Connect

As each new year begins, I mentally make plans of what I'd like to accomplish in the new year.  It's a fresh start, a new beginning, a virtual clean slate just waiting to be filled with great things.

And it seems that each time a new year rolls along, the things I had planned never come to light.

"Broken resolutions."  That's what they're called.  Sort of like broken promises to yourself.  Nothing like breaking promises to yourself to make you feel like a chump.

This year, instead of a resolution (or a promise that's going to get broken in about a month), I'd like to create a theme for the year.  My mom has inspired me to do this.  She chooses a word for the year and works on things with herself and with relationships with others that go along with this word.  This year I'm going to do this (even though I've chosen a word in previous years and then did nothing with it).

And this year I'm telling you about it.  I'm telling you because I want to share it with you.  I'm telling you because I'm going to be stepping out of my comfort zone a bit and I hope you can have patience with me.

The word (or goal or theme or promise) of 2012 is CONNECT.

I hope I can keep my promise to myself and I hope I can share some of what I'm doing with you!

By the way, if you'll scroll down a bit and look on the right at the blogs of my friends and family, you'll see a blog called Mom's Point of View.  I was a guest blogger today!  :)

Making Things

I'm still trying to be crafty. It is a struggle! But it makes me happy to have made something.

I made these advent calendars for the girls.  I've been wanting to do this since Emily was a baby, but I felt she wasn't ready to eat just one piece of candy each day.  I wasn't sure if Avery was ready either, but she did great!  In fact, she went several days without eating candy and then had a day where she'd play catch up and eat several pieces at once.  Emily didn't think it was very cool that Avery saved her pieces and at a bunch all at once.  She tried to save her candy but just couldn't do it.

See that little stocking on the right of the fireplace?  That's my childhood stocking!  My mom made each of us kids our own stocking.  This is something I'd like to do for the girls this year.  That way there won't be any "Hey, that's MY stocking!  No, that's yours, this one's mine!". 

Another thing I worked on is a way to keep my earphones untangled.  I have this one pair of earphones that came with my iPod that work just fine, but Avery chewed off one of the speakers, so it only had one working ear piece.  I usually only used one anyway, so no biggie.  I use them in my laptop at night when I can't sleep and I watch shows.  I lay on one side and put the earphone in the other ear. 

Anyway, these things got TANGLED!  It was a mess. 

On Pinterest, I found where someone had taken their earphones and used embroidery thread to create a sort of cover for their earphones.  The cover made it so the phones were less likely to tangle.  It was a bit of a flashback to junior high when I saw that the pattern was basically a friendship bracelet pattern.  This particular pattern was called Chinese Staircase. 

I received a new pair of earphones for Christmas and that day I began making my cover.  The girl that posted the picture of her earphones said it took her less than a day to do this.  Apparently this girl has no kids or laundry and doesn't eat or make food for others because this thing actually took me a week to complete! 

Looks cool, eh?  It was fun, challenging, and a learning experience.  Next time I do something like this, I'm going with ONE color.  Less to think about.  I'm still trying to figure out how to finish the edges to it doesn't all come unraveled.  I've got glue on the knots I tied, but I'm too scared to cut off the ends in case it all comes apart.

New Year's Eve Sunshine!

The girls have been getting cabin fever.  I don't blame them since it's hard for me to get out of the house and with the weather being so pretty (sunshiny and above 55°). 

Emily rode her scooter

Avery balanced on the curb (in her Native American pants, lol)

I love my girls!

Magic

Christmas, part 3 of 3

Before the girls got up and after Santa stopped by, I got a picture of the pretty tree and gifts.

 Those reindeer are very messy.  I did not know this about them.

 A Christmas Story played on the TV in the background as we opened presents.

 Avery sat on a bow and it stuck to her bum.  I do have to say that this was not my favorite present.

Christmas, part 2 of 3

Rob's parents came over on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas with us.  It was a quiet evening, WAY different than with my family.  We were missing several cousins and aunts and uncles.  It just didn't work out so we could all get together, but we had fun nonetheless!

Grandpa got to spend some time with the girls.

Rob told the story of the birth of Jesus.  

 Then the girls opened their gifts from their grandparents.

 After they left, the girls set out a snack for Santa and his reindeer.  There were three cookies, a glass of water, two carrots, 9 slices of cheese, and a handful of green onions.

 Emily wrote a note:  "Dear Santa, 3 cookies toonight and veggies for the reindeer."

Christmas, part 1 of 3

My side of the family got together for Christmas the weekend before Christmas.  When we get together, you can always count on lots of laughter, hugs, tickles, and inside jokes.  I feel bad for anyone that joins in our get-togethers and tries to keep up.  It's madness!

Nana and Grumpa brought the kids some light sticks.  So fun!

 Uncle Michael handed out the gifts.  I love how the little kids lined up to watch.

 These are my siblings:  (me), little brother Jason, biggest brother Aaron, big brother Michael, and little sister Kelly. 

 See, we're all sort of weird.