~First Finish of the Year~

I have a number of projects in the works. Some for others and some that just keep getting put on the back burner. I have been putting all my UFO's (unfinished objects) on a list and prioritizing them. I am hoping to get a bunch done in the next few months. My craft area really needs a good cleaning and it would help to not have projects sitting around!My first finish was a crochet blanket for a friend who got married in Nov. I love this pattern!!! It was easy but it used a lot of yarn and a lot of time:-) I did most of it while the boys were reading their school work to me... some during movie nights... so time wasn't really an issue.The basket weave pattern is very thick and warm!
Maybe next winter I can make one of these for us:-)

I did school yesterday and today without a crochet project and I was going nuts! I do have some other almost finished projects to crochet, I just have to get them out! I'll also be starting another blanket for another friend who got married New Years Eve... crocheting blankets in the winter is perfect!

~Snow~

It's been snowing since around 4! A perfect night for being outside! No wind an a light falling snow! I heard all the boys out there having fun and just couldn't help myself. I got Kiersten all bundled up and we headed out to join in! I got a bunch of boy photos and even got to sled down the hill once. Gregg put Kiersten in her new little sled. Let's just say... She LOVED it! I don't like cold but fresh snow at night, who can resist!!?!?!?

The boys line up ready to come down our drive way

It's a race to the finish!

Kiersten learned to catch snowflakes on her tongue!

Almost crashed into the photographer

Happy!

She was so cute

Kiersten got out of the sled to walk around a little but she was getting cold so I brought her in. I'm afraid she will always want to go out now! I'm hoping Gregg gets "snowed in" tomorrow! Oops, I mean today... getting to bed!

~A Snowey Birthday~

What a special birthday 1/11/11... Eric is now 6!

It seems like just last year that I drove myself to the hospital in the snow to have him:0) LOL! That really is true! I was having contractions all day and went in for my weekly appointment... there were even snow showers. Since Eric was sideways and I was still having contractions at my appointment and I was 4cm... the doctor decided to keep me and do a c-section. An early gift and what a joy he has been ever since!

Eric is old enough to start racing this summer. He needed some equipment for his little self and Gregg found a really good deal on a helmet. All our boys have been so understanding that the cost of racing is no small amount. They have been very willing to have their "needs" given as birthday and Christmas gifts. Gregg also finds very good deals on used equipment.

I took Eric to the grocery store with me last night to pick out his birthday dinner. I don't normally do it that way, I normally just ask them, but it worked out good and gave me some alone time with him. He chose cheese steaks with onions, mushrooms and peppers, cheese curls, and egg nog.

I also let him pick out a cake. It certainly saved me a lot of time today! He chose a Strawberry Boston Cream Cake Mmmm! and Cookies and Cream ice cream.

After dinner was cleaned up we all headed outside to play in the snow. It's been snowing since about 4 and it is just beautiful! Big flakes and no wind:0) I'll post pictures later!

~A Rough Start~

What a week! We didn't start the New Year out very nicely. We managed to share the stomach flu... all but two have gotten it. Gregg, as always, is Mr Cleaner Upper! I am so thankful he takes care of that:-) Little highlights popped in and out throughout the week. We kept schooling and basically kept living... just one person dropped out of the scene every few days. Kiersten was quick to notice that someone was missing from the dinner table too! I am especially thankful that while I didn't feel well one day, that I never "got sick"!!!

Here is a quick list of thankfulness

103. A husband that serves his family joyfully... even in yucky situations

104. Boys that make it to the bucket on time (no photos please!)

105. The taste of cold canned pears

106. Baby showers
107. A "new" desk for an office for My Love!!!

108. Sermons online

109. My Crock pot

110. The clanking sound of wooden toys

111. The upside down stage

112. Living room forts

113. Little "helpers" cleaning themselves in the cleaning bucket114. Verse upon verse that gives and gives and gives again

~2010 Goals~

If y'all would like a good laugh... here are my goals from last year!

I didn't do too bad with some things, but I did horribly with others. Here is a quick recap...

Increasing in wisdom...Didn't even open the garden book, only ever got to the bumper sticker for doing more with the government... and budgeting... I just did the same as normal.

Increasing in stature... real popcorn and real tea were the only things that happened this year. I did continue with the changes from '09 though.

Increasing in favor with God... I managed to get through the book of Proverbs 6 times... didn't make it to the goal of 12. I did memorize chapter 4! I listened to two or three audio books and read one book online (Angie Smith’s I Will Carry You). I started a few other books but either lost interest or ran out of time and forgot about them. Four books seems realistic but I didn't schedule the time so it didn't happen.

Increasing in favor with man... um, well... yes and no. I certainly had many opportunities to do for others. Fun things like church dinners, fellowships, bridal showers. We even had people over a few times. Gregg's travel schedule on top of the boys racing schedule kinda put a crimp in things. BUT I personally could have done much better. As far as the more pleasant mom part... failed. miserably. most days.

For the most part, these goals were out of sight. I know that didn't help things. I really need to break them down into months and post it on my forehead so I don't forget:-) I am making a few other changes and hope to get started with January's goals by the weekend. The stomach bug my family was sharing certainly didn't help me get a good start, but I haven't given up or given in... pressing on... 2011 is going to be my year of finishing!

~Quick Trip~

I just made a quick trip to the grocery store... not my normal purchases.

It seems we caught the stomach bug. Thankfully it looks like the one we got is only 24 hours. Gregg and 3 boys have it. I decided I'm not participating this year:-) so we just have two boys and one sweetie girl to go. Hoping we all don't get it, but I'm prepared.

Happy New Year! LOL!

~Christmas Blessings~

I am so thankful that Christmas weekend wasn't nearly as crazy as last weekend (#84)! I was actually done wrapping early... thanks to my mom who took 3 boys for the afternoon on Tuesday (#85):-)... and the food preparations for this weekend involved cooking a turkey... which Gregg always does (#86)!

Friday was a busy but quiet day at home. We didn't plan well enough to attend a Christmas Eve service (our church does not have one) but we spent some time together as a family and got the kids to bed at a good time. Gregg and I finished getting everything ready and were in bed earlier than I expected. (#87)

We enjoyed a leisure Christmas morning opening gifts and eating cinnamon rolls (#88). We headed to my parents around noon and enjoyed several hours there with them and my brother's family.

We enjoyed some snow on Sunday but not nearly as much as we thought we were going to get. (#89)

I decided to give the boys the whole week off of school (#90) so they are enjoying extra free time and I'm trying to get a lot of stuff done that I just can't get to on normal school days. I did fit in a game of Go Fish (#91), a book read to Nathan (#92), building block towers with Kiersten (#93) and some scrap booking! (#94) I spent most of the day cleaning my room... we had so many gifts stashed in there that it hadn't been cleaned up for awhile. Clean wash was piled here and there and boys Sunday School papers were everywhere! I'm so glad to get that cleaned up! (#95)

A few other things I was thankful for this week...

96. Being able to make a Christmas dress for my sweetie
97. My Doll Baby loving her doll baby
98. Brown paper packages tied up with string
99. My spunky little girl wanting to color
100. Five very thankful boys (they are a pleasure to give gifts to!)

101. Boys who try to fly kites in December

102. Belly laughing