Goals

I found this note a couple days ago. I love her goal (I underlined it) and my other favorite part is the "martha stewart fan."

Speaking of goals. This is my 35 list from last year. The 35 things I wanted to do before I turned 35.

1. Try Pilates -nope, but I have checked into it and I still want to
2. Family Pictures -didn't happen
3.Allow more messes. paint, sprinkle, mud, glitter -pretty sure I did :D
4.Frame pictures to hang in living room -I know what I want but haven't gotten it yet
5.Remember to cherish the little things
6.Have friends over for a gourmet meal -still want to
7.Love unconditionally -everyday
8.Run a marathon make that a 5k -I'm running the Aruna 5k in April with Corrie :)
9.Back up all my pics -Pics are all backed up thanks to Mozy.com and Ricky
10.Spend a weekend away with my husband -Not away, but several weekends with our home to ourselves
11.Draw closer to God -want to be even closer
12.Go camping -didn't happen last year but it will this year
13.Learn to make authentic Chinese at home -besides springrolls, it didn't happen
14. Have a girls nite out with my 4 girlfriends -3 out of 4 does not count
15.Refinish an old piece of furniture -I got the piece of furniture, now to refinish it
16.Sew something -Oh yeah, a pillow - pictures below :)
17.Start saving for a SLR - LOVE it
18.Keep my blog updated YES! I did it!
19.Read "Bringing up Girls" and boys check
20. Have people over more often -have to work on this again
21.Discover a way to make my kids love veggies -decided this is impossible
22.Get up earlier -check
23.Plant a tree -did it, love it
24.Give more-hugs, kisses, love, time, forgiveness -can always do more
25.Bake something for each of my neighbors -yep
26.Have a girls' day out with my daughters -more than once :)
27.Learn to make bread from scratch -mmmmm
28.Remodel bathroom -not yet
29.Organize my photo prints -kind of, good enough
30.Paint living room -so loving it
31. Learn photoshop -I think I was dreaming
32.Memorize Scripture with my children -not as much as I wanted to
34.Walk at the park with Isaac -some
33.Finish reading my Bible completely through -didn't happen, but I made progress
35.Sell on Ebay -done

Yikes! I still have a lot to do, but I did get a lot done too :) Now I'm working on a new list. 36 things to do before I turn 36. I loved being able to go over my list to see my accomplishments and to keep focused on what I still want to do. First thing on the list -- Make a list :)

Back to #16... since I can't wait to show you my mad sewing skills. I found 2 napkins on clearance at Crate and Barrel for $1.95


I love the colors and I love the pattern.

So I borrowed my Mom's new sewing machine, and sewed them together and stuffed them with fluff!

they think the couch is much comfier than a table :)

My favorite Lego Guy

Mommy, can I pleeeeease get the legos out

lego explosion

where do I start?

what will I make?

hmmmm...just what I was looking for

I know where this one goes

and this one goes like this

Are you "seriously" Mom?! I'm trying to concentrate!

Happy Birthday to Me

The first 16 years of my life I spent in Papua New Guinea where my parents were missionaries.
We lived at Tambul, up in the mountains in the Western Highlands. P.N.G. is a beautiful country and I made many wonderful friends there.

My 3rd birthday with Julie, Rachel, Melody, & Palias

Yeah, I still love bananas :)

Just learning to walk


Me & a sea turtle

Living in PNG was a wonderful experience. I love the people there and am so thankful for the opportunity I had to live there, and for my wonderful parents who sacrificed to teach the New Guinea people about Jesus.

These are a few of my favorite things

Happy, nesting, measuring cups. I smile every time I see them. Thanks, Janella!

The mirror Carl got me for Christmas. Completely surprised! I think I'm saying Ffffffankyou in this picture :)

GoodBye Yellow. Hello Ocean Pearl! (terrible lighting, but you can see the contrast :)

I really,

really love you!

And I can't wait to decorate! I'm thinking of using a deep Peacock Blue in the livingroom with "pops" of green. I have bought lots of pillow and returned lots of pillows. I am still deciding.

Hmmmm...which shade to go with.

Dining room peak. I l.o.v.e. the color on the walls. The dining room is Worldly Gray, just a shade darker than Ocean Pearl. Both colors are a warm, soft, gray. And it was love at first sight :)

And completely random, Happy New Year!
We spent New Year's Eve with Carl's parents and had so much fun. The kids all stayed up till midnight. And we loudly welcomed the new year. All our pics are on Abby's camera except for this one from Carl's phone. Happy New Year 2011!

Abby 9 years old

She's 9. She's smart. She loves school. She can spell almost anything. She loves to write. She loves sports. She's responsible and driven. She loves music. She's tiny. She loves to be in charge. She loves to win. Lately you won't spot her with out her purse, her chapstick, or her camera. She barely puts her violin down although she hasn't started lessons yet. Not a day goes by that she doesn't write, read, color, or draw just for fun. She makes me smile every day.

Saturday was her birthday. I took her and some girlfriends to PF Changs for lunch. Love the horses!

Changs passed out Wikki Stix and they were a big hit

Darla, Sarah, & Anna

Chopsticks

So many choices! Changs offered her a dessert to share on the house :)

We did some shopping and then headed to Starbucks for some pastries and frappes...

and cards

and gifts

Yeah...she loved them all!

And her "9" t-shirt. Just a old hot pink T that was in the goodwill pile. I cut it out to the shape of a "9" and stitched it on her polka dot T

Hmmmmm....I might need one of these myself!