(20/20) 20 a month or not..........

I'm not sure....I like the structure of posting 20 times per month...and love going back to read about what we did last year....but I always find myself doing 4-5 posts in one day to meet my goal so....should I keep it going this year....I'm still thinking about that one???

(19/20) Yes, those are Christmas decorations...

you see on our house in mid-january....luckily our neighbors had not taken theirs down either. It's just been too darn cold. But Doug did finally brave the weather and pack everything away until next year.....I'm always ready to have everything cleaned up but always a little sad too!!

(18/20) Cousins............

Although there is a bit of a glare from my camera....I wanted to share this super-fab picture I just hung up over my kitchen table. I took this photo during our family reunion in Ohio...all the cousins were standing along the shore of Lake Erie and I just happened to snap this picture. I love, love, love this picture...especially since it shows my kiddos with their cousins....Katie (my brother's daughter) and the three daughters of my cousin J....who we grew up with. At family gatherings it was always me and my brother and our cousins L and J....we even have some super fun bathtub shots with all of us in there (poor Chris was the only boy). I'm so glad to have this picture of all of them....and even happier that they were able to make some great memories together (this time, Weston was the only boy :)

(17/20) Sometimes...........

Sometimes I'm a great mom...I'm on-task and flexible....loving and patient....focused on my children and not on the things in life that seem to take our time and attention away from what's important. Sometimes I have lunches packed, snacks fixed and dinner ready on time....I really listen to my son talk about whatever 11 year old boys talk about....and enjoy craft time with my daughter. I take them to the park or on a bike ride to expel some of that relentless energy that comes with a house full of children...and I have fun. Yesterday my daughter had a break-down at the amount of homework she had...so I sat with her and held her why she cried. I listened and rubbed her back....I played with her toes and stroked her hair....I gave her time to cry without trying to "make it better"...when she was done....she hopped up and did her homework without another word and I was proud of both of us.

But....sometimes I'm crabby and fuss at my kids for no good reason. Sometimes I see the disappointment on their faces when I say no...but I say it anyway. Sometimes I'm to hard on my daughter...and I see her struggle to explain and my heart hurts. Sometimes I steer them toward TV or computer so I can have a little more time.....sometimes I lecture my son...and keep going when I see sadness....sometimes I expect to much or to little. I'm so thankful my kids are who they are....they forgive me much easier than I forgive myself. I'll keep trying....

(16/20) Ready to rollerblade..........

(15/20) Biking with Kam...........

(14/20) New Bikes / Take Two...

(13/20) New Bikes....

We took advantage of a warm day to try out the kid's new bikes. Weston loves his...and

looks super cute riding it....just sayin'.

(12/20) I want cake.....

After dinner with Grandma and Papa...we told Avery we needed to get the kitchen cleaned up before we served the cake. She cleaned up the ENTIRE KITCHEN BY HERSELF so we could get our cake on.....WHAT?? She put every dish away, loaded the dishwasher, put left-overs in the fridge....did it all. And then....it was time for cake!!

She enjoyed her cake sporting the new funky cowgirl hat Grandma got her for her birthday!!

(11/20) From my sweet hubby.........

(10/20) Allowance....

Weston didn't get his allowance this week because he didn't keep up with his daily duties. While we don't give our kids allowance specifically for doing chores (everyone is expected to work...that's just how we roll) we do expect them to take care of their business and this week...he didn't. Dirty underwear and various other items were left....every day....in the bathroom. He was warned but still.....the undies stayed where they, on the floor...rather then where they should be, in the basket. Soooo....rather than whine and fuss he said "Because I don't get my allowance, can I donate it to the people in Haita". Wow....I would expect that from Avery but from Weston (aka money lovin' boy)....I was so proud of him. Great job Bubba!!!

(9/20) Party at School............

(8/20) Look what Avery learned to do.....

(7/20) The Party Wagon...

I had a lady stop me today in the parking lot and tell me what a great idea it was to decorate the van for my kids birthday.....told me I was a great mom. It made me stop and remember that the little things we do...like decorating the van....really do matter. So Thank You Strange Lady for that reminder!!!

(6/20) Birthday Morning....

(5/20) Resolution 3

This year....like many years before....I'd like to loose weight but that will not be my resolution this year. This year, I want to eat healthier by:

1. Choosing water rather than Coke Zero

2. Not having so many "I already blew it so I might as well go for it" days

3. Making better choices as far as appropriate portions

4. Eating lunch at home rather than out

Each member of my family has a different reason for eating healthy....behavior, weight, diabetes, cholesterol....etc. I am responsible for putting the meals on our table and this is a responsibility I take seriously. I am looking for healthy recipes we all like....making better choices about our favorite recipes (whole wheat pasta in spaghetti....ground turkey rather than ground beef, etc) I want the think about each choices I make....each meal I feed my family and make sure it is as healthy as possible. I cannot be perfect all the time...I just want to make better choices.

(4/20) Resolution 2

When I'm with my kids, I often find myself thinking about laundry, what's for dinner, what I need to do for my store, etc...and not enjoying the moment with them. More of a "let's get through this and move on" attitude. This year, I'm going to really try to, again, slow down and savor the time with them. They are growing so fast....I really don't want to lose a minute of it.

Today when I dropped Avery off at school she asked "Momma, can you eat lunch with me today" My reaction was gosh...I have so much to do...Mckinney tomorrow, laundry, dinner, some errands.....but two days ago she was eight....and now she's 9. I'll blink and she'll be ten. So....I'll go and have lunch with my sunshine girl....we'll talk about horses and her best friends....math tests and making art from recycled cans....and I'll really, really enjoy my time with her...my newly 9 year-old girl.

(3/20) Resolutions.....

Every year, I make resolutions....do better, loose weight, etc. Easy to say and hard to do...I never follow through. This year, I resolve to make better resolutions...ones that will be good for me, good for my family and hopefully....good for others in my community.

Resolution One-More time and focus on God

The bible says Be still and know that I am God....problem is...I'm not still very often. I need to carve out time, each day, to listen. I pray...quite often...but it's usually the "same ol' same ol' " Thank you for this...I'd like that....I would like to take time to pray specifically for my friends, my family, my children and their future..to help with this I am starting a prayer journal to remind me to pray for specifics...and record praises as I see God's work in our lives. Also to record prayers for my children...their future...their future careers, spouses, etc. I am reading Lisa Welchels book "Facts of Life that my Father taught Me" and she talks often about listening to God, hearing what he has to say and being obedient and how much she is blessed through that...I'm afraid I don't listen well, or I'm so busy I just don't hear....I want to slow down so I don't miss an important conversation.

I have been blessed with a wonderful group of ladies through a bible study done in our church. We finished one study and will soon do another one...but for now are meeting each week for fun and fellowship....I'm so excited to have found them...they help keep me focused and honestly, I am amazed by how this group pulls together when one member stumbles...we are seeing this now and it's pretty darn cool.

I need to make attending church a priority....not an option. I need to feed my spirit as well as my flesh....can't do this if I don't step up to the buffet. I also want my kids to see me walk the walk...not just talk the talk. Luckily, Doug is active and involved and has the same desire as me to attend church, tithe, donate both time and other items needed...many women walk this walk without a partner....we walk it (and sometimes stumble) together.

(2/20) Before and After.........