Goals?

I think that we all make goals to one degree or another.  Many make resolutions but a goal and a resolution to me are really one in the same.  I make goals every year, probably every day.  My every day goal list really is called a to-do list but I jot down the things I would like to accomplish that day.

Last year about spring time, I made this full page, typed out list of things I would like or needed to get done on the yard and house.  Some were little things like clean furnace room and some were very large like finish house.  Some got done (like furnace room once upon a time) and some didn't (like the house).  But it is really a list of goals I would like to work on to accomplish.  I hung that list upon the fridge and kept it there for about 6 months.  In that time period, a lot of those things did get done.  When I took it off the fridge not nearly as many go done because I no longer saw everyday, every time I opened the fridge.  When I saw that list, I wanted to cross off as many things as I could.  Deep down, to be able to cross one item off the list just felt so good.

Since I am a list person and you all know I make lists, it feels good to be able to write those things down.  I make lists in my head all day long but then I forget about them and they get filed away somewhere up there most likely never to be found again.

The whole point of this rambling story:
It is good to have goals or things you would like to accomplish, even if it is just for the day.  This way, I think I stay focused on the project at hand and am less likely to let the ADD in my brain take over.

So for 2011, I want you all to pick one word that is going to sum up the year 2011 for you.  Think hard and it can be whatever you want it to be.  Leave it as a comment and then attach that word to the top of your goal list and put that goal list somewhere you can see it everyday, several times maybe.

My word:  FOCUS

Reminds of a story that President Uchtdorf told in a talk about a plane crashing into the Everglades and killing all those on it.  It going something like this:

There was a plane flying over Florida area when the pilot notices a red light started flashing.  They (him and copilots) were so focused on why this red light was flashing that they did not realize that the plane was slowly descending.  They did not realize how much they had descended until it was too late and crashed into the Everglades.  Sad story but the parallel to our lives is that we tend to focus on so many little things that we may not think are little that we miss the big picture of what is really happening.

For me, I am so busy doing all of my little things (primary, work, dinner, managing life) that I miss what I need to be focusing on (my kids, my family).  Get it?

Anyway.   My list of goals for 2010.  Not listing them all because you probably all don't need to know.  But keep me accountable on the ones I do list.

1.  Give my kids the gift of me
2.  Exercise and eat healthier for my family
3.  Read and study scriptures daily
4.  Attend temple regularly
5.  Be okay with who I am

That is good for right now.  I could add a million things onto that but start small and simple and add later.  And I know I have said this before, but everyone really should read "the Happiness Project".  Great book, I am not saying that you all are not happy but she really does have some great insights on a lot of things.

Good Things:
1.  Goals
2.  Health
3.  Family who helps a lot
4.  Love

Reagan

Reagan is such a great example.  About a year or a year and a half ago she expressed interest in wanting a Book of Mormon.  I had a blue one so I gave it to her and then she wanted a church bag so I made her and she has been pretty consistent about taking it to church.  We have read on and off from the Book of Mormon stories book and from The Book of Mormon.  A couple of weeks ago she has started carrying it all over.  She wants to take it to school, in the car, to church, and really wants to read from it every night.  Sometime I give resistance to her taking it everywhere and reading it because it takes longer and I think she doesn't understand it. 

Today as I was heading to drop the kids off to Brian, she said she wanted to take her book with her.  I told her she did not need to take it everywhere she went and to not take it.  She insisted.  When we got to the house Brian was working on she got out with her Book of Mormon and walked into the house.  Tonight before bed she asked me to read from it.

As I was pondering this today, I realized that is what I should want her to do.  Take her Book of Mormon everywhere, stand up for what you believe in and be okay with carrying it all over.  I should be the example to her to read from it each day but instead she is the example to me.  I am so proud of her for wanting to carry it all over even if it may be inconvenient and wanting to read from it each day even though it takes longer.  She is such a sweet and caring girl and knows what is best for all of us not just her.  We love her.

Good things:
1.  Reagan for being the example
2.  Knowing what is right
3.  Good Kids

Here is some Halloween pictures and such.

And YES I do need camera help.

A budding photographer...

Reagan informed me matter of factly that she was taking pictures today.  These are the results...

 

Now you may think that is not too bad, however I spared you of the 10 wall pictures 5 feet pictures and a few others.  

Today was a pretty good day.  Other than the migraine, I did get a few things done.  My house looks like a tornado hit it but oh well.  I was home on Thursday due to sick kids and really got a lot done that day.  Today was kind of a play day for me.  I sewed a lot of things like Halloween costumes, booties, organized my fabric with Reagan's help, threaded my serger and rethreaded it, overall it was a great day.  The kids were pretty good.  They are in bed now.  I am relaxing, watching the game, blogging, should be doing something but this is so much better.  

Once the Halloween sewing is done, I need to start on the Christmas sewing.  Dress up clothes to make.  Lots of dresses for her, vests for him.  Oh yeah, I made a cute fall garland today too.  Check it out on my other blog here.

