Goals shmoals....

With the new year upon us, I have been contemplating goals and let me tell you, I NEVER think about goals. I am not a very goal oriented person. I am a typical, fly by the seat of my pants, looking for instant gratification procrastinator! Yep, I said it! Goals have always seemed to silly to me. Yep, said that too! And it's not for the lack of trying. I have tried the same goals as everyone else...

lose weight, be a better person, save money,

blah blah blah....

Maybe for me it should be called 'challenges' instead of goals. I can a very aggressive and competitive person, so if I set a 'challenge', maybe perhaps I'll achieve 1 or 2, maybe even 4 or 5. But, I have to be held accountable. Oh yes, someone has to know what I am up to for me to finish this. So juvenile, I know. It's just how I'm wired. I also I have to just make up my mind and do it.

Well, my mind is made up! Will you all hold me accountable?!

I have some very different challenges in mind. Some I will share, some I won't, at least not yet. (Did I just contradict myself?!) I can't appear to be a failure right out of the gate, ya know! I also believe that if you have too many, you will never accomplish them.
So, here we go...
1. Run another marathon... yep, I'm gunna go it! Along with Ragnar and a couple of half marathon's!

2. Take the kiddos to Disneyland!

3. Start a F......... OOPs! wasn't gunna say it! hee hee

4. Write, write, write... hmmmm....

5. Cherish my children and hubby! (this shouldn't be in here, but I can always improve, right?!)

6. Do more with my family, ALL of my family.

7. Buy awesome furniture and paint, paint, paint.... maybe sell it?!

8. Be a better mother, wife and friend. (This is one I will have to explain at a later date!)

9. Find a new hobby that I have NEVER done! Any ideas?!

10. Take a road trip! Oooo.... where should we go?! Ideas?!

11. Don't sweat the small stuff, because I now know, they really DON'T matter!

Whatever goals or challenges you are attempting this year, may you be blessed with a little fire under your caboose and the power and drive to just get them done already!

Reset button...

I actually LOVE the month of January. The weather, the cold and how it always feel like a good time to start over. Push the reset button or in my case, control/alt/delete 2010! please!

When I take down my Christmas decor down, my house ALWAYS looks empty, so this is what I have been doing to keep myself busy. The laundry is piling up and I need to vaccum, but who care's when you are doing what you love right?!

B had MAJOR doubts about this one....

This picture doesn't show the awesome distressing that I did or the great color, but you can use your imagination!

I LOVE IT!!!!  Now off to paint some more!

I'm glad I'm a morning person...

I would have missed this beauty this week if I weren't!

Have a beautiiful week everyone!

Bringing the New Year in with a BANG... Literally!

Last night I got the phone call that NO ONE EVER wants to get.  My hubby was in a car accident on his way home from work.  He was driving down Bangerter Highway going the speed limit of 55 when the car in front of him slammed on her brakes.  Now you must understand that Brandon drives like a granny and was about 3-4 car lengths behind this woman.  But going as fast as he was going, there was no time to react or slow down at all, so he plowed right into the back of her.

Crazy thing is.... his air bag did NOT deploy, and yet, he was unharmed!  THANK HEAVEN!  Although that's not how we wanted to spend our evening, it could have been so much worse! 

And the lady that he hit was a total treat!  Brandon got out of the car to check on her and she told him that her husband was on his way to punch him in the face!  WOW!  ummmm...ok...

Oh ya, and she has no insurance.... hmmmmm...

Here's hoping that I can still find some optimism for 2011.

She's 7...

I can't believe my baby is 7!  I really am uncertain as to where the time went!  She is so grown up and much more mature than I was at that age.  Not sure mature is a good word for a 7 year old, but that's the only one that comes to mind! She is so aware of her self and especially other people.  She cries when they cry and laughs when they laugh.  She has a tender heart that gets broken too easy and that same heart will give until there seems to be nothing left and yet there is.  Mara has been a HUGE blessing in our lives!  Not only because she was our first baby, but her spirit is one that I wish I could bottle and distribute!  It would certainly sell and I would put all of you at the top of the pyramid when I create the elixir. hee hee

She has given me more than I could ever return to her.  She has reminded me of what is really important.  Including the courage to stand up for what I believe in, undying love for family and friends and pure excitement for all that makes us happy.  She has an incredible love for her Savior that is still fresh from heaven, and she is as stubborn as her father, yeah, father... She is special in so many ways, even when she is naughty. (Which happens a lot!  Love her for it.)  Anyway, as you can tell I could keep going, but I won't.  I just want to wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Love you sweet thing!

 We always decorate their doors, so when they wake up they have something fun to walk through!

 She waited for us to come get her out of bed this morning... she was soooo excited!

Lame that I didn't rotate this... but I found this in her room today! 

Oh the chaos of Christmas...

 Christmas with the cousins, Elggren Family and much much more!!

 Will just relaxin...

 Sister in laws....

 Singing Jingle Bells...

 Will and Anna singing Silent Night, Stone joining in...

 Mara doing Jingle Bells on the piano...

 SANTA!!!!!

And of course we end with the Nativity play. Mara was thrilled to be Mary this year!

I loved EVERY minute of it!

We made it...

Yesterday was my darling little boy, William's 5th birthday!  Last year at his party, the outcome was a lot more grim, but this year was full of joy and happiness!  As some of you know, my cute hubby Brandon dropped in a grand mal seizure last year at William's birthday party.  I know it was silly to worry that he would have another seizure on the same day, at the same time, but the mind does funny things and I waited for 5:15pm to pass before I could truly have a good time!  See?!  I told ya, Silly! But no matter, we made it!  With the right dosage of medication and lots of prayer, we made it to the one year mark and William had the time of his life!  I don't want to remember Williams birthday in a negative manner!  I want to remember it for him!  I want to marvel at how fast he is growing and how happy he is when we he is surrounded by those who love him.

So, we had our dear family over to watch the Utah Utes get pummelled in the Maaco Bowl by Boise State, (sadness), but no matter, we had a very happy, healthy time!  I hope this luck will last another year or perhaps forever!  I want to thank everyone who has sent prayers our way!  They were heard!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!