I don't typically make New Year's resolutions (unless they are
food-related) but this year I actually have some.
1- I resolve to do better to keep my anxiety under control. I'm hoping I can do this without the drugs. Not that I don't love the drugs - I do and I'll be the first in line to tell you they were the biggest blessing in my life when I "went crazy". They made it so I could function and think again. I'm not against taking them again, but when I found out I was pregnant with Bear, I weaned myself off of them and boy, that sucked. Plus, I think they make me lose some of my drive or motivation which I think is sort of like my super-power and I need it :).
2- I want to make more lists. I read an interview with Heidi
Klum where she said she makes lists all the time. Not grocery or to-do lists, but things like lists of stuff she wants to do with her kids, things she likes/dislikes and etc. I've read about list-making as an alternate form of
journaling and I think it sounds fun and like something I can do. I want to make more lists this year (beyond the weekly grocery one). To that end I asked for (and got) a small book for my purse so I can create and add to them at any time. You'll probably see more here, too.
3-
OK, it would be resolution time for me if I didn't include a food-related resolution. I want a food thing. You know how Cyndi is always asked to bring her potato salad to everything? Or Uncle Walt's salsa? Or how mom makes the best Chicken Pillows? I want a thing, or more likely a couple of things. Some recipe (or recipes) that I perfect so that I have "go to" dish or that my kids will say "Mom made the best...". We try so many new recipes that we hardly make the same thing twice. I'm going to change that up a bit and pick some to perfect. Any suggestions? Anything I've made that could be a candidate for my "thing"?
Age: 6 months
Hobbies: Shaking toys, drooling (a lot, did you see that first picture?)
Boy- it was hard getting a cute picture of these three! Maybe it was because it was Christmas eve and all EJ and Birdy at for dinner was sugar cookies and chocolate fondue?
We loved having DMP's Dad, Papper, join us for Christmas. He got to spend some quality time with his newest grandbaby.
As you can see, the girls let him play their new Leapster and games.
Santa found him and brought him fun presents.
It's kind of old news now, but look who's eating big boy food! In spite of this picture he actually really likes it and has gotten the hang of eating baby food. 
Kate and Matt had our family this Christmas and gave us two games. One game was "Pretty Pretty Princess". As you can see, Daddy is a great player and won this particular round. Birdy is a sore loser as you can tell by her face. We also got Papper to play, but I'm too nice to take a picture and post it on the internets. DMP, however, is fair game.
I need to leart to write these recaps right after Christmas- you know, before the magic wears off and the credit card bill is due. I'll try to recapture the magic for you, though. Christmas eve we made Verla "The Cookie Lady's" sugar cookies and icing. In addition to being yummy sugar cookies, this recipe is the very one for the cookies served at our reception. Say it with me, folks, "Awwwww".
Christmas morning was present-tastic. DMP got season 1 of Community (if you haven't watched the show, you should. You'll thank me. Especially after the Modern Warfare episode). He also got a rotary tool thingy from my Dad. He's been asking for one forever but I have a hard time buying tools. We discovered at the family party later in the week that he did NOT get a complete serial killer kit like Brad, Jeff and Jaceson got. Maybe next year? (For those non-Kinsel readers, my dad got those guys a tarp, a saw or ax, and rope...)
There are no pictures of me on Christmas morning because 1) I'm the only one who remembers to ever pull out the camera and 2) there have to be rewards for being the only person to think of it. I got some awesome present-age this year. The highlight was my Kindle from Santa. I love, love love it. No longer will I have to haul at least 2 books for an overnight San Fran business trip! I also got the Flavor Bible. I've wanted it forever and it's super, super cool.
EJ got Birdy a princess blanket-with-sleeves. This might seem like a "boring" present if you don't know Birdy. She "owns" every blanket in the house and has about 6-7 "favorite" blankets that she has to sleep with. Birdy also got her own "girl" lego set from Daddy, a "Barbie potty trains puppies" set from Bear, a new pet fish (named "Tangled") from Mommy, a Unicorn Pillow Pet from Santa and an awesome tutu, flower crown and wand dress-ups from Grandma and Grandpa.
EJ finally got her pillow pet! She also got a pink razor scooter from Daddy, a butterfly fairy Barbie from Bear, a pet fish from Mom (named "baety"), Prince Barbies and a barbie car from Grandma and Grandpa, and more that I can't remember :)
