3 Weeks In

// Week 2 \\

// Week 3 \\

// One Little Word \\

I still need to create a layout for my "one little word" for 2010, which is nike. The word has a couple of meanings for me...one being Nike's famous slogan, "Just Do It". There are SO many things that I need to JUST DO...housework, exercise...heck, even just getting out of the house most days. My necklace is supposed to arrive today and I'm excited to start wearing it as a reminder. Another meaning stems from the Greek origin, meaning "victory". Jesus gives me victory over sin and the crap of life, if I choose to accept it. Most days that is hard to remember.

So today's nike moment. I woke up (after a short night) feeling really tired and nauseous, and I really did not want to go to school to help Rob with the yearbook class. At first I told him he'd have to do it. But then something told me to suck it up and just do it. So I did. And it felt great. And the nausea went away. Was it all in my head?

One Week In

I'm so excited to have actually completed a whole week in the 365 project! Last year I think I took about 11 photos, but never actually scrapped them and gave up. I haven't missed a day yet and it's been really fun so far.

Week 2 news so far:

* Dave's Home-Cooked foods went out of business. We started going there when I was pregnant...so it's been a long time. We got to know the owners, Dave and Betty, fairly well as we were regulars. We will really miss going there after church on Sundays.

* A former co-worker of mine is pregnant and due in May. This wouldn't be news except that she is single and wanted to have a baby on her own. She is officially the first person I know to go that route.

* Our new pastor will be installed on January 24. It will be great to have some direction in the church again.

I'm still trying to establish some new routines for the new year. We'll see how THAT goes.

Happy 2010!

(banner created by Gretchen and me, the afternoon of 12/31/09, while Rob and Heidi were at the grocery store)

I simply adore fresh starts. And what better fresh start is there than a new year? So once again I'm embarking on a few goals for the year, which include (in no particular order):

1. Project 365 - one photo a day for the year
2. Blogging most days
3. Getting this house in order...little by little
4. Getting myself in order...littler by litter :P

And in general, a few mores and lesses...

More: God, inviting friends over to our house, hugging people I love, hockey games, RV trips, volunteering, flinging, knitting, scrapping, crafting, family game nights, walking, cooking at home
Less: worrying about how the house looks, being critical of others, eating crap, sleeping, drama, gossip

We had our annual gathering last night with Rob's family and Melissa. The girls stayed up until midnight! Can't believe they didn't crash beforehand. We all had some bubbly (girls had sparkling cider) and Jim brought a Splendid Garden (fireworks) for us to watch. Heidi was quite concerned about Uncle Jim breaking the law by setting off fireworks..."it kind of makes Uncle Jim seem like a bad guy". LOL!

The girls with their bubbly.

Melissa and I with ours

Here's to lots of good times and good friends in 2010!

The best gingerbread recipe ever

These make very soft cookies and the flavor is mild...not to intense (like some gingerbread I've tried).

Gingerbread Men

1/4 c. boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. baking molasses
3 c. flour
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 egg
1/2 c. brown sugar

Melt butter in boiling water. Add all the other ingredients. Then chill the dough for 2 hours. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and decorate. Makes 24 cookies.

Holidays In Hand Days 1-3

This year I decided to to Jessica Sprague's Holidays In Hand class and document every day in December. Let's see if I can keep up!

December 1
Did: Holiday Hoopla at Bowsher. It was pretty much a bomb so we managed to salvage the evening by stopping at Speedway for some hot chocolate. Then we drove around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. The girls notice so much more this year. The best house was on Sherwood hear River Rd...giant pine tree decorated with LED lights. Very impressive.

December 2
Made: Ornaments at our Daisy meeting
Remembered: Making gingerbread cookies...the three of us girls. The girls want to do it again this year. Made plans to do some baking this weekend.

December 3
Made: Christmas pictures/list for Santa using my Christmas stamps. The girls are so good with the stamps this year. Gretchen made a whole list for Santa and Heidi made a picture. So cute. Gretchen asked if her list was "too greedy" and I told her it wasn't. How sweet that she was concerned about it.

Remember: a Christmas filled with joy.
I can't remember a Christmas that wasn't filled with joy, really. But I think the most joyful one would be 2001. I knew I was pregnant a few days before, but on Christmas Eve we got the official word from the doctor. We shared the news with the whole fam damily at Grandma's house. They were literally pulling out of the driveway when we yelled and told them to stop. I was so excited I couldn't keep the news inside. Grandma cried. I had never seen her cry before. That night as we sat in church at the candlelight service, I felt joy, peace, relief, excitement...and so many other things I can't even describe. It was the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received.

Of course every year since then with the girls has been wonderful, and they "get it" more and more every year.

Plans for the weekend: watch the Phineas & Ferb Christmas special on Friday night, work on Christmas cards, bake cookies, some shopping, attend event at botanical gardens.

// Right now \\

On the calendar // help with the book fair at school tomorrow, soccer game, work in the Trinity kitchen

On the needles // a second pair of hand warmers with a fabulous soft wool

On TV // Brothers and Sisters (yup it's a guilty pleasure

On the couch // Rob with his laptop and me with Pinkie

On the menu // Sweet potato soup and homemade bread, some kind of crockpot supper, frozen pizza with salad and the Kraft 1 bag 5 dinners Healthy Living menu

On the phone // No one right now...thank goodness!

First Day of...

I read a great blog post today that really summed up what I'm feeling about the first day of school tomorrow, so rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, here it is (courtesy of Elisa Blaha :: enJoy it:

Today is the first day of school for so many people. I'm a little bit envious. So much excitement. Clean notebooks. Favorite outfit. The only day of the year when you are not tired when the alarm goes off and instead jump out of bed to start making your hair look right. The day when you really only want toast for breakfast to settle your stomach. You actually enjoy packing your lunch. You walk into every class hopeful about who might be there. You listen to the teacher and decide if this is going to be a class that requires a lot of meaningful effort or if this will be one that you just get to skate by in. Your homework is to read chapter one and write an essay about who you are in less than 200 words (or maybe now its 140 characters.) You carefully add it into your planner.

Day one feels so clean and new. As if anything can and will happen.

What if today was day one? For you, not just your kids or your younger brother who is starting his senior year at USC (love you, Robbie. Hold on tight, it will fly.) How would having a clean state, fresh notebook, & high expectations change your Monday?

::::::::::::::::::

Today was spent doing a lot of things to get ready: haircut, dentist (yay no cavities for either girl), finishing hems and tucks in uniform skirts, discussing breakfast and lunch menus, and early bedtimes. The girls are excited and ready for school, but also a bit nervous (which I assured them was completely normal).

Happy first day of...