The Park (In Pictures)

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?

Christmas #4 and SATO

The final of the Christmas festivities was at Kevin's parents last weekend.

Anna got a lot of furniture for her doll house. Carter got a big-wheel-motorcycle (which Anna has been riding around the house) and a walking dragon kind of like the dinosaur Santa brought.






It was really warm the first day so they got to walk around the farm.



They watched DVDs in the car all the way through without asking me to change the movie every 15 minutes. They watched Bee Movie 3 times in 3 days.

Carter learned that if he says he has poopy pants we will pull over and stop and take him out of his car seat, only to discover he is completely dry.

After we got back I subsequently spent about 4 or 5 hours over the next few days early this week doing what I have now dubbed SATO or the "Semi Annual Toy Organization" (see the first one from this year here). I bought some new storage boxes for Carter's room and finally moved the pink ones to Anna's room (yes, he's two and I still hadn't moved the pink accessories).

It was the year of a million little pieces now that Anna is 4 and in to barbies which come with (slutty) shoes, skirts, arm ruffles, necklaces, you name it. Luckily Carter has been pretty good about not putting this stuff in his mouth. yet.

I feel good starting the new year with some order in my life.

"It Smells Like Santa Has Been Here" aka Christmas #3

That was the quote of the day from Anna.

Anna woke up saying "Will. Some. Bod. eee. Come. Wake. Me. Up!" from her room. I got up there and she went to the bathroom while I went in to change Carter's diaper. She came into his room...

whispering...
"Mommy! Santa came and he brought me what I always wanted!"

What's that?

still whipsering...
"A rocking chair! And it's full of stuffed animals!"





Before we opened gifts Carter insisted on eating a breakfast bar.




Santa brought Anna a rocking chair, a singing barbie and a giraffe.

Santa brought Carter a walking dinosaur and a tool work bench.



Opening Stockings...


Make way for the dinosaur


Kevin had no idea I got him the Wii.




Merry Christmas to all and and to all a good night.

Christmas Eve aka Christmas #2

Christmas #2 was at my parents house on Xmas eve.

My brother Zach and his wife Kristen


Take note, this is how it looked when we started.



First present opened.


Carter's into it.


C'mon papa, can't you get it out yet!?


They are really fast.


And our work here is done.


Uncle Ben got the kids those cool cardboard blocks. Kevin and I loved these as kids. Carter seems to like them too...

This is what happens when you have a big sister

Project from last weekend

Here's the project my mom helped me with last weekend - hanging all of these photos up and down our stairs at the house.

Going down towards the basement.




Going upstairs.


At the landing.


Opposite.


Up the stairs.