Goal #1: accomplish goal #2

Do you set goals? I always have this huge urge to do just that this time of year.  This is going to be the year I actually accomplish them, I always say.  Aaaand if you've been following my blog for a while, you're probably laughing right along with me right about now.  ;)

So, again, I still want to set goals.  I'm trying to simplify.  I'm trying to visualize.  I'm certainly going to write them down.  I know what to do to actually accomplish these goals.  It's the doing them that gets me

EVERY TIME.

Any tips on how to overcome this? Seriously... any??

Come and gone...

Every year I feel so depressed Christmas night, wondering what I could've done to make the season more special or meaningful or whatever.  This year, I was determined not to do that. 

I watched every Christmas movie we had at least three times (and that's a lot of movies, seeing as we generally add one to our collection every year).

I listened to as much Christmas music as I could stand.

I lit smelly pine tree candles.

I made our avent train (thanks again, Dan and Cherstin) center around Christ and we did service for our family and others and read scriptures and quotes about Christ.  We even had a "gift" hunt Christmas eve, with our last day (the 25th) holding the last clue to help us find it.  It was the baby Jesus, of course, which we had to open before all the other presents.

Anyway, still Christmas night as I was trying to sleep to end the day, I couldn't help but feel that sad feeling again, that something else could've been done or something.

All I could think of that would quench the feeling I was having was hugging my kids. 

Since that night, I've been hugging them whenever possible.  I'm not much of a hugger, but I just have this huge craving to hold them close and can't get enough of them.

The weather's finally warmed up a little, making it sunny and clear and almost spring-like, which helps the moving onward and upward from the Christmas high let-down go a little easier.  We've been listening to regular music, even took down all of our Christmas stuff yesterday. 

I'm ready to keep moving forward... I love the new year! I love new beginnings and love that I can hug my kids whenever they're near!

Oh, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new CAMERA! It has some different lenses and settings and a textbook-like manual I've only just tapped into... I'm so excited to see what I can do with it!

Full set!

Quin now has 16 teeth! Bring on the steak!

Really, though, blogging about teeth? LOL

What's a blog for, anyway? Bragging? Venting? Dumping? Exposing? Lying - er - Embellishing? Journaling? Record keeping?

For me? I don't know anymore.  I like sharing funny things.  I have to stop myself from saying things that would offend others or expose too much about myself. 

So, I blog about teeth.  That's all I got right now. 

Priorities...

I've noticed that lately, I'll take pictures that'll either sit in the camera forever or be downloaded to never be blogged about.

It's because I'm blogging LESS and living MORE.  I'm using my usual computer time to not always be on the computer and do other things that either need to be done or I just want to do... it's been nice.  ;)

Someday I'll blog about:

The Wall.
Andur's 9th Birthday.
Stocking Quin.
Finger Painting.
And... some other things I've wanted to blog about but never have. 

It just might take me a while.  :)

I hope I remember this when I need to...

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up.

Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.'

With the worst of premonitions, he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.

I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice.

But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy.

She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for
ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.

In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it.

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself.

Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,

Your Son John


PS:
Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house.

I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer.

I love you.

Call me when it's safe to come home.

Fun Noodles

For Thanksgiving we:

Had lot's of snow for sledding:

Played video games on the big screen in a big mess:

Made turkeys (for the previous FHE) with things we're thankful for on the feathers:

Natalie's:

Andur's:

Mine:

Matt's:

Went to Rapid for the Festival of Lights: 

And bought fun noodles!!

We went shopping, ate lots, did more shopping, and ate even more! Good times!

Let the punishment fit the crime

What do you get when you play with an over-sized ball in the living room and don't stop when your dad tells you to?

Well, this is what WE got:

THEY get to clean the living room thoroughly for a week and sing a song about obedience each night before bedtime.  Punks.

I got it off perfectly, lucky for them, thanks to my iron and some paper towels.

Shoo Fly

Apparently you can catch more flies with vinegar than honey.  (If it's cider vinegar and/or balsamic with a piece of fruit in it...)

We had an out of nowhere fruit fly invasion (Matt blames cheap Walmart bananas) and tried everything from fly paper to honey to jelly to my son's lunch box (yeah, gross) and nothing seemed to get rid of them. 

So, I consulted this website, and found a solution:

A jar with the above combination, adding a little soap to the mix for guaranteed death.

And it worked!

This was the second batch.  I bet we caught more than sixty flies.  Yuck.