Unintentional Blogging Hiatus

So I haven't blogged much this month. Although I can't think of any super stellar reasons why not, here are a couple of reasons:

a) I don't want to be one of "those" blogs that document every single breath my boys take and expect the rest of the world to be as excited as I am. (i.e. Documenting every step of Caleb's transition from formula to cow's milk, daily progress on walking, every knew phrase Corban says...you know what I mean. And those in blog world know what kind of blog I am talking about :) But I admit, that's pretty much what I would have been posting if I had blogged. My life is just not that interesting on the computer screen (though I love it!!).


I love these matching jackets!!

b) I had some computer issues for about a week and a half which is my biggest reason.

But since I haven't blogged in about 21 days, here are 21 highlights from the past few weeks.

1) Nate turned 30 (a.k.a. "OLD!", but of course when I turn 30 in December, the new definition of "OLD" will be 40. :)

2) Such a monumental occasion required a trip out of Altus. So we went to Kansas for a four day weekend.

3) Nate and I got to go to the Cosmosphere by ourselves and actually had time to read the markers in the Hall of Space Museum without having to change a diaper, find a snack, or wipe a nose. (Thanks Grammy!!)

4) We also got to go out to dinner and to a club to watch the game by ourselves, which was also a treat. Nate picked a new (to us) restaurant, Savutes Italian Ristorante and the Stick and Rudder Club. The food was EXCELLENT. And the company couldn't be beat. (Thanks Grampa and Letta for watching the boys!)

5) My friend Amy and I learned how to make homemade tortillas from my friend Jen and am now convinced that's the only way to have a tortilla. And Nate completley agrees, so we are looking for a tortilla press on Ebay.

6) I took a sewing class from my friend Jen (same gal who taught me to make tortillas...what a gal!) and learned to sew a zipper on. And made two pillows in the process. :)

7) Switched my OB/GYN care to Lawton (wahoo!), though now I have to drive an hour for my visits, bloodwork, etc. But worth the relief. I'd talked to three girls who all had c-sections in Altus and none of them had a good experience or is healing right...NO THANK YOU!

8) Had not one, but TWO, snow days. Which is funny because the total accumulation was 1/4 of an inch. Never would Wichita have closed schools for this much snow/ice, but alas, we get TWO days off for it, and I'm not complaining!

9) I fell down the stairs and was out of commission for a full day (and am STILL sore, darn rotator cuff and tailbone!) but the baby seems fine.

10) Corban's vocabulary grows by leaps and bounds every day. As do his strong opinions and bossiness. ("No, daddy, you not change my big bad poopies...Mommy do it!!" Um, yeah...I'm sure Nate had NOTHING to do with Corban deciding that only I can change him. :/)

11) Caleb, at one week shy of one year, can say "Mama", "More", "Milk", "Uh oh", "Woof, Woof" "Bup up up" (as in an airplane goes up up up), and roar like a lion (which I will try to get on video...it's the cutest thing). Pure genius, I tell you! Here is a short video of him "woofing" like a dog if you listen closely.

12) Made homemade granola, aka "my new favorite cereal."

13) Made homemade Cranberry Orange bread.

14) Made homemade Hot Cranberry Citrus drink, or "Hot Juice" as Corban calls it.

15) Spent a lot of wasted time being uncontent and then realized how much energy it steals from me and recommitted to being joyful in all things.

16) Working on my goals. It's almost time for a review!

17) Started reading my Chronological Bible that Janet gave me (thanks, Janet!!) and am loving it!

18) Trying to convince Corban that big boys go potty in the toilet, but not getting very far.

19) Researching a new washer and dryer to purchase in the next month or two.

20) Trying to think of a middle name for Canaan.

21) I got flowers from Nate "just because." I love that man!

A New Year, A Fresh Start

Well, Nate and I had our annual pow-wow last night where we write out the goals for the upcoming year. I love the New Year and I love having an anniversary on New Year's Eve. It just feels like a complete fresh start all the way around.

We have determined that this is our year to focus inward. Focus on building our family, ourselves, and our home. There will be other years where we can be involved in every Bible Study, every social outing, and minister to a ton of people outside our family, but this year our main focus is going to be on growing in our faith, our family, our health, our vision, and our needs.

So here are some of our goals for 2009, broken up in sections, of course. :) We have a lot more under each category, but these are the ones that we will make public.

Spiritual

1) Read the entire Bible as a family. To be completley honost, we try to do this every year and just fall off the wagon somewhere in March. We've read Genesis and Matthew several times and never quite make it to Malacai or Revelation. We are gonna start in the middle this year though.

2) Work with the boys on the catechism during breakfast time.

3) Continue with family singing time at bed-time, but repeating songs each night so Corban can learn the words and sing along.

4) Have personal quiet time in the mornings before the boys wake up.

Educational

1) Nate to start his Master's this year

2) For me to work with Corban for three hours a week, one-on-one on "school". (My plan is to do this the mornings he doesn't have Mother's Day Out during Caleb's morning nap.)

3) To potty-train Corban

Physical/Dietary

1) To focus on eating right with moderate activity during this pregnancy with healthy weight gain.

2) For Nate and I to meet two times a week during lunch to workout on base, and to loose the baby weight from all three boys one day at a time.

3) To eat out only one time per week.

4) Due to recent health problems, continue to cut out almost all sugar intake, processed foods, and make things from scratch instead of purchasing shortcuts from the store.

5)Plan meals to avoid eating out and wasting food.

6) To take the time to look nice and take care of our "temple".

7) To broaden our recipe horizons...especially in the area of vegetables and whole grains.

8) Spend more time outside, no matter what the weather is like.

Entertainment

1) To limit our TV watching and choose to read more.

2) If the T.V. is on, than be productive while watching it (i.e. fold clothes, plan menu, etc.)

3) To have at least one date per month.

4) To laugh every day (not a hard goal with little kids in the house)

Financial

1) To remain out of debt (except for our house), tithe faithfully, and give sacrificially

2) To start funds for each of the boys.

3) Continue to max out our retirement funds and explore other investment options.

Home

1) To have our home 15 minutes from "company ready" at all times. We don't have to live spotlessly, I just don't like having heart attacks when the doorbell rings.

2) To follow simple, but flexible, routines for the boys and for cleaning that make life easier, not more stressful.

3) To find a cheap, used piano and relearn how to play.

4) Declutter every inch of our home of things we don't use, don't love, and/or don't need.

5) Do SOMETHING to decorate our Master bedroom.

6) Be consistent about disciplining the boys.

Personal

1) To be an encouragment and helpmeet to Nate, not a "constant dripping."

2) To take time to scrapbook, journal, read, etc.

3) To keep in touch better with family and old friends...especially those without Facebook and the Internet.

Well, those are some of our goals. We plan to review them each month on our hour drive to church. We know that we can't change in our own strength and ask the Lord to give us strength to do His will and to bless our endeavors as we seek to glorify Him.

What are some of your goals for the New Year?