2009 is Out...2010 is In!

I have never been much of a fan of New Years Resolutions. I think it limits a person to only focus in improving once a year. I tend to take stock every few months and really look at what I'm doing and where my life is going and make small adjustments all through the year. My goal every year is to be honest with myself and make changes as they are needed no matter how much work it may mean for me. I continually try and focus on living the best life I can for myself, my marriage, and my future child.

Having said that I am taking part in a 8 week challenge on a blog I follow...Engaged Marriage. (Great blog by the way. Lots of good posts and info about a wide range of topics.) The challenge is to pick a goal, or several goals, to focus on for 8 weeks. We post comments on the specific things we are doing each week to reach our goal. I think my goal may take a lifetime to master, but an 8 week jump won't hurt. My goal is communication with Mark. By that I mean controlling how I react to perceived "tones" when he is talking to me. By and large we communicate well especially about the big "issues" most married couples face. What I need to work on is when we are working on projects around the house like painting, moving furniture or working on the camp trailer. I tend to feel like he is talking to me like a 3 year old and his way is the only right way and he does not think he comes across that way. We may never see eye to eye on this and I have come to the conclusion that the only thing I really have control over is how I react to him and the perceived tone.

It really does not matter if he is talking to me like a 3 year old or not (he is not being mean or malicious and he does not think I'm stupid what he is saying is based out of what is safe and correct) what matters is how I react. I need to take more deep breaths before popping off some smart retort. It is amazing how such a little thing can ruin a day and has even ruined whole weekend trips, and I will admit it is me getting angry and not getting over it. So that is what I'm working on for the first 8 weeks of the year, and am sure it is something I will continue working on the rest of my life.

Now for a Recap of 2009 the good and the bad:
-Co-chaired the original Relay For Life event during the 25th anniversary. What an amazingly rewarding challenge!
-Decided to start our family through adoption!
-Bungee Jumped for the first time!
-Spent an amazing week in Whistler with Mark.
-Found new joy in my workout routine!
-Added some truly amazing friends to my life.
-Re-painted and floored three rooms in the house.
-Lost my Steelers room to the nursery.
-Painted the outside of the house.
-Put in new sod/seed in the yard and worked on filling the flower boxes.
-Learned a lot about what does and doesn't work with 3 year olds.
-Sadly saw our community changed forever by an act of violence that ended 4 lives.
-Joined the dodgeball league and am still dealing with an injury from the first game.
-Learned how to use clip less peddles on my bike and also learned the danger of the jagged medal edge coming in contact with my shin! Still dealing with that injury 4 months later!
-Re-discovered the joy of being at home with my husband and having time to myself again!
-Learned how to say no and manage my time and my calendar.
-Learned a lot about myself, Mark, our friends, our family, and our marriage through the adoption process.
-Camping with family in particular my sister and her family.
-Saying a final goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma.

Looking forward to 2010:
-Hopefully a birthmother match!
-Whistler with the Beckham's!
-Camping trips that are already in the works!
-My baby shower!
-Re-connecting with some HS friends...gotta love Facebook!
-Spending more time with the people I love.
-Growing and learning more about myself, my husband, my marriage, and hopefully our daughter.

Goodbye 09...it has been a great year that brought more than its share of joy and sorrow. Welcome 2010 I can't wait to see what you have in store for me!

Time Off

It has been so nice to have some time off! I worked Monday and Tuesday last week and have been off since then. I don't go back to work until the 4th. Poor Mark has been working though. It is hard for him to get out of bed when I'm still out and don't plan on getting up until 8 or 9. It is amazing how much sleeping in a person can do.

I have been productive though. I cleaned out my closet and dresser and took 3 garbage bags to Goodwill. The laundry is caught up, the house is clean, we have had several dinner nights with friends/family and my last project is to organize the kitchen. I know I have stuff that I never use, and I need to make room for the new Crockpot. I have a huge one, but just got a smaller one so that I have the right size for smaller dishes. One of those smaller dishes is cooking right now!

In between all of this I finished a book, started a new one, am almost done with a scarf and ready to start a new one, and have watched several movies...as there is nothing on TV during the day.

It has been good time off, but busy time off and I wouldn't trade it. It has been the perfect mix of getting a project done, relaxing, starting a new project, relaxing, taking long showers, relaxing, cleaning, relaxing...you get the picture.

Tomorrow starts the prep for the PJ's New Years Eve party. It is our 2nd annual pj party that is pregnant person and kid friendly. It is a blast! I don't have all that much to do, just some last minute bathroom cleaning and making sure I have all the goods to make the snacks and drinks I want to make.

Photo's soon of Christmas and New Years.

Headed East

Mark and I take off today for E WA. Staying with Candy and Paul for the long Holiday weekend. We love doing Christmas morning with them. We have so much fun! Then we will head over to Dad and Vals for Christmas evening and dinner.

Can't wait to see some snow over the pass and spend time with people we love.

Another Sad Day

I'm not sure what the heck is happening around Pierce County, but two more officers have been shot in an ambush. This time two Pierce County Sheriff Officers were shot by a gunman hiding upstairs when they responded to a domestic violence call.

It makes me sad that the people who are trying to keep us safe and help us when we need it are being repaid by being shot at and killed.

My heart goes out to the two officers, their families, and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. I hope the two officers hang in there and make a full recovery!

Dinner With the Beckham's

Saturday evening we had some of our favorite people over for dinner, gifts, and crazy Jenga! Kiera got to test out the new crib, changing table and high chair! We must have put them together right because the didn't fall apart!

I made my favorite balsamic turkey roast in the crock pot with sweet potatoes and green beans. We had poached pears for dessert along with some hot spiced wine. It was a great evening of fun!

The new Jenga game...not sure what I think about it, but we had fun playing.

Opening gifts...Bob and Michelle decorate all out for Halloween so we had to get this for them when we saw it.


This is the coolest football book ever!

Michelle showing off her new Hawks garb.

Grace decided she had to put on every top and skirt from her dress up trunk. She seemed to like it!

Wait...my hair is not perfect!

Holding Kiera.

Table full of yummy food!

Friday Update

It has been a few days...here is what our week looked like in words...I need to be better about photos!

Sunday - Finished all our shopping...we only had stocking stuffer left to get and that is the best part. We have so much fun raiding the dollar store!

Monday - Kicked butt in Zumba. I am loving that class more and more!

Tuesday - Finalized the menu for our dinner tomorrow with Bob and Michelle...I love being ready ahead of time!

Wednesday - Did the late 7pm to 8pm Zumba class. It is one of my favorites and one of the biggest classes!

Thursday - Played dodgeball and Mark was the King of the match! He was awesome and won our Team MVP for the night. Due to a scheduling confusion we showed up at 9 not realizing our first game actually started at 8. So we forfeited the first game and the refs let us squeeze in the second game. The team was good and we went back and forth, and as I said Mark was awesome, we ended up tying the other team.

Friday - Tonight I think I have talked Mark into hanging our pictures and artwork back up! Can't wait for that last little thing to be finished. The house keeper comes today as well...can't wait to walk in the doors of a clean home and I didn't have to do the cleaning! I'm setting up the high chair tonight and the portable crib to make sure all the parts and pieces work.

Weekend - 7:30 am coat sale tomorrow, dinner with friends tomorrow night, and hopefully football on Sunday. Also, I will finally post photos of the living room! That is as long as the pictures and art are hung back up. :)