Resolutions? What resolutions? Kidding. I still remember that list of goals I have for this year. Where do we stand on that list? After almost a month, let's see. Warning: this is gonna be a long one!

Reliable, trustworthy and inexpensive babysitter? Check. We're going out this weekend for the first time since...I can't remember when. Months and months ago.

Rough draft of book? Um...multiple drafts have been written and promptly thrown away. That is one of many ongoing projects. I WILL write that book this year!

2 huge totes of toys and books given to the daycare I used to work for. That felt great! 5 giant bags of maternity clothes plus multiple other things given to a friend. That felt pretty good too. Now if only I could do that with the rest of my house!

Bible reading? We've done some but not every night like I had hoped. We really enjoy reading together and are learning a lot. It gives us a lot to talk about and a good feeling. I really want to find a church now that we know we're going to stay here a while. I want to quit talking about it and DO IT!

Paint kitchen and hall? Not started yet but some day. As long as it's this year I'm fine with that. Will probably wait til the weather warms up some so we can have the windows open.

Craft projects? I’m about a third of the way through my “someday crafts” list. Projects since Jan 1 include: framed pics for E's room, 2 hand sewn robot pillows, 1 sun pillow, 2 no-sew fleece blankets, 1 baby quilt, 1 crayon/note pad holder, 2 crinkly baby toys and started but not finished 8 bibs, 1 coffee cozy. That list? I'm workin on it!!! Now if I could just quit adding to the list, I'll be ok.

Exercise? Yeah. That’s the one I’m really disappointed with myself about. We ran into a problem after only a short few days. We started out setting our alarm for 5 a.m. That in itself is truly a huge thing for us. We stay up late (case in point…right now it is 12:23 and I’m still typing this) so getting up early usually doesn’t happen. But we did it. For about a week or maybe more we got up at 5. Trouble is, so did Audrey. That girl must have super sonic hearing because she heard us over the music playing in her room. Granted, our room is just right across the hall but we were being very quiet. Really! So then we quit getting up early because on the days she wakes up that early, her schedule is completely wrecked for the day. And a baby off schedule and overly tired is just no fun at all. For anyone. So then I tried working out while the kids were sleeping. The trouble with that? My kids decided to quit napping. I think they know when I have decided to try to get something done. They say “Oh, really mom? You think so? Nope. We’ve got other plans.” Trying hard to keep going, we decided to work out after the kids were in bed. And that plan? Yeah…that did not work out either. Once the kids are in bed, we have to get the dishes done, do laundry, go through the mail, etc. By the time we’re done, we’re so exhausted we just collapse on the couch and it’s usually 9 or 10 p.m. But we’re not giving up! This weekend, we’re going to take a look at our schedule again and see where we can make changes to make this work. We’re gonna do it! We’ve already made HUGE changes in our eating and I’ve lost 7 lbs without even working out. Nice! Imagine what I could do if I could get an actual workout in!

Pay off debt? We’re working on it! Waiting to get J’s W-2 next week so we can get our taxes done. When we get our refund we’re paying off our car! Woohoo!

Worry less? Yep. So far. Pray more. Definitely. Play more? Oh yeah. I painted with Easton in the kitchen floor this week. He LOVED it!

Get more sleep? Most of the time. Not tonight though. Man, I’m gonna need all the coffee I can get tomorrow.

One thing I didn’t talk about but is always a yearly goal of mine is to blog more. So far, so good on that one. And I want to be better about commenting on the blogs I read. I still need to work on that but am doing better when I have the time. I’m still a habitual lurker though so that’s gonna be a hard habit to break. If you have a blog and I haven’t commented on it in a while, bear with me. I’ll get there, I promise!

