january goals: check, check

wow, i've been a bit of a slacker in the blogging department.  BUT that's because I've been so busy with working on my 2012 goals!

my January goals were:
1) clean out my fridge and freezer really good - done!  no pics of it in it's shiny clean organized gloriousness however, because, really, who wants to see my fridge.  very boring. (side note confession:  i had 6 bottles of mustard in there...?!!??  3 were expired.)
2) restock my card stash - done! i made 30ish cards to get me started here in 2012.  here are some of my faves:

AND I've finished one of my February goals already as well (read "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan)
that leaves me with a big paper pile mess to deal with.... anyone have tips on organizing that stuff and what needs to be kept?

dr. snowman

we finally experienced some true midwestern winter.  our landscape has changed to a snowy playground and thankfully the temps have stayed fairly warm-ish so the snow can be enjoyed.  i love that the kids can get fresh air on a daily basis rather than be stuck inside to avoid losing fingers or noses due to frostbite. 

the milder temps has provided snow that actually packs together and so dr. snowman has come to life:

the eldest named him. stating he looked like a doctor.  (side note:  we have never been to a doctor that sports a mustache and smokes a pipe)

miss j has been asking each day to make some "snow friends" for the good doctor.  we may need some fresh snow to accomplish this though. 

what i missed

so December was a pretty happenin month in our household.... and i missed blogging about most of it ;) 
so a little re-cap is in order:

first up is this girls b-day.  she's SEVEN.  she is fabulous. she is truly a sweetheart.  she is sensitive and caring to the underdog (however her 3 year old sister is NEVER the underdog. ever.)  she loves candy and sweets and dislikes green veggies.  she loves legos. i made her a giant chocolate chip cookie on her birthday.

then we have miss baby's b-day.  she is two. a baby no more (big sniff)  she is a darling.  sweet and adorable.  she talks like she is a grown up in a two year old way (can't explain that very well!)  she is hooked on junk food and refuses most healthy foods.  she is quiet and sneaky and gets into my sugar pot on a weekly basis.  she loves to watch the "12 Dancing Princesses" Barbie movie and dances around with her sister's black ballet flats on.

and then a plethora of wonderful Christmas parties with too many pictures to even begin picking and choosing a few to post.  so i go with none. 

the resolution bandwagon

i'm hopping on....

my goal list for 2012:

January -  restock my card stash
                really really clean my fridge/freezer
February - stop avoiding and actually read  my copy of Crazy Love by Francis Chan
                figure out a filing system i can maintain and take care of the paper mess
March -  scrapbook at least 5 layouts
               clean out the storage area in the utility room (i'll have to be sure to take a "before" picture, yikes!)
April - do 2 projects i have "pinned" from Pinterest
         - paint the back porch and steps
May - read 2 novels from my list of "books i want to read"
         - clean out at least 1/3 of the garage (another one to have a before picture of!)
June - run 5 miles in one workout
         - finish the front porch project
July - go "screen free" two days a week (no computer or tv)
       - ruthlessly clean out the girls' closets
August - keep a daily journal
            - clean out another 1/3rd of that garage
September - try to can or preserve something i haven't done before
               - ruthlessly clean out our closet
October -  try 4 new recipes
             - finish the garage
November  - actually be organized for Christmas this year and make the gift ideas and to do list
                  - back up my pictures and empty my camera card
December -  make a reusable daily calendar to start in the upcoming year
                - clean out the attic

MAYBE since i posted this on here for the world (or the 10 or so people that read my blog) to see, i will be more likely to complete this list.  some are for sure more lofty than others, some will be quick, some require A LOT of work.
or MAYBE i will be like the majority of other "new year resolution" makers and fall right back off the resolution wagon. 
MAYBE i will regret the day i posted this
MAYBE i will be so motivated to see things being completed i'll finish my list early
maybe maybe maybe
MAYBE i will
MAYBE i won't

and MAYBE if i care to share my successes or failures i will post each month (or so) on how i'm doing on this list.  we shall see.

i leave you with this fabulous picture of my kids:

buh-bye 2011, thanks for a great year!

a look at a few events from the year:

january =  warm pj's and sweaters, it was a cold one.

 

february = little love bug



march = going a little stir crazy from a long winter

april - all dressed up for a wedding chad officiated

may - we put a backyard in

june - we celebrated this amazing lady's 75th b-day

july - strawberry picking on the 4th

august - all the grand kiddos from hubby's side

september - harvesting from my first gardening attempt

october - enjoying a fabulous warm fall day at the park

november - raking leaves, lots and lots of leaves.

december - merry christmas!

 

we are beyond blessed.  it sounds so cliche' however it is not meant that way.  looking forward to see what God has in store for us in 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

I {heart} the blooper reel

i love it when a dvd has a "blooper reel" 

always good for a laugh. 

here is our version of a blooper reel from our family photo shoot: 

a little argument going on between #2 and 3 about holding hands

miss j is always so cooperative

the younger two are making a break for it

the pics of all 4 on the sled didn't work out so well...



trying again



picture crasher

typical

so many faces

snowball fight

payback

again, stellar cooperation from miss j

after only about 15 minutes out there miss baby was inconsolable sad

not even a kiss from mommy will help.  we're done.

the end.

secret superpowers

so miss j was taking her saturday bath and we believe she discovered her secret superpower.

she called out of the tub in her super excited way:

DADDY DADDY GUESS WHAT?!!  MY BUTT CAN MAKE BUBBLES!!!

we couldn't be more proud.