choice for a very sensitive little guy.  We just cannot find any G rated movies to watch together.

It rained on Saturday in AZ . . .ALL DAY!  It was definitely a rare sight.  I don't think I've seen rain here since July.  This being the first rain in our new house, we discovered that we get puddles all over our yard.  The kids loved playing in it.

Hallie enters the 'terrific twos"

Hallie turned 2 on January 6th.  She ate her favorite meal and what she will ALWAYS ask for . . . EGGS for breakfast.  

We had church and she had a melt down so she spent the rest of the day on our laps (both Dave and I were teaching, so we were worried, but she sat on my lap without moving or talking so it was fine to teach the 6 years olds with her.

Hallie got a kitchen and a cookie set for her gifts.  The hats and aprons were gifts from my mom for Christmas.  They fit right in.  My mom also gave her the jogging suit in the photo.  She had one from Rich and Ashley when she was younger so I love that she has another one now.  

The hardest part  of her birthday was getting Jackson to let Hallie open the gift and play with them  (or at least get the first chance to play with it). 

We had a little party with cake with 2 of her friends that she loves to hug and tackle, Luke and Tanner.  They are actually much younger than her  . . . "all the better to attack them :)"  I think she had a great day.  

At her 2 year check up she was 30.8 lbs (90%)

35.75 inches (90%)

She is our happy, sweet, loving girl.  She loves to laugh and when she thinks something is funny, she will laugh and try to get Jackson going with her.  They can laugh and laugh for a long time.  

When someone is sad or crying, Hallie will try to hug and give kisses and try to make it better.  Jackson was crying because he got his blankie taken and she gave hers to him (even though he got it taken for being mean to Hallie).  

She gets pretty stubborn and will say NO to everything, including candy, treats, games, etc.  She will get her mind set!  Anytime Jackson say mine about anything, she will get riled up and start arguing right back that it is hers.  Unfortunately, this makes Jackson more likely to tease her.  

She loves to read books and can entertain herself for nearly an hour looking through books.  My favorite is how she imitates the looks of the characters in the books or finds something funny and gets antsy in anticipation of that page and picture. 

She uses 3-7 word sentences not and her language is really developing.  She is able to say "baby-sitter" and other long words very clearly, but still struggles with Thank you (gank, gank) and Jackson (Dax).

She LOVES the 'new baby' and will randomly give my belly kisses and pats.  She is so excited for a baby in the house. 

Hallie loves sitting on the potty, but has yet to succeed in actually going.  She is very aware of when she fills her diapers and will let us know it is time to change her. 

I just love this girl.  She adds so much happiness and joy to our family.  She is loving and cuddly.  Jackson and her have a special relationship.  She misses him ALWAYS when he is gone.  

We are so happy she is in our family. 

The winner of our family tie is . . .

The GIRLS!!  Baby #3 was found to be a healthy, active baby girl.  Both daddy and I were thinking it was a boy, so we have to re-adjust our thinking and quickly come up with a suitable name.   We spent a good 30 minutes staring at images of this little one moving around in my tummy.  A 28 week ultrasound makes it so much easier to make out images and visuals of the baby.  It didn't hurt that the baby was head up and face out (lets hope she turns downward in the next month).  Both kids are thrilled and so are we!  I can't believe how close we are getting to having her join our family!

Christmas 2012

Enjoying the activities and carousel at Bass Pro Shoppe.  Hallie warmed up to riding the deer and then loved it.





Before Christmas, we did basically every Christmas tradition we could think of: Temple Lights, Gingerbread trees, Lights on the street, movies, books, hot chocolate, Ward Parties, etc.  We had a great season and both kids were old enough to enjoy.  Except Hallie did NOT like to sit on Santa.  The concept of Santa was thrilling and she loves to see photos or books, but the actual man scared her to death and she would beg for moms lap.  Jackson changed his wish list from a "woody" action figure to a giant dinosaur (because he played with one at a friend's house).  This sent us on a last minute chase for the 'perfect' gift and how to get it up to Utah.  Watch the final video to see what he ended up with.  It was a hit!

We were still waiting for an empty flight on Sunday, but we got to go to church in our own ward and dress the kids up a bit.  Hallie found a necklace in my jewelry box and even though it was an expensive one I thought, "Someone should wear this, since I don't!"  She kept it on for all of church along with her headband!

