Thoughts......

The past couple of days, (while I was in a drug induced daze :)) I was thinking about this next year and what I want to happen. I have personal goals that I want to reach this next year, but I was thinking about how I can "try a little harder to be a little better" when I remembered this quote:

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of  

children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know 

even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. "                                                                                      

                                                                                 -Ralph Waldo Emerson

 I think sometimes I am so focused on myself that I forget to "find the best in others" and to "win the respect of intelligent people" just to name a few. So one of my main goals this year is "to try a little harder to be a little better" by starting with the small things; such as watching what I say about people and to stop being so involved in my own problems that I  lose opportunities to serve those in need.  By doing these small things, I hope I can "leave the world a bit better." 

Yuck!

This week has been a bit of the yucks. Aidan and I have been feeling pretty yucky. We both have the sore throat, cough, head cold junk, which isn't fun for me let alone a two year old. However, I will take our sickness over my cousin Jenn's family's sickness anyday!  Plus to top it off, I started potty training Aidan.  Needless to say it has been a very yucky week!  We haven't left the house much. He will go on the toilet if I prompt him to, but won't tell me he has to go until afterwards on his own. I know he will get it. I just hope it won't take forever. I am determined to not buy any more diapers!  I say that with my fingers crossed.

Some interesting facts.......

The things I have done are BOLD....this was fun! I hope you all do this one too!
1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run . 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie or on a TV show 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen. 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma. 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar. 72. Pieced a quilt. 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee

Not a lot, but something......

For some reason the past week flew by me and I didn't really blog about our happenings. Not that there was much going on, but some small things did happen. First off, Elena made the Principal's List (which is a good thing)! She had to earn a 3.5 to get on the list and she got a 3.65. She worked really hard this past quarter to do better in school and I am so proud of her. All of her hard work paid off. She got a certificate and a little pin that says, "I made the Principal's List. She is pretty excited.

Elena really wanted to cut her hair short! I was so against it, and still am but figure I should let her make her own choices. So, she promised me she would do it everyday she could cut it. She loves it and told me that it now fits her personality better to have it short. (what does a mother know :)) She is growing up way too fast. She even started flat ironing on her own.

Max really improved his grades as well. He is finally starting to enjoy school and reading. His teacher said he should be getting straight A's because he is so smart, but he just has a hard time motivating himself. I wonder where he got that? It couldn't be from me..... ;) He is really enjoying reading thanks to all the great books my mom got him for Christmas. He has already read 2 of them and can't wait to read the rest.

Aidan has been quite the character this past week. He loves being one of the older kids in the nursery. He looks forward to playgroup and nursery every week. He did have some run in's with corners and bushes this past week. As noted on the picture he scratched his head up pretty good playing in the bushes after church and then another long bruise happened after playing hide and seek in the closet about 2 inches away from the first one (not in the picture since it happened after the picture was taken). I just had to take this picture. He was suppose to be in his bed. When I came into my room he had taken over my bed and was curled up with his hand under his chin. So cute! I couldn't resist.

This past weekend, a friend called me and asked me if I would help her finish decorating a cake for a wedding and help her decorate the table. I said sure as I have never done anything like that before. It was a lot of fun. I wish I would have brought my camera because it turned out great. I didn't do much, but learned quite a bit. It was a lot of fun!

Tag! I'm it again!

(Thanks Mandi)

Fill in with one word answers

1. Where is your phone? purse
2. Where is your significant other? tennis
3.Your hair color? brown
4. Your Mother? amazing
5. Your Father? inspiring
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? weird
8. Your dream/goal? travel
9. The room you're in? office
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? tragedy
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? debt-free
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? skinny :)
15. One of your wish-list items? tobefit  
16. Where you grew up? Rexburg
17. The last thing you ate? veggie patty burrito
18. What are you wearing? jeans
19. Your TV? watched
20. Your pet? dead
21. Your computer? lifeline
22. Your mood? happy
23. Missing someone? daily
24. Your car? van
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? Costco
27. Your Summer? wonderful 
28. Love someone? definately
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Something you crave? Rumbi's
33. Why you blog? journaling 

I tag..........Melinda, Kahea, Katie, Jenn,  Rachel, and Alicia

New Year!

I still can't believe that 2008 is over and a new year has begun. I am extremely glad that '08 is over. I am ready to start new this year. I have lots of resolutions and goals for this year and things to look forward to. Bring on the new year!

This past week we were so lucky to head south to visit some of our really good friends the Millers who were visiting their families for the holidays. We met up at a McDonald's for lunch and a playground and then headed to Jeff's parents to relax, visit, and swim. We left our area with 45 degrees on the thermometer and headed to 75 degree weather! It was a great day to swim. It was so fun to catch up with them and see their new little guy! We also got to see Walid and Bethany Kaakoush and their 4 kids. The kids all played so good together and they all had a blast. There were plenty of boys and girls to play with. 

(Walid and Bethany left before we broke out the cameras)

Baby Enoch was sleeping so we didn't get a picture of him but here is Max, Asa, Asher, Elena and Aidan. Look at what happens in 10 years!  

I was so happy to see Kim again! We laughed and talked and reminisced about all the great memories we have. I wish it could have lasted longer. I wish we were closer. :( It was so worth the 2 hours there and 2 hours back to see them. Hopefully this year we could visit them in Hawaii!  We love you guys!