OK, so I know I'm a little behind with posting this but this is what I'm working on in 2010

My goals for 2010...in no particular order
Find a good (AND CHEAP but trustworthy) babysitter.
Go on a date w/my hubby at least once a month.
Finish rough draft of book by the end of January or middle of February. (That's all I'm gonna say about this one for now. More later though, I promise!)
Reduce clutter and organize. Get rid of stuff we don't use.
Read the Bible from beginning to end.
Paint the kitchen and hall. Touch up paint in all rooms.
Finish my VERY LONG craft project to-do list within 6 months.
Exercise more. (Working on this every day with 10 Minute Trainer + more if I can fit it in. I am so sore!)
Drop 2 jean sizes in time for my friend's wedding party.
Be completely free of all credit card debt by the end of the year.
Pay off car loan.
Worry less.
Read more.
Pray more.
Play more.
Be more grateful.
Get more sleep!!! Yeah, so far this last one is NOT working out. I've been getting up at 5am to work out with Jason before he goes to work. Then we've been staying up late (til 11 or later) getting things done around the house. I have GOT to start sleeping more. I'm an 8 or more hours kinda girl.

Resolutions
In 2009 there will be...

• less procrastinating!
• less t.v. watching
• more weekly meal plans (that REALLY helps stick to our budget!!)
• more grocery shopping (once a week instead of once a month...again, helps w/the budget)
• more organizing...starting with the office.
• more painting...hallway, kitchen, redo master bath (with the safe NO VOC, low odor paint of course)
• more reading with Easton. That kid is the reading-est boy I ever did know!
• less stressing out
• more game nights with my hubby
• more hanging out w/friends
• less being a homebody
• more taking pictures and POSTING ON MY BLOG!!!
• more commenting on my favorite blogs
• more emailing and keeping in touch with friends and family.
• one more person added to our household...holy cow! :)

New Year's Resolutions
(not really in order of importance...just as I think of them)
1. As I'm sure most of America says, my first one would be to lose weight. I'd really like to lose 15 lbs. I just wish it wasn't winter time. This one would be SO much easier if the weather was nice!
2. Keep the house looking neater. I'm sure this will get easier as Easton gets on more of a schedule. As it is right now, my house looks like a war zone.
3. Have more date nights with my hubby. Anybody volunteer to babysit?
4. Worry less.
5. Find a church we like and start going regularly. Make Grandma Nanny proud. :)
6. Pay off credit card debt. Not that we have THAT much, but it still would be nice to not have that hanging over our heads.
7. Buy Christmas presents thoughout the year so we do not have to use J's Christmas bonus to buy gifts. Every year we have to wait until bonus time to start buying. Not anymore! I want us to be able to use that bonus in a better way, so I'm going to buy gifts earlier so we can do something fun w/that bonus.
8. Eat healthier. Really goes hand in hand w/number 1 but we need to eat more fruits and veggies!
9. HAVE MORE FUN! Be more spontaneous. Act silly. (Do the chicken dance more often. It makes Easton laugh.)
10. Blog more.

I think that's about it. They should be pretty easy, don't you think?

