65 in 365 Month 1 Update

This will be a list of 65 things I want to accomplish in the next 365 days. (No, I didn't come up with this idea myself, I borrowed it from this Foster Mama, along with some of her items.) I'll update the list once a month (that's the first thing on the list). Completed items will be in italics.

1. Update the 65 in 365 once a month (1/12)
2. Come up with 65 goals for the year
3. Complete Sophie's baby album
4. Complete 2009 annual album
5. Attend at least 5 StrollerStrides classes a month (5/1/12)
6. Girls Night Out (or Mom's Night Out) at least 4 times
7. Go to the movies every other month
8. Finish reading 6 books
9. Try 26 new recipes
10. Make our wills
11. Come up with a system for backing up digital photos
12. Make bed everyday; complete after 30 days, will restart counter when I miss a day (0/30)
13. Have date night once a month
14. Build a snowman
15. Join a moms group
16. Set up a cleaning schedule and follow it; complete after 3 months
17. Have lawn guys come on a regular basis
18. Take Wrangler to Kady the groomer 6 times
19. Purchase a jogging stroller for Paul to use
20. Put items in JBF Consignment sales, 2 sales each sales season
21. Make and stick to a weekly menu and grocery list; complete after 5 weeks
22. Decorate the tabletop tree for each holiday or season (snowflakes, hearts, green and gold beads, eggs, flowers, red and blue stars, apples, Halloween, fall leaves, Christmas)
23. Update a blog everyday or at least average one new post each day (31/365)
24. Go on a scrapbook retreat

Scrapbooking Retreat

My sister invited me to a scrapbook retreat she was going to with a friend of hers. I jumped at the chance. Not only would I get to spend time with my sister and get some scrapbooking done, but I'd get to sleep in a bed with no 4-legged animals. That's been my big complaint lately. It wouldn't be so bad if they would sleep on Paul's side too, but no, they have to be right up next to me. Anyway, here is a picture of about a third of the group. We were at this Christian camp in East Texas (just minutes from our lake lot). We were in the "motel" rooms, which meant there were 3 of us in our room with a full size bed and 2 sets of bunks. We had our own bathroom. We cropped in this huge conference-type room, and had our meals in the dining hall.


My sister and her friend got there at about 10am on Friday. I told her I couldn't take off work so I'd be there by about dinner time. Kelly texted me several times, rubbing it in that she was already there enjoying herself. We stayed until about 2pm on Sunday. On got 54 pages completed. Woo, hoo! And won a door prize. Double woo, hoo! The prize was a plaque that reads "My husband said it was either him or scrapbooking...I took pictures of him packing and made the cutest pages!"



On Friday night after I got settled, I went and met my uncle and cousins at a local joint where they go to karaoke. I didn't think to take pictures. I wanted to see them sing and usually when I'm in town I have Sophie and can't go so it was nice to get to visit with them. Both girls sing really well.

More to Come

I have been a little AWOL lately, but hope to get back in the groove this week. I can't get the computer to recognize my camera so I haven't been able to download any pictures. Plus, Paul's job has been keeping him very busy and I'm not used to all the late hours and weekends at the office. So, below is a list of things I need to post about (so I'll remember once I have more time):

• scrapbooking retreat (I completed 53 pages)
• StrollerStrides
• new celebration: Mommy Group
• anything else once I look at the pictures

Hopefully, I'll have some time early this week.

Show Us Your Life: Exercise & Diet Tips

Okay, so over at Kelly's Korner, we are giving our exercise and diet tips. Those who know are probably rolling on the floor laughing so hard that I am even attempting to participate this week...but I have just come home from my third workout (in one week) with StrollerStrides. I found out about this group while Christmas shopping, and decided to join. So far I love it. Because it's other moms with their kiddos, I don't feel pressured to push myself harder than I should. I've always hated going to the gym, mainly because I feel so inadequate compared to everyone else there. But not with this group. As mom's we're probably not trying to run marathons (although some may be working towards that) or bulk up and be able to lift hundreds of pounds...we just want to be able to pick up our kids without our backs hurting. So that's my tip for this week. I'm not even going to attempt dieting tips. That would just be ridiculous coming from the woman who ate nothing but carbs 3 days ago (bagel for breakfast, grilled cheese for lunch, and cereal for dinner). Oh, wait, I do think I finished off some Christmas chocolate that day too. And of course, had my vanilla coke as well. You'll just have to check out the other posts for diet tips.

Two Down...

I have completed 2 StrollerStrides classes and had a great time. There have just been 4 of us. The instructor has a 2-year-old and the others have babies around Sophie's age. We walk from one "station" (the area in front of the main department stores) where we then stop and do specific exercises using what is available as well as resistance bands. We do things like tricep dips using the benches and wall push-ups. We sing songs for our kiddos instead of counting. Did you know if you sing the ABC's or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star it's about equivalent to 16 counts of whatever you are doing. the instructor is great, I don't feel pressured to do more than I am comfortable with, nor do I feel bad when I have to slow down or drop the level of intensity. I think Sophie enjoys it too, although I'm sure she's still trying to figure out why Mommy was running if no one was chasing her!

