New Year's Resolutions

I loved my friend April's idea of writing my new year's resolutions down here. Until now I had them written on an untitled document on my computer, not yet even saved. =) guess I hadn't made up my mind on how well I would keep them? So now I've made up my mind and here they are...

1. Do my 20 minute Pilate's video 2 times a week. It's a realistic goal and since my hubby and sister are gone, I don't really have alone time anymore so this is achievable.

2. Go the month of January with no treats or soda. Now this is a hard one for me but I am starting with month 1 and progressing from there. Plus, this will help with goal #3.

3. Lose the 20 lbs I've gained in the last year and a half. Not sure how it happened but not really liking it. I'm a stress eater and so I guess it could have been the moving, Daniel being gone, and being in my 30's ( I hear that really makes it hard).

4. Study and understand the Doctrine and Covenants. (It helps that its the study section for this year but I really want to know the sections better)

5. At this point, I am not able to run on a regular basis but I miss running so much. My goal is to run just 1 race this year. Even a 5k would be nice. I miss that feel of running in and finishing a race.

6. I would like to finish reading Preach My Gospel. I have learned so much from the sections I've read. I just want to finish it.

7. To read 9 more fiction novels this year. I've come to really love reading fiction. I already know 2 of the books. And have a few others I know I want to read. The whole collection of Jane Austin would be fun. But every year, my love for reading grows and it's been a goal of mine for the last 5 years to find that love of reading. I think I finally may have found it!!! Last year I think I read 7 books and I would like to beat that record (and it is a record for me).

8. Learn 5 more songs in the children's songbook. There are so many songs I don't know and would like to someday not sit in primary and 'wish I knew that song when every other teacher is singing it'!

9. Learn more than just how to play the melody on the piano and learn the basic chords on the guitar.

10. Learn how to keep my house generally clean while Daniel is gone and get my children to help me more. They have to be so much more independent when he's gone in order for us to make it. But a house of order is very important to me. I always feel better when my house is clean!!!

Alright, so there are my 10 goals. All pretty attainable. Nothing so far fetched that they can't all be accomplished. Much of these things are a part of my life already but I would just like to step it up a notch, be more organized so that they can be fully accomplished. When I write it down, I get it done! It's one of my better qualities so now I have to get it done!

Time with Daniel.

What a fun Christmas we had. It's been so good having Daniel home and the girls have soaked up every minute with him. Last night Anelyn was laying in my bed with me and telling me how much she loved Daddy, how she's sad he has to go back to the army, and how much she's going to miss him. I love that they love him and have missed him every bit as much as I have.

Siriana was so excited for her present from santa. She really didn't care about any of her other presents. All she wanted was a barbie from santa...and she got it. They got to see santa right before christmas at grandma and grandpa's christmas party. I think she was as excited for santa to come as she was for daddy being here. =)

Lexie has never really asked for much for christmas. She did want an mp3 player but what she wanted most was to start her nutcracker collection. Daniel found this nutcracker and I thought it was one of the most traditional looking nutcrackers. A perfect way to start her collection!

For anyone who know's who Aly & AJ are, they are 2 sisters who started on the Disney Channel and now both sing and "play the guitar" together. Both are very talented. That is now my Gabriella. All she wanted for christmas was a guitar. So we found this pretty inexpensive guitar and a perfect lesson book to go with is. She's played everyday since and is so cute. She's starting to learn the chords along with teaching her basic tunes. She's super excited...Ok, so am I cause I am going to learn right along with her. It's not an easy instrument to learn but well worth it! Go Gabriella!!!

One book I always try to read every year but have yet to succeed in finishing is The Christmas Box. I read through once when I first got it and have started it every year since. We got about 2/3 of the way finished this year. Maybe next year we will get 3/4 of the way through. Maybe it will be a funny tradition of ours.

The girls love their daddy so much. I've found them this way many times. They just lay there and have watched lots of christmas movies. It's one of my favorite pictures.

We went sledding on a golf course in town. The Pro shop is at the top of the hill and the only way to get to the golf course is one of the hills on either side...which makes for perfect sledding. It was the biggest hill I've ever gone sledding down. It was so exhilarating and frightening at the same time. All my girls were so brave. None of them showed an ounce of fear. Siriana was having so much fun that she even slid down the hill backwards and by herself.

Poor Daniel was so use to carrying the twins everywhere and doing everything for them that he kept on still doing so. He was a little sad when he reallized how independant they have become while he was gone.

It's been so good having him home but has gone by way too fast. We've just started getting back into a groove and he's got to go. =( There's just never enough minutes in the day. But we are going to hold on to every memory to get us through the next couple/few months. Not sure when we are going to see him again. But I have a feeling it's not soon enough!