We made a flight to Utah on Christmas Eve morning right before the white Christmas blew threw.  We had a wonderful Christmas morning (bright and early . . .like at 4:30 am!)  

Hallie was in heaven!  She got a doll that she gets to change her diaper, abby cadaby doll, dress ups, blanket, books, slippers, and outfit, jammies, etc.  She loved every gift (except the scary one Jackson got).

 

Here is when Jackson finally actually receives his giant dinosaur..  He was one happy little kid!

 

Jackson was pretty excited about most presents.  This is how he acted about a thomas the train lego set.  Pretty easy to please (although the Toy Story 3 movie was tossed aside without a second thought . . .)

Jackson got a book of Mormon at Church in Sunbeams.  He already has one (he got when he was 2 1/2) so he decided to give it to Hallie.  I know this is young to get a full version of the Book of Mormon, but both kids love to open the book up and pretend to read and they repeat what Dave and I say.  She is pretty excited for a book full of words :) 

Dave got a Laptop and I got a new phone (but get to keep my number! YAY for a data plan!!)  and a Chi straightener.  We had a most enjoyable and Merry Christmas!

Christmas card 2012

Click for a bigger size if you want to read the words

*If I missed you and you'd like to receive one, just email me your address.  Thanks!  

Merry Christmas!

Oahu, Hawaii - 6th anniversary

We've had some pretty crazy and fast-packing trips.  This one tops the charts.  Two months ago we planned a free hotel stay in Oahu over our 6th anniversary.  However, as the date approached, we thought there was NO WAY we would get to go.  There were 2 overbooked flights on Sat, and Sun had only 1 seat.  There were also 49 standby passengers listed in front of us.  We  tried to call on Sunday morning to reschedule our hotel, but they wouldn't.  Dave was hoping we could go on Monday, so he looked at the flights.  Monday was completely full.  However, he just glanced at the Sunday flight and there were 3 seats open.  The parties in front of us all had 4 or more people in them . . .that meant that there was a chance we would get on.  I thought there was no way we could go because we had our kids still with us (originally we planned to take them to Utah on Saturday).  Dave called his mom and she graciously agreed to fly to Arizona, pick the kids up and fly them back to Utah (alone).  Dave looked at the clock and said, "We have 28 mins to pack us for Hawaii, the kids for Utah and get in the car. . . we have  to decide NOW!"  We went for it.  There were no clean clothes (Monday is my laundry day) and the house was a mess.  We were both running around like crazies and we forgot several things, but we jumped in the car.  We dropped the kids off at my brother's church and they watched the kids for the rest of the afternoon & took them to the airport to meet Dave's mom later that evening.  What a whirlwind!  The worst part was the 6 hour flight, not knowing if our last minute plans would work out or if some kink would leave our kids stranded with no babysitter for 3 days.  We worried about my MIL flying alone with 2 kids.  It is challenging enough for me, let alone grandma!  We felt totally irresponsible (plus there were empty seats on the flight, so I was wishing we could have brought them!) When we finally landed and found that the plans worked perfectly (as much as they can when there are kids involved) I was finally able to relax and start to enjoy thinking about a Hawaiian Vacation. 

We stayed in Downtown Honolulu, a block from Waikiki beach.  We much prefer the secluded beach to the busy streets and beaches here, but did enjoy the shopping.  

Monday: we headed to the North Shore so I could reminisce about my stay at BYU-H in 2000.  Sunset beach was having a HUGE surf competition and that was fun to watch.  

Snorkling at Shark's cove

Matsumoto's shaved ice

Laie Temple

BYU-Hawaii

My old house

Tuesday: Hiked to the top of Diamond Head crater

Paddle boarded at a secluded bay near Honolulu

Hiked Moana Falls{trickle}

I just noticed that we didn't take a single photo of Waikiki or Honolulu.  We were there for  most of the time.  Our camera died just in time for Wednesday.  We did a session at the temple and then headed to the PCC for the rest of the day.  It was a great experience, even if we don't have photographic evidence :)  We caught a flight at 11:15 and I went straight to Utah to pick up the kids.  Unfortunately, we were slow getting back through security and didn't make it on the flight back, thus we stayed in Utah and Dave joined us on Friday night for the weekend with family.  It was a great relaxing, winter time.