37 before 37

Yep, here it is again.  Another long list of goals for the upcoming year.  I only accomplished about a third of my goals last year-BLAAAAh!  Oh well.

This year I am planning to make two lists: goals and projects.  Things I want to accomplish and things I want to make. Maybe they will equal 37 items, maybe not.  We will see.

 

Things I accomplished from my "36 Before 36" list:

Organize the Art Room: well I got about half of it done-but it was a big portion of it.

Kids Fishing-I took the kids fishing, although we didn't catch anything-maybe next time

CDA-I finished my online classes, completed my observation, took my verbal & written test. Just awaiting the results. Did I pass? Did I fail?? Who knows!!!

Bookshelves-this goes alone with organizing the art room. I needed bookshelves to organize all our school supplies and books, reading books and art supplies.  I could still use more shelves but for now we are making do.  It's so much better and we have so much more room!

Teach the kids to ride their bikes without training wheels-shortly after writing this one I taught Jacob how to ride his bike without training wheels and decided that was enough for this goal.  JoAnna still has a little ways to go, but maybe by next year!

Beach Trip-I took short day trip with my parents and my kids.  The kids have really enjoyed the beach this last year.  My parents live on the coast and as much as we visit them we rarely ever go to the beach.  My kids have always been afraid of water on their face and I am not in bathing suit shape so I don't much care to go myself.  This past year we took the kids and they fell in love.  So now when we go to my parents we try to get out there for a few hours.  I also went on a ladies trip to the beach-so got two with that.

Ladies Weekend: my friends and our mom's went on a weekend trip to the beach.  It was all very last minute but so much fun.  Several of us went parasailing!! There will be plenty of stories to tell for years about that trip.


Vacation to a new state: The in laws took care of this one.  We went to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. I have traveled through Kentucky but never stayed.  We also had dinner in Ohio one night and Indiana one night. We had a great time with my in laws and sister in law and her family.

More time with God: I didn't say how much more time but I have accomplished this.  I have also joined a ladies bible study at church that I love.  Most of the women are either single or have husbands that cannot attend church or won't attend church.  So that has been a blessing.  Prior to August they only offered single classes or married. So that was a bit awkward for me.

Family Fun NIght: I don't know exactly what I had in mind when I set this. Maybe it once to have a family fun night once  a month/week or something.  However since the kids and I have had several family fun nights I marked this one as accomplished.  We had several glow parties and such this year so that was a lot of fun.  Maybe we will work on the once a month thing this next year.

Kayaking-not only did I finally go kayaking this year but I bought my own kayak.  I did take Jacob kayaking but I would like to get him out in a kayak on his own.  I think he can handle it. Lord help us both if he tips over though.  I have yet to tip over and a bit terrified at the idea of swimming in the water with gators, I cannot imagine him being in the water with gators and me having to get him back in the boat. I think we will both panic-we will see.

The *'s on my list were for personal things.  One of which I have certainly accomplished but would like to keep it a secret for a bit longer.  The other I think I am headed in the right direction of accomplishing but still have a long way to go.

As for the the things I did NOT accomplish:
Enter a Craft Fair
Travel in an RV
Host a Pinterest Party
Plant a vegetable garden (I did plant an herb garden but it died quickly)
26 acts of kindness
Inspiration Board (don't even remember what I had in mind for this one)
2012 photo book
Paint a canvas for the mantel
Drive in movie
tent camping
scrapbook 12 pages for each child
disney vacation (ha, yeah right)
Run a 5K
scan family photos
Lose weight (I did this several times, but gained it all right back)
make sheet forts with the kids
mud ridding on 4 wheeler
journal weekly
decorate the kids rooms
make christmas gifts monthly-I have lots of catching up to do on this one
Attend a couples bible study-guess I failed on this one, but with the ladies bible study staring I didn't need  to go to a couples class
teach a coupon class
Simplify- I wanted to get rid of all the junk in my house. although I did this in a few closets drawers, cabinets, etc, I have yet to get a handle on this. 

So this next week I will work on my next list, 37 before 37.  Hopefully I will be a little more successful at marking things off my list. I think I need to be a little more realistic as well. LOL!!!

Pumpkin Patch

The kids and I went to the pumpkin patch with our homeschool group. We had never been to this pumpkin patch. It was about an hour drive AND well worth it too!!

They had so many things for the kids.  Thu had the wagon rise, train ride, rope swings, tire swings, big slide, horse saddle swing, a big air pillow, sand pits, corn pit, animals, fake cows to milk, etc!! We had a blast!!

We cannot wait to go again next year!!

Sewing project

I have been taking a sewing class every other Wednesday night at church.  We started off making busy mats for Alzheimer's patients.  Now we are starting to make gowns for the Children's hospital.

So getting  little brave I bought a pattern and some fabric to attempt to make an outfit for JoAnna.  It took me three hours! Wow. 

The next morning I showed my lovely creation to JoAnna.  I got exactly the response I knew I would get from her, " I am NOT wearing THAT!"  Yep, she is into "sassy" clothes, not cute. I did make her try them on when we got home and she loved them. Even wanted to wet them to her heritage girls meeting. So I had to search high and low for a shirt to match. 

They still need a few adjustments in the waist and they are far from perfect, but not too bad for my first time, I think anyway!

Happy Birthday Roo!

My sister's birthday is this week so we celebrated with her on Sunday we got LSU cupcakes, they were too cute!!  The kids had at least two each. 

