New Year, New Look, New Ideas

Like the new look? A huge thanks to Megan at Knuckleheaders for creating something fun for my blog. Since we have started a fresh new year, I figured it was time to shake things up a bit. Both here on the blog and in my life.

I am not really one to make new year's resolutions. I never made realistic ones (except that one year when I resolved to floss my teeth EVERY day, now a habit I can't live without) and those that I did make didn't have much substance or anything substantial to add to the quality of my life. So, instead I think of resolutions in terms of possibilities. Things that I want to happen for me and/or my family. Things that are fun to think about, plan, and dream about all in my head. That way, I have blueprints for later years, if I don't get around to doing them this year.

What kinds of possibilities are jumping around in my head for 2009? Well, for starters, I would like a new car. The Volvo has treated us so well for the last 7 years. It will keep on treating us well years down the road if we want it to. But, I feel that it is time for more space. And thus, the possibility of parking a brand new shiny car in my garage has me feeling all giddy inside.

Another possibility for 2009 is a vegetable garden. I would love to grow delicious veggies for our family to eat. I want to teach the boys about what it takes to grow vegetable garden and how rewarding it can be to eat the fruit of their labor (mine, mostly). I would like to start composting so that we can make the "black gold" that plants thrive on. Also, along these same lines, I would like to get some chickens to keep in our backyard. The hens will provide us with fresh eggs, pest control (goodbye, scorpions!), weed control, and entertainment. The boys will get hands on experience in raising chicks and they will also learn that eggs don't necessarily come from a grocery store.

What I am looking forward to the most in 2009 is time. My Baby Boot Camp business will be sold (hopefully) by the end of February. Now that I don't have a business to tend to, I am looking forward to all of the extra time I am going to have for my family. More time to work on the projects I mentioned above. More time to play with the boys. More time to travel and do fun things.

I am excited about 2009 and what the year holds for us. I love trying different things and exposing the boys to new adventures. I am so lucky to have a supportive husband, who hears my crazy ideas frequently and doesn't roll his eyes. Well, at least not all of the time. So, as I continue on this crazy ride called "life" I am going to sit back and enjoy all the "new" that this New Year has to bring.

I have a fee-vah! The Scarlet Fever.

It turns out that the streptococcus pyogenes strain has taken over my body. I wish I had known this 4 days ago in order to avoid all of the discomfort. After the rash appeared (TMI? You wouldn't be reading this in the first place if you didn't want the info!) yesterday I knew something was not quite right. So, I headed to the doctor. When she told me what I had, I had visions of Anne Shirley nursing Gil back to health in Anne of Green Gables. Anyway, she sent me away with a Zpack and well wishes. Glad to be getting back to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

The Other Blog

So, while reading through some blogs a while ago, I stumbled upon an idea for a blog. A particular blogger has a blog where she just posts one picture per day. I instantly fell in love with this idea and decided that I wanted to do something similar. I have no shame in admitting that my new blog was not an original thought.

So, here you have it folks. The other blog. Each day, when I remember, I will post a picture of our day. Now, this is basically for my own viewing pleasure. I think it will be neat to see what we were up to on any particular day. You might not think it is so neat. Don't worry, I'm not offended.

Sicky Pants

I have caught an illness of sorts, along with E, from B. When I went to bed with a sore throat last night I thought I would be dealing with a head cold and perhaps a little cough in the morning.

Nope! I woke up to raging body aches and I am assuming a healthy fever to go with it. How do you take care of one sick child and one healthy child when all you want to do is go over to your mom's house, lay down on her couch and watch morning and afternoon talk shows all day while she nurses you back to health?

The thing is, you don't. Well, I don't. At least not today. Since I am not available to be a good mommy today, my wonderful mother in law offered to take the boys to her house and keep them there, feed them dinner, bathe them, and then bring them home. Oh boy, I want to pop some motrin, lay down in bed, and close my eyes just thinking about it! Thank you, Amma Gramma, for giving me the chance to rest today.

I think that feeling horrible and having to take care of my kids (make their food when I want to barf, play the thousandth game of Candy Land when it hurts to move, build railroad tracks when I am shivering uncontrollably) has to be one of the worst things. All I want to do is play with them and laugh with them, but my body won't let me.

I feel so fortunate that I have family close by to help me out. My heart goes out to those moms and dads that do not have someone nearby to help them when they need to take care of themselves. Let me tell you, if you were my neighbor and came down with some virus that left you stuck in your bed, throwing crackers and apples at your kids so they didn't starve, I would come over and take care of them for you. Because that would be awesome for you and you might make me a cake or some cookies to say thank you.

