Goals for 2011

Here it is! The 2011 Goals List!

Goal #1: Keep Blogging! I did really well up until the move and computer issues. I think 2011 will be even better, even though I still have no computer and we still need to move into a house at some point! I may even get some iniative and put all my blogs in one place! :)

Goal #2: Marathon! I am absolutely determined to do that marathon. Nothing is going to stop me this time. Nothing.

Goal #3: Family Photo Challenge. I read a blog about a mom that made a point of taking a family photo once a month for the whole year. I think this is a great idea and I'm going to do it. So at some point each month I will beg, bribe, and/or trick my family into a group photo.

Goal #4: Project 365. I will once again be continuing the Project 365 challenge. I've done it for 2 years and I think it helps capture our lives very well. I just hope P365 for 2011 stays caught up. I may change the format to make it a little easier for me this time around.

Goal #5: Webstore. I'm going to continue to develop my webstore. The goal is to have the store up and running by September. If I can't make it happen by then, it'll never happen. Sad, but true.

Goal #6: Debt. We will continue to pay down our debt. It's a sizeable amount, so I know we won't get it all paid this year, but we're going to make a huge dent in it!

Goal #7: Stay Positive! I sometimes let my "pragmatism" get in the way and tend toward the negative. I really want to get away from that. No more sarcasm, no more cynisism, no more. There's no room for negativity here anymore.

Goal #8: Crafting. This year's new skill will be Tatting. I've found several wonderful websites dedicated to Tatting, so I know I'll be able to find help. I'll be slowly acquiring the equipment and then this summer I will begin! I imagine most everyone will get a tatted snowflake for Christmas this year :)

Goal #9: Reading. I'm not going to set a number, because that would take all the fun out of reading. But I do want to read a bit more than the last couple years. So if I make it to 60 or 70 books this year, I'll be happy.

PAID IN FULL!

Doesn't that just bring a huge smile to your face?!

The beast is finally paid in full. Aftere 5 long years of making payments, missing payments, extending payments...we finally did it! And we actually paid it off 8 payments early! Whoo-hooo!

We sent the final check at the beginning of March. A week later they called to remind me that I was "2 payments behind and would I like to make a payment today?" I reminded them that I'd already requested the payoff and that the full balance was in the mail already. Three days later they called me again. Let me just say I will NOT being doing business with that particular company again. Sad communication skills.

When the paperwork came in with the PAID stamp I took a picture and asked Chad if we should frame it.

That's just how happy I am that the truck is now paid off!

Round-Up - March 2010

It's Round-up time again! Amazing how fast the time flies!

1. What magazines/books did I read this month?

Can you believe I didn't read a single book this month? I was too busy knitting :)

I did glance through some scrapbook magazines, Lucky Magazine, Taste of Home Healthy Cooking, and my latest copy of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. And even though I didn't read an entire book, I did skim through several knitting/crocheting books, a couple vegetarian cookbooks and some books on the properties of Atoms, and the Periodic Table.

2. What TV shows/movies/plays did I watch this month?

The usual suspects: NCIS, Project Runway, Shear Genius, House. I also started watching Human Target. Chad likes it better than I do. As for movies, we went to the theater to watch Alice in Wonderland (LOVED it!), we rented Where the Wild Things Are (but didn't like it), 2012 (eh), Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie (funny), and I know several others...I just can't think of them...must not have been that great.

3. What fun things did I do with my family/friends this month?

We've spent lots of time working in the concession stand together and countless hours playing baseball. We also drove to MI to see family and we got to meet little Connor (finally!) And the boys and I had a paper boat race! It was a lot of fun and only happens when we get a nice strong rain.

4. What gifts did I give/receive this month?

Not a lot going on in the gift department this month. Sheri on the 29th -I gave her an 8x8 scrapbook for Connor's first Christmas. All she needs to do is add pictures and journaling. Chad on the 31st - he got a new feather pillow and some pillow sheets AND tickets to go see the Blue Man Group!

This is going to be sooooo much fun! (but not til spring breaks are over)

5. What special or unusual purchases did I make this month?

We bought some bulgar to make some Kibbeh for Chad's birthday dinner!

6. What illnesses/health concerns did I have this month?

We have all been healthy but that unexpected trip to MI was to see my mom. She had had a minor stroke and we just had to go and see her and make sure she was okay. She's doing fine now, thankfully.

7. What were my accomplishments this month?

Well....the kids are almost caught back up on their schoolwork...

I finished knitting my first sweater/wrap. It's awaiting final assembly stitches..but still...the major knitting is finished! I also managed to remember to join in the I Heart Faces photo challenges :)

8. What were my disappointments this month?

I didn't get in as many miles as I would have liked. But I do know I have time to get them under my belt. I just need to go, go, go!

9. How did I do on my goals this month?

I've been blogging regularly (except that trip to MI), got in about 1/2 of my walks, kids are almost caught up on schoolwork, and 2 big ones: paid off the truck loan and paid off a small credit card! We're getting there!

10. Anything else noteworthy for the month?

We said good-bye to our Oregon friends. They needed to get home and it's a long trip.

Best Buds D and J (J is whispering to D that he can hide in our truck) LOL!

Project 365: Week 4

Week# 4

Sun. Jan. 17, 2010 I really don't like paying bills. There are so many of them sometimes.

Mon. Jan. 18, 2010 Getting ready for spring tryouts. Jeremy brought his friend Johnathon down to the cages to get in some early practice. Jeremy wanted to get in some pitching practice too.

Tues. Jan 19, 2010 Look at this mess! The concession stand is under construction. Chad and Kylie have put in 30 hours already! That's a lot of work, and they're not done yet...

Wed. Jan. 20, 2010 Valentines Day is coming along soon. Chad just had to pick up some candy.

Thurs. Jan 21, 2010 I guess even the potato chip companies wanted in on the holiday fun!

I took a picture - and then I ate it :)

Fri. Jan. 22, 2010 We had lots of fun putting together a birthday package for Uncle Todd. He'll be surprised!

Sat. Jan. 23, 2010 Test run for the spring tryouts. The board asked us to have concession open all day. So Chad, Kylie and I worked from 7:45am until almost 5pm. We cooked everything on the menu. People seemed very pleased with the improvements Chad has made and it promises to be a really good season.