Happy birthday Marissa.  Hope you have a great day- we will be celebrating at the flag football game on Tueaday!!

Saturday run arounds

Saturday the kids and I went for our usual lunch spot- McAllisters Deli. Bi told the kids we would have to scale down a bit because $30 for the four of us to eat lunch was not good on my budget.  We made it under $20!!

After lunch we took a 30 minute drive to show the kids our old house.  Jacob has been talking about it a lot lately so I wanted to run by there.

Afterwards we drove another 15 minutes to grab some yogurt. We had never been there before and I doubt we will go back. They didn't have plain vanilla, they were out of two flavors, and two flavors didn't have anything in them. 

So the $10 we save at McAllisters we spent on yogurt. Oh we'll. 

Weight Loss

Here we go again.  I have always struggled with my weight, more than those closest to me know.  

I did really well several years ago. I was a stay at home mom at the time, but then went back to work.  Wow! Five years later and I have gained over 60 pounds.  It's ridiculous. I have tried to get back on track but after a few weeks I always fall off again.  

Well I have GOT to do something. So this week I started back in Atkins. I know there are a lot of critics regarding a Atkins. But it works for me and I try to watch the fat intake a well. 

I started Tuesday and so far I have lost 6 pounds.  I know most of it is water weight but its enough to keep me motivated. 

My mom wants to plan a cruise next year and I refuse to go if I don't loose the weight.  

So here is to losing!

Fire Station field trip

Jace's class went on a field trip to the fire station. Jace says he wants to be a fireman so he was really excited. Plus one of the firemen was his Sunday School teacher last year, Mrs. Lisa.   Jace didn't want to have his picture made in the fire truck but I made him take a group picture with his class. He started telling me his stomach Hirt, not sure if he was for real or I he was trying to get out of taking a picture.

This is as far as Jace would go into the firetruck. 

Flag football and pumpkin patch field trip

Yesterday Jace went on his first field trip with his K4 class.  He rode a school bus for the first time!!  He was super excited! We went to the pumpkin patch. We saw animals, took a hay ride, picked a pumpkin, and played on farm swings.  We had so much fun.  He picked the smallest pumpkin he could find.  He carries it with him to his brother's football game.  He sat with it on the couch to watch his tv shows.  He even got to paint it. He just loves that pumpkin. 

Jacob had his 7th flag football game last night. He is really loving flag football.  We missed the sign up for tackle football, but we will make sure not to miss that deadline next year. 

Here are a few pictures they took at the game last night.  His referee is his pitching coach also.  The coaches got a little heated last night.  We couldn't hear much from where we were sitting but we could tell. 

Catch up

If you haven't noticed I just downloaded the blogger app so I am playing catch up. 

Here are a few pics from this year. 

Jace with his new goggles.  

JoAnnain her gymnastics uniform. 

Jace singing in the choir. He is front row, green shirt, holding his ambulance. 

Jacob sparring with Mr. Steven. 

Jacob sparring Mr Seth. 

Jace at the yogurt place. 

Jacob won 1st place his first time sparring in a tournament. 

 I finally got my kayak. My sister got one too!

Jacob and my sister kayaking 

Keith kayaking. 

Jacob's first time on n or plane. Went with CC and Papaw to Texas. 

Our Saturday tradition: lunch at McAlliaters 

Jace about to have his tonsils and adenoids taken out. 

Braves baseball game. 

Summer fun with water balloons. 

JoAnnas birthday.  She wanted a rainbow loom. 

Me and my mom parasailing on a ladies trip to the beach. 

MBraves benefit game for Carter Brown. 

Labor Day weekend at CC and Papaws. 

Visiting the space museum. 

Jace's birthday at CC and Papaws. 

 Creation museum with Nana, Papa and the Smiths. 

 

Louisville slugger factory and museum 

Upward fla football

Skate Day Field Trip

Yesterday we took a fuel trip with our homeschool group to the skating rink in my hometown.  Which is 30 minutes from our home.  I have been wanting to take my kids for years but never got around to it. 

We had such a great time. Not sure if they will continue to meet at this location or not.  The kids missed their cousins,it would   have been an hour drive for them.  The other location opens to all area homeschoolers once a month, but were closed this month for repairs.  So we will have to wait until next month to skate with the cousins. 

Art/School Room Makeover

Our school room has been a mess for a LONG time to the point I hated to even walk into the room.  Actually we have been doing school work at the kitchen table because the school room was so unorganized I couldn't stand the sight of it.

I knew we needed more bookshelves but had yet to find any locally that would fit the room and my budget. So I resorted  to ordering online.  

Happy  birthday to me! The shelves came in this past Friday and Sunday afternoon I put all three of them together. I love the space.  Well half of the room is now organized.   I still new to work on the other half which is mostly my "project" box and other things.  

We were able to do school work IN our school room Monday.  It was great.  We only have one large desk, instead of one for each child.  Works out much better.  I can get Jacobs individual work do e, then combine them for group work.  Then he is done and I can work on JoAnna's individual work and then Jace's. it works much better to work with one child at a time rather than have them all in the room all day together. Less distraction and less fighting. 

So here are a few pictures of our art/school room.

I even pulled this bean bag chair out of the garage to use as a little reading nook.  I bought it as a prop for photography sessions. Works great in this space!!

The kids helping me put together the shelves.