The house next door to us is on the market if anyone is interested. :)

My name is Kelly, and I'm a Blogoholic

There, I said it. Boy, do I feel better! There is something to be said about owning up to your addiction. I stumbled upon this world less than a year ago when I got re-acquainted with an old friend. By "re-acquainted" I mean, I read her entire blog from start to finish after finding a link to it on Facebook. Yes we have reconnected through emails and she knows that I am an avid stalker, ahem, follower of her blog. After seeing what she created I realized that I could do this too. I could write down my thoughts and family adventures on my OWN blog! So, I started my own and now I can't stop. (I don't think that is a bad thing. Part of my problem? Perhaps.)

Not only do I enjoy posting random thoughts and happenings on my blog, I have stumbled upon a whole gaggle of blogs that I look forward to reading each day. I don't know what it is about reading perfect stranger's blogs that keeps me so entertained. Some of the blogs that I read belong to friends and I enjoy seeing what they are up to considering they live so far away from me. Others that I read belong to perfect strangers, most of which inspire me to be a better person, mother, wife, and friend. Sitting down at the computer, when I have a few minutes to spare, and reading blogs is a part of my day that I look forward to.

I have mentioned to friends that they should venture into this world of blogging. Most say, "I don't know how you have the time to blog." Others say, "I would be afraid of what people would think of me." I think it is pretty cool that one day I will have a whole online journal filled with the simple things that I can look back on and enjoy. How do I have the time to blog? I enjoy it, so I make time for it. Am I afraid of what people might think of my words? Sometimes, but that is all part of the experience.

All of that said, I am not quite ready to head to BA (Bloggers Anonymous). My children aren't starving, my husband isn't neglected, my pets are all alive, and my house stays moderately clean (although I could use some improvement in that area).

The bottom line is, I enjoy reading about other people's thoughts, dreams, successes, and challenges. I get inspiration from their creativity. So, thank you blogging world for introducing me to some amazing people and their blogs. They might not know who I am, but I feel richer for knowing them.

Fridge of Fame

I like to devote one half of our fridge space to pictures of friends and family. I wish I could say that I took these pictures myself because that would mean that I see all of these people frequently. But no, I snag these pics from Christmas cards. Or baby announcements. Or whatever greeting that I receive that comes equipped with a picture.

Did you make the Fridge of Fame?

No?

Plead your case and those in charge will consider your request.

Sweet Boy

Tonight when I was singing to E before bed, he joined in the singing (both Twinkle, Twinkle and ABC's) and tickled my face the same way that I was tickling his hair. I could just gobble that kid up!

New Year's Adventures

We spent this New Year's Holiday up in, one of our favorite places, in my parent's cabin. We drove up there 2 days after Christmas with my parent's dogs, all of our stuff, and Aunt J too! (My parents came a few days later.) Prior to our arrival it snowed. A lot. The gentleman that plowed our driveway had to rent a front loader to clear the 3 feet of snow that had piled up. The boys were thrilled just to be there. The fact that there was so much snow they could disappear in it just made it even better.

During our stay: the boys managed to get in many more hours of movies than I am normally comfortable with; I never really got out of my transition clothes (if you are not familiar with transition clothes, they are the clothes that come after jammies but before the clothes that you would actually wear in public); we got a healthy dose of sledding under our belts (complete with a head (B's) to a tree); and thoroughly enjoyed the BCS football tournament. By the way, the BCS is so much more fun with there is money and an excel spreadsheet involved.

Speaking of money, after my parents (Amee and Papa) arrived we somehow managed to convince Dad (Papa) to come to the indian casino with us. Historically, we belly up to the blackjack tables at the Hondah and 20 minutes later we are leaving. Not this time. We managed to stretch our money for a few hours and had a great time. Dad provided plenty of entertainment and the dealers kept us laughing.

We really enjoyed our trip and hated to return to real life down here in the Valley. While the cabin is certainly missed, we are happy to be home, B is excited to be back in school, and all of us are looking forward to the many possibilities that 2009 holds for us!

Oh, I almost forgot....

Here are some pics from our trip!

The Year of the Beard

Well, more like two weeks. He grew it out over the holiday vacation and ended up shaving it shortly after this picture because it was driving him nuts. I won't share the mustache pics. Sorry. I just can't do it. But, seriously, how HOT is he? Right?