Hello 2009

Hello New Year.

2009 will be a big year in my mind. Anna will start kindergarten, which is hard to believe. Carter will likely move to a big-boy bed and be potty trained, at least during the day. I will have been at my job for 5 years on Monday. We will have lived in this house for 5 years in February. 2004 was a big year for us with job changes, a move, our first baby. This marks the 5th year since all of those life changing events.

When I meet a New Year I tend to think of everything I would like to do this year. Lately this seems to be more home-focused, rather than work or family focused (although I have goals for those too).

Making my list of "I Should..." on the right side of the blog helped me stay accountable for things I'd like to cross of my to-do list and remind me that if I ever were to be a SAHM I would not be bored, there is always something to do.

Of the 11 items I managed to complete all but 3.

- Get a double curtain rod so I can hang Anna's valance.
- Open and use the scrapbooking laminator.
- Wash and put away the foam letters (still piled in the back corner of my laundry room)

I did also do a few more things that weren't on the list, like framing and hanging all of the 8x10 photos I have had taken of the kids over the last 4 1/2 years. We purchased our first artwork to hang in the living room. And we had a family photo taken by the guy who did our wedding pictures, so they turned out amazing.

SO - I'm starting a new I SHOULD list, but renaming it to "TO DO IN 2009". I'm including the list in this entry and then will move it to the right side, replacing last year's.

Here goes...

- Paint the kitchen, hang a valance over the window above the sink and artwork on the walls
- When Carter is ready for a big-boy room, likely this year, pick a theme, paint, move him to a new bed
- Find an exercise plan that works for my life
- Be financially responsible, meaning pay off my credit cards, make a budget, stick to it, save for vacation and christmas presents, the kids' college, be more "we" oriented with our finances
- Clean up the guest bedroom (which translates to get rid of the old unnecessary furniture and organize my extraneous scrapbook stuff)
- Have a garage sale
- Get Anna to where she can ride her bike on her own (for more than 1 block) while I walk and push Carter in the stroller
- Take the kids to Worlds of Fun for the first time
- Take a family trip to visit my friend Molly (and her hubby) and meet their new baby
- Travel to visit my brother Ben before he moves later this year
- Have more date nights with my hubby

Also for 2009...

My one little word is Patience.

My resolution is to have better posture (and lose weight, just like everyone else)

What are your plans for 2009?