Good Things
1.  Being able to stay home even though it was with sick kids

2.  Getting lots done

3.  Doing things I love to do

No Title

September is over and not even a post.  Busy as a bee preparing for winter, we have been busy trying to clean up the yard, the house, going through clothes, making lots of lists and crossing off nothing but yet it has been busy.  This month, I have Halloween costumes to make, make a witch and a turkey hopefully, finish the house, clean and clean some more, enjoy it as it happens.  I love the fall because it is so beautiful but dislike it because winter is around the corner.  In my neck of the woods, winter does not tend to be short lived.  I did finish a shelf that I started working on ohh...about 3 months ago.  Nonetheless, it is finished. 

Reagan started preschool this last month and loves it.  She just learned to write her name and is very proud of that accomplishment.  Both of the kids love stories that Brian tells them each night before bed.  Mom's stories not so much.  I am totally okay with it.  I hope to sew more in the upcoming months and really hope to enjoy this time that we are in and to be more grateful for everything. 

Stuff

This blogging for me is a rare occasion, I figure it is time to make it one.  I love to blog actually,  I find it relaxing and a kid free moment but with working full time and kids full time it is hard to find time to do anything extra except for the extra batch of laundry.  But hopefully soon, I won't need to work full time and I can cut back on my hours.  I will know this week.  The more prayers the better.  I am very anxious to find out what is going on for us in the near future. 

The kids are great.   Reagan has had her share of  moments this week but we have managed them and we had a talk about talking to mom nicer and the whole sort.  She got some play clothes this week, which she is thrilled about and she told me yesterday that she wanted to be a tinkerbell fairy for Halloween and then today she informed me she was just going to be a ladybug.  That would be fine and all except yesterday we got fabric to make her a tinkerbell dress.  Oh well, more play clothes I guess. 

Jaxon is growing like a weed.  We took him in for his 2 year check and he is 37 inches tall and 31 pounds.  That is very tall for a 2 year old.  He is a big boy.  He gives great hugs and kisses and is very loveable.  We have a giant sand pile in our yard that he loves to play in and dig in.  He likes to ride sit on his bike.  He doesn't quite know how to pedal yet.  He is really trying to figure it out but it is hard for a 2 year old.  He is so ticklish and has a very contagious laugh.  We love to make him laugh to hear it.  It is so fun.

We love our kids to pieces.  School is starting in a week for everyone.  If we decide to put Reagan in preschool again she will start after Labor Day.  Of course on Labor Day is the biggest game in history.  Boise State vs Virginia Tech.  It starts @ 6pm so you had better be there with your best orange and blue on. 

For the things I need to do:

exercise for one
hey, has anyone heard about clean eating
I am in the mood to dejunk I need to fully take advantage of that
I did get the primary program done this last week, that was a sigh of relief

No one really cares about my list of things to do.  In fact, I am not sure I really care.  I just that it needs to get done and I wish someone else would do it.  I tried to get my neighbor to clean my house for a bowl of sticky popcorn, but of course, she had to be the one on a diet.  I have a lot of things I would like to do and get done.  Blah, blah, blah.

Have a great week

Good things
1.  Prayer and fasting
2.  Being able to work when needs be
3.  Having the physical strength to think about tackling the to do list

Hopefully we find out good things this week

He's 2 and full of tantrums

The boy's birthday was last week.  We have spent lots of time with Brian's family the previous week but why not extend the party to Sunday for the local family.  We had cake and ice cream.  I did a golf course cake and it actually turned out really cute.  Hooray!  The bad part is that I got not a single good picture of him, him and the cake or anything else.  On his actual birthday, we went to my parent's for FHE and had a cookout (that's what we call a BBQ) and cake there too.  It was pretty low key but fun.  He got a dump trunk to play in the sand in the kids future (who know when future, hopefully soon) playhouse and sand box.

Since the birthday we have been busy everyday this last week getting haircuts, picking raspberries, don't remember Wednesday, going to the library, finally staying home on Friday and Reed's Dairy day on Saturday where my kids wanted to stand in line for 30 minutes to get ice cream, after the 30 minute line for the wagon ride.  I said no, it was 90 degrees and we can go get ice cream there anytime and not wait.  It just wasn't worth it.  Then as we were crossing the road with pouting Reagan (due to the ice cream) Jaxon did not want to hold my hand and then proceeded to flop down in the road.  I picked him up by 1 one because the other one was carrying pop and a bag and there were cars coming and finished crossing the road.

Tomorrow is our Anniversary.  8 years of marriage, two kids later and a lot of other stuff, I have the greatest person next me on this road to eternity.  I could not ask for better,  he is so good to me and we really do balance each other out in so many ways.  Love him to pieces.  He has seen me through the good, the hard times, the emotional times, the funny times and am looking forward to the future times we have together.  Happy Anniversary.  I love you.

Finally!

Finally, I have a second or two to post.  I had the goal of posting every Saturday and we can see how that worked.   My face is very red from working outside.  This morning and throughout this last week I weeded my brains out I think.  My garden was having an identity crisis and needed me.  My grass is there too, but not much I can do about that right now.  I cleaned out the fridge today, did laundry, cleaned office last night, took doors off, and a lot of other stuff and now my red face is trying to recover. 

Anyway,  we went and saw the hot air balloons over by where we live.  They were neat.  It was 6:30 in the morning and that explains some of the pictures.  Here's to lots of pictures.  Oh yeah, I did  post on my other blog today.  A really yummy recipe.  T it was really good.