Found this at http://www.sundrymourning.com/

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Broke my finger, had a baby, quit my job.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make resolutions last year. Will probably make some for next year, write them down, put them in my desk drawer, try them out for a week and promptly forget about them. Just like I do every year. :)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep. Me.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandma Nanny. (Love and miss you, grandma!)
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A huge fish tank. Seem random? I know, but I still want one.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Feb 14-the day I had big romantic plans w/my hubby and then spent the evening being treated for a broken finger. This Valentine's Day has GOT to be better than that! October 28-the day I had my little sweetie boy Easton.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having Easton. (OK, see a theme here?)
9. What was your biggest failure?
None.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Broken finger, a kajillion colds and the flu from working at the daycare.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My ugly, comfy chair from Fabulous Finds in Winchester.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Kelly
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't think of anyone.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Groceries. I love to cook and am ALWAYS out of something no matter how often I go to the store. The shopping list never ends.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding out I was pregnant w/Easton. Really excited and also totaly freaked out.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
All the Pretty Horses. This is what I sing at about 3am or whenever I'm rocking E. Oh and see also question 38. :)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
Happier. Much happier. Fatter but for good reason. Poorer in the $ sense but richer in so many others. Sounds cliche but totally true.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Having date nights w/my honey.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Throwing up.(Easton again.)
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Hanging out at home w/my 2 favorite men.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yep. And he's sweet, bald and very kissable.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Women's Murder Club
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Don't HATE anyone. Dislike intensely? Oh yeah. But I disliked her intensely this time last year too. And no, I will not say more about who this person is. Sorry.
24. What was the best book you read?
Reading too many good books to count + a bad case of CRS = no title comes to mind.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
A new CD by Cross Canadian Ragweed
26. What did you want and get?
Diamonds from my hubby.
27. What did you want and not get?
A new cell phone. Will probably get one if I do what I've been threatening to do since about June and run over my phone w/my car. Oops! Gotta get a new phone!
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Again w/the CRS. Can't remember..stuff.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Drove around in a Penske truck on the way through Nashville and wished like crazy we could go sightseeing. I was 29. I'll be 29 next year on July 7th too.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Putting the person from question 23 in her place? Um, no. That's not very nice is it? How about getting organized.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Maternity wear and clothes that are comfy.
32. What kept you sane?
Talking things over w/Jason whenever I was stressed.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don't really pay too much attention to celebrities. They're usually all pretty ridiculous. But I do like that this question says "fancy". :)
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I am probably the most uninformed person on the planet about political issues. Definitely something I'm going to work on in 2008.
35. Who did you miss?
Everyone in OK.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Technically I met her when I started working at the daycare but we just really became friends this year. Definately Katy. Oh! And Laura.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
That worrying about things does not change how they will turn out. This is something I struggle with daily. Right before we moved from Muskogee, I went shopping w/Jenni and found a card that says:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own under standing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
I bought this card and put it in my car where (supposedly) I could see it easily. Truthfully, I kind of forgot about it until this year when I was agonizing over whether we could afford for me to quit my job. I was stressing out and worrying while driving down the road and my eyes fell upon that card I bought that day. Bingo! It's like God was telling me "Hello! Don't worry about it! I'm gonna take care of you." And he did.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Can't think of one that sums up this year but the one that I've been singing lately (very badly and offkey...cause that's the way I sing everything)is an oldie by the Ronettes.

The night we met
I knew I needed you so
And if I ever had the (chance)
I'd never let you go
So won't you say you love me
I'll make you so proud of me
We'll make 'em turn their heads
Every place we go
So won't you please

(Chorus)
Be my, be my (baby)
Be my little baby
My one and only (baby)
Say you'll be my darling
Be my, be my (baby)
Be my baby now
Whoa whoa whoa

I'll make you happy, baby
just wait and see
For every kiss you give me
I'll give you three
Oh, since the day I saw you
I have been waiting for you
You know I will adore you
Till eternity so won't you please

CHORUS

So come on and be
Be my, be my, be my little baby
My one and only
say you’ll be my darling
Be my, be my, be my baby now
Whoa whoa whoa
Be my, be my, be my little baby
My one and only baby

Come to think of it, maybe that does sum up 2007. :)

5...4...3...2...1...Happy New Year! :) We had a fun, relaxing New Year's Eve here. We stayed home and I made a few snacks. We had ourselves a Veronica Mars marathon. (One of our favorite shows. I bought Jason the complete 1st and 2nd seasons on DVD for Christmas.) We had some margaritas and parked it on the couch for the entire evening. It was pretty fun.
Did we make resolutions? Of course. We always do. We usually write them down and keep them in the drawer in our dining room table. I think I have all of our resolution lists since 2004.
One of my resolutions is to blog more. I already have acchieved this, since my laptop lives right beside the couch in the living room. It's easy to blog a little during commercial breaks when I'm watching t.v.
Another resolution is to watch less t.v, so we'll see if I'm able to keep that one. :)
Another resolution is to finally figure out how to make biscuits from scratch. Not peanut butter fudge though...I'm leaving that one up to the pro. (Love you, Pawpaw!)
Hope everyone has a fun and happy new year. 2007?! Can you believe it?!