My big 5 year old girl!!

Abby turned 5 last Saturday!! My little Zues who had such a hard start is happy, healthy, spunky and 5!!! So here are my 5 favorite things about my Abigail...

1) She makes the best "faces" she has a silly face, scary face, creepy face, funny face and crazy face... they are all very different and distinct.

2) She is my helper!! She loves to help around the house.

3) She cares for everyone in our family. She's the first to say "are you ok?"

4) She loves to read... she can't read by herself but she'll look through a book and tell herself the story outloud. She loves to have her big sister and brother read to her.

5) She's my baby... she will always be my last child and that holds a special place in my heart!

Happy Birthday Abby!!

36 goals in 365 days...

I was reading a friends blog... and of course was lead to one of her friends blog and in following this trail I've been inspired!

These women gave themselves 101 goals to complete in 1001 days. Whether or not they achieved all 101 goals on their list they did accomplish many awesome things that they were working towards in their families, businesses, personal and spiritual enrichment and many other areas. And in achieving these goals their lives were enriched!

Alot has been happening in my personal life over the past month and a half and I think that setting goals to achieve over time is an inspiring feat! So inspiring in fact that I and going to jump on the wagon!

While I admire the number and time frame these women have set I'm going to shoot for a shorter period of time and goals within it. So I officially announce my 36 goals that I would like to accomplish in the next 365 days... here we go!!

1) Find a way to contribute financially to my family from home.
2) Organize my garage so I can park in it.
3) Write a handwritten letter once a month for 4 months to my little sister.
4) Take an hour EVERY WEEK for myself for pampering (bath, massage, facial, pedi)
5) Have a girls night out with friends once a month for 6 months
6) Raise $2000.00 for the Relay for Life event in Medford
7) Continue to write weekly articles on food storage and emergency preparedness.
8) Document my food storage success better with photos and videos to share with my followers
9) Read one book every 2 months
10) Read a classic work of fiction that I've never read before
11) Take a SLR photography class
12) hold myself accountable to workout 3 days a week.
13) go a whole week without letting myself get stressed out
14) enjoy the last few weeks as a twenty-something and start my 30's off with a bang!!
15) Spend a weekend with my husband with no kids
16) take each kid on an individual date each month with mom
17) audition for the Rogue Valley Chorale
18) start writting my book and work towards getting it pulished
19) focus on my beauty not my flaws
20) Visit my sister while she's still in law school
21) book a vacation with our best friends for 2011
22) prepare my son Mason to be baptized in June.
23) not use credit cards unless it's for an emergency
24) find something in my husband every day that I appreciate and love about him for a month... writting the findings down and presenting them to him
25) finish painting the interior of the house
26) hang artwork, photos and mirrors in the master bedroom and office
27) Win a blue ribbon at the county fair
28) Win an a award for volunteerism
29) get my CPR certification
30) get my lifeguard certification
31) go through ALL my clothes and shoes and re-vamp my wardrobe
32) plant a vegetable garden that could sustain us through the summer
33) make a book/binder of family favorite recipes
34) hold once a month family all day outings. (snow, coast, farms, etc)
35) go apple picking
36) go to girls camp (well have to be invited first) :)

My 9 year old Chloe

This is about a week late... but my oldest baby Chloe turned 9! I can't believe she has blessed my life for 9 whole years already! TIME FLIES!!

So in honor of Chloe's 9th Birthday here are 9 of my favorite things about her!

1) She is a wonderful sister, daughter and friend!

2) She is very thoughtful and always thinks of others (in fact she gets in trouble in class for trying to help people when she's not supposed to!)

3) She is my first born and will always have that special place in my heart

4) She is a STRONG girl who sticks to her standards

5) She can power through a cheese pizza like it's no body's business! (Thought she won't eat much else)

6) She loves to write stories and songs and make up dances... so creative!

7) She loves her heavenly father and strives to follow his teachings

8) When she's sad she likes to cuddle her mommy or daddy... I will treasure that while I can!

9) She's like Mary Poppins's "practically perfect in EVERY WAY!"

Happy Birthday Chloe!! :)

Curly Jenn...

That would be me now... me and my full head of curls! One of my new goals is to make myself look better daily FOR MYSELF! I know there are days when I get dressed nicely and actually do my hair and makeup but those days happen about once or twice a month. I like the way I feel those days but HATE the work!

So I decided to needed a hair change. I didn't want to change the color or the length because I've been happy with both. But I needed a style that would be easy to take care and wouldn't make me want to throw it up in a knot everyday! So I did some research, talked to a few people and decided I was going to perm my hair!

AHH A PERM!! It made me think of my crazy pyramid frizzy hair days back in Jr High with the big bangs and the crazy waves in my unruly hair. Those thoughts made me VERY NERVOUS!! But then I looked into all that perms can offer "now-a-days" and felt more comfortable in my choice.

So I brought my pictures, had my consultation and just did it... ripped the bandaid off... no anesthesia! And I LOVE IT!! Of course we're only officially about 30 hours into having the curly hair but so far I really like the way it lies, the texture and the volume! I'm excited to have my new hair adventure and look forward to playing with it! Here are a few pictures of the new hair.

Snow Fun!

Last weekend Neil and I took the kids up to Hyatt lake to go sledding. It was SO much fun. We had all our gear and brought thermos' full of hot cocoa and snacks! We started on the "big" hill and quickly chose to move to another spot that was less crowded and more "family friendly". There were numerous adults and teenagers that would slide careening down the hill and some kids got knocked down. So instead of taking a trip to the ER which was sort of inevitable with the crazies out there.... we chose a better spot that was less crowded and more appropriate for the kiddos.

We defiantely plan to head back and also check out some more local hot spots throughout the winter. Hopefully do more of a day long trip that includes warming by a fire built in the snow, roasting hot dogs and of course hot chocolate!

Here are few pictures at the end of our day.

A new year and a New me!!

I am very pleased to say it's 2010!!!

I could go on about the past year and boast of vacations and celebrations or whine about health issues, societal woes, or whatever... but I am not! That is what a NEW YEAR is all about! Started anew... going forward and creating more memories for a lifetime of fabulousness!!

I have been thinking ALOT about new years resolutions. I have never really "believed" in them... but this year is different. I've had a profound thought process with wanting to realize who I am and what I accomplish on this earth. In that process I turned to the scriptures and was reminded over and over again that I am gift from God. My life is in his hands. As I trust in him trials will be sure but blessings will abound. I NEED THAT!!

So I am not making resolutions this year. Well... I am but they are more like affirmations. I want 2010 to be about positives!!

So here are my 2009 affirmations:

~I will have a healthy year! I will do all in my power to facilitate a healthy body, mind and soul.
~I will celebrate life's blessings by living in the now. Not wondering what could be or could've been.
~I will love and honor my husband and our marriage.
~I will love and honor my children as they have been entrusted to me by God... and they are a gift! (even when I COMPLETELY disagree with that statement!)
~ I will take time for me... to appreciate myself as a women, wife, mother, and all around bad@$$! :)
And last but not least...
~ I WILL DANCE!! Til my body can't take anymore!! :)

I think that adding those affirmations to my life will help me be happy, healthy and have a better outlook on all aspects of my life. I'm ready to start the new me and be the best person I can be!!
Even if I jiggle a little bit... :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!