Great Book!

I just finished reading "The Book Thief". My friend Janette recommended it (thanks!!) It was very different. The story teller in the book was death. Anyway, read it! It is a story about a young girl in Nazi Germany. I am trying to get Matt and Jordan to read it. I sent it with Jordan to school today. We will see!

Sick Kids!

Well, I had a nice long weekend (Monday and Tuesday off) for Martin Luther King Day -- then.... Andrew came down with a stomach virus on Monday, Matt and Jordan on Wednesday, but hey I am still in good health! It reminded me of the days when the kids were all little. Someone was always sick. I think going to the pediatrician was just part of my weekly activities. We had an ongoing bill that never really got paid off. I miss lots of things about my little kids, but not THAT PART! Now that the kids are older, they just slept or layed around. Brett and I joked last night about how quiet it was and how much we got done! He and I had a nice quiet dinner (no one else ate) and I went to bed quite early.

Anyway, I also want to report that I have finished #1 and #2 on my New Year's resolution list. Matt and Jordan are no longer blind. I have had my physical and I am still alive. Unfortunately, I have yet to get skinny!! Maybe tomorrow.....but today I had a nice lunch out with some of the ladies' from the neighborhood.

New Year's Stuff

Well, it is the New Year - 2009. I read in the newpaper that making New Year's resolutions (even if you didn't keep them all) was a great idea. I guess there is some motivation in doing something with everyone else! I have always made my resolutions in February so as to miss the crowd, BUT...

1 - Make appointments for the boy's eye check-ups and other doctor visits.
For some reason, I just keep putting this stuff off, Jordan has been wearing one contact for a long time now.
2 - Make appointment for my old girl physical stuff (and go)
I made it a goal to do this every year and it has now been about 2.5 years. I will be pretty mad at myself if I die from something I could have cured with an early physical!!
3 - Get back my old, more positive, self
I used to have a much more positive outlook on life before all the bad stuff happened. I need to get it back - I read this today "I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine."
4 - Get organized financially and try to get ahead
I guess I will stop waiting for that million dollar check and try to get organized anyway!
5 - Make more contact with friends and family
I want to do this by calling, e-mailing, and having friend and family dinners. I plan to make some kind of a list. I love my family and friends and don't want to let time go by!
6 - Get back to exercising regularly
I went almost every day for many years, but work kind of messed me up. I need to find a way to get back into the routine.
7 - AND of course lose weight!
Somehow, in spite of eating totally out of control, I managed to maintain my weight loss through the holidays, but now I need to actually lose more! I make this goal every year and I am still overweight, but I have to keep on trying! (SEE #3)

Christmas Came!!

Well, finally it came! I was kind of glad to see it over this year. I was not very organized, didn't feel like we had the money, and couldn't quite get everything done the way I wanted it! I was shopping, wrapping, delivering,cleaning and still making things right up until Christmas eve. NEXT YEAR....I am sure I will be much more organized about things! (HaHa) Really, I am typically more together. I really didn't catch the Christmas spirit like I usually do.

The funny thing is that I enjoyed the day as much as ever. It doesn't seem to matter if everything is clean or how many presents the kids have. It went off without a hitch and was very lovely! I did spend part of the day dozing on the couch, recovering (pretending to be awake, watching the kid's video games).

We went to Tracy's house on Christmas Eve and had our usual dinner of Steak Cordon Bleu and Chicken Cordon Bleu. We (of course) over ate! Melissa and Ryker spent the night which made Christmas morning lots of fun! Ryker loved all of his presents and was very excited! Later in the evening, we went down to Bonnie's and enjoyed more food and presents!

Now I just have to stop eating everything in sight and clean up my house!!



Matt and Jordan doing a James Bond pose!


Tracy, Cheryl, Brett and I on Christmas Eve!

I couldn't find my camera, so I guess I will add more pictures later. Melissa has better ones than I do, because my batteries were low so I will have to look at hers!

Annual Cousin Party!

For many years, we have been getting all the cousins together before Christmas for a Christmas party. As the kids get older and get married, it is easier to catch as many as possible this way! We all gathered at Annalee's house and had food (of course) and the kids exchanged gifts. Grandma always brings presents and they are always pajamas and the kids always run and change and then pose for pictures! I am not sure about everyone else, but I love the ALWAYS factor! We missed you Brittany, Ashley and Emilee!


All the grown ups! We are the old people now!


Here are almost all the kids in the family (and their kids!)

Basketball

Well, Christmas is over so I need to do a little bit of catch up on my blog. It seems this year was not my best organizational effort of all time. I was running around like crazy and not getting anything done!

Andrew's basketball team went 15 and 1 this season. They won the Layton City league and just missed winning the Weber county league. They will start again in January and play another couple of seasons. It is pretty fun for the kids and I enjoy it too.


Andrew going up for two (he says he made it!)


Brett (the coach) and the boys pose with their trophies

BAH HUMBUG!!

I took Andrew, Ryker, and his buddies Cade and Daxten down to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It was a lovely night, not too cold. We ate dinner (at McDonald's - their choice not mine) and drove down. When we got there I found an awesome parking spot on the side of the road. We all got out and then I looked and noticed it was a handicapped spot so we got back in and started to search for another spot. That is when the trouble started. All the places I have always parked were gone, closed, under construction, etc... The underground parking was full. All the road side parking was full. Believe me I drove all around to see!! I was starting to lose my Christmas spirit. Luckily, I had to be nice because I had kids with me!! (I didn't use any swear words) Finally the underground parking opened up and we drove in. We couldn't find how to get out of there and so we (and a bunch of other people) walked up a ramp. It was crowded looking at the lights, but still nice. Ryker got tired of walking though, so I had to carry him. When we went back to get in the car, we couldn't get in the conference center to get back down to the parking area. After trying several doors, we went down the ramp again!! When we were leaving, the guy in front of us crashed into another car. At least that didn't happen to us! Then we pulled out and the parking cost me $10.00!! I was a bit irritated at this point so as I drove away I told Andrew to take one last look because that is the last time we were ever going to see those lights!!