Happy Things 1-10

1. my beautiful daughter Sophie Rose







2. my amazing husband Paul with Sophie







3. elephants







4. frogs being a symbol of fertility







5. acoustic guitar playing







6. Harry Connick, Jr.







7. name letters in the nursery







8. finding a really cute outfit at the children's resale shop including a matching headband







9. pool parties with friends







10. anything Made In China

StrollerStrides

One of my goals was to incorporate some form of exercise into my daily/weekly routine. For those who know me, this is going to be tough. I hate exercise, but as I have gotten older I realize that I am just going to have to do it. I figured that the easiest thing I could do would be walking and since Sophie got a wagon from Santa that it would be fun to take her on walks through the neighborhood. Of course, we are in an arctic blast and it is way too cold to be outside.



I picked up a business card for a company called StrollerStrides when I was shopping before Christmas. I've seen ads for similar programs but nothing close to me. This one is close to work, so I called to check on class times. They have a Tuesday/Thursday class that I can go to before my staff meeting at the mall, plus a Saturday morning class at a park. I told Paul I wanted to do this. I'm not sure he believes I'll last very long but I am determined to give it a try. They have 2 different memberships and I am signing up for the more expensive one that gives you unlimited classes (instead of just 1 per week). I figure if I go at least 5 times a month, I'll be getting my money's worth, but my goal is twice a week. I'll keep you posted.

Blog Goals

My goal for the new year was to post something on at least one of the blogs each day. I figured that after Sophie went to bed, I could upload any pictures and post something. Unfortunately, she hasn't felt great and so her schedule is off and she's gone to bed late the last couple of nights. So late in fact that by the time she goes down, I'm about ready for bed myself. I'll keep trying for a post-a-day, but some days it just may not happen.

Not My Accomplishments

So this is supposed to be where I get to show off all that I have accomplished but this post will be about my step dad's accomplishments during the Christmas break. First, a huge "THANK YOU" to him for all he did. Usually when he stays with us he'll do a few things around the house to help out since Paul isn't the handyman type. I've been making a list of odd jobs for him since September, so while he was here he did them all. I never expected that. I mean it was his vacation too and he was only here 2 weeks, but he managed to get to them all. Some were fairly easy (like the fan that has mysteriously started working again), others were a lot more complicated (like the flood lights, that required 2 trips to Home Depot due to defective products and poor customer service), but all were above and beyond what he had to do. So here's his list of accomplishments:

1. put up shelf in Sophie's room
2. fix fan in master bedroom
3. hang bath toys holder
4. build shelves in garage to store canned goods
5. install motion-sensored flood lights in backyard
6. tighten Sophie's bouncer seat
7. reconnect plastic piece on car's wheel well
8. move changing table unit

Thank you, Briggs for all you do for us Walkers in Texas!

Signs of Grace

Several year ago the music director at church started a sign choir. I've always been interested in sign language, so I joined. I really enjoy doing this and the other ladies in the group are wonderful. We chose to continue the choir even after the director left. We try to perform a few times a year, including Christmas and Easter. For this year we performed at the Las Posadas program doing a rendition of Mary's Boy Child.

65 in 365

This will be a list of 65 things I want to accomplish in the next 365 days. (No, I didn't come up with this idea myself, I borrowed it from this Foster Mama, along with some of her items.) I'll update the list once a month (that's the first thing on the list). Completed items will be in italics.

1. Update the 65 in 365 once a month
2. Come up with 65 goals for the year
3. Complete Sophie's baby album
4. Complete 2009 annual album
5. Attend at least 5 StrollerStrides classes a month
6. Girls Night Out (or Mom's Night Out) at least 4 times
7. Go to the movies every other month
8. Finish reading 6 books
9. Try 26 new recipes
10. Make our wills
11. Come up with a system for backing up digital photos
12. Make bed everyday; complete after 30 days, will restart counter when I miss a day
13. Have date night once a month
14. Build a snowman
15. Join a moms group
16. Set up a cleaning schedule and follow it; complete after 3 months
17. Have lawn guys come on a regular basis
18. Take Wrangler to Kady the groomer 6 times
19. Purchase a jogging stroller for Paul to use
20. Put items in JBF Consignment sales, 2 sales each sales season
21. Make and stick to a weekly menu and grocery list; complete after 5 weeks
22. Decorate the tabletop tree for each holiday or season (snowflakes, hearts, green and gold beads, eggs, flowers, red and blue stars, apples, Halloween, fall leaves, Christmas)
23. Update a blog everyday (or at least average one new post each day).

New Year, New Outlook

I have decided that I am going to try to blog more often and get pictures loaded on the computer quicker so that they can be used on the blogs too. For this first post of the year, of course, I have to list my goals that I want to accomplish. Make sure you check our other blogs as I will get those updated as well. On to the list:

• Incorporate some form of "exercise" or physical activity into my weekly routine.


• Enjoy the small moments with Sophie.
  
• Be flexible with my time (so that when things don't go as plan, I can still enjoy them).
  
• Read more.

These are just a few to start with, I'll add more as we go.

To end, I will include some of the final accomplishments of 2009:

• Finding the perfect stocking for Sophie's first Christmas

• Getting frames for Sophie's 3 month pictures, and getting them hung on the wall (before her 6 month ones were taken)

• getting Christmas decorations put out

• Pulling books from our "library" to take to Half Price Books

• Finishing this book