New Year's Resolutions In Spite Of Myself

I think this is the first time in many years that I haven't made any "official" New Year's Resolutions before the end of the year. I didn't write anything down or even think much about it. It's starting to sink in now and I realized there are a few things that I would like to accomplish in this New Year! Go get a cup of coffee or tea...this is going to take awhile!

I did buy a treadmill that is supposed to arrive any day now. I want to be healthier so rather than sabotage myself with unrealistic expectations....I have decided to consider it a life change. I'm reasonably sure I can manage to walk on the treadmill in the privacy of my own home at least a few minutes a day if nothing else. If not then I will have a very expensive clothes rack and a very disappointed husband . But I know I can do it!


I need to spend more time on my etsy shop and less time on the etsy forums. It's such a time waster for me! I love to interact there but I spend way too much time there "lurking" instead of interacting! Therefore, my shop has been sorely neglected along with a few regular customers who used to count on me for vintage jewelry to make their own altered jewelry. To them: I'll be back soon!

Is that a resolution? Spend less time on the etsy forums this year? Maybe....

I have so many things that I would like to accomplish this year but my enthusiam doesn't match my low energy level! I'm hoping to overcome some health issues and get on with my life as I would like to live it. I'm taking some new vitamins and supplements to try and help myself. I hope it works!

I'm trying to stay connected to friends near and far. I haven't been the best friend and vowed to change that too (Hi, Diane!) I have some great friends that I've been neglecting over the last few years. Hopefully, they will all forgive me and we can visit and *do lunch*.

Here is the short list of things that I would like to accomplish this year:

1. Organize all of my geneology papers and get them into binders.
2. Get all of my photos and videos onto CD's and DVD's.
3. Visit my special friends...and do lunch!
4. Go through all of my vintage linens and organize them. I'm "willing" them to my granddaughter Emma someday.
5. Paint my livingroom and hallway...pick a color.
6. Organize my kitchen and declutter.
7. Finish organizing my office.
8. Go to the Beach...soon.
9. Visit my brother and his family near Seattle...soon.
10. Actually do some yard work this year. I did very little last summer.
11. Spend one on one time with each of my 3 grandkids doing simple things like baking or going on a walk to the playground.
12. Go on more *Girls Only* trips with friends and family....got one planned already!
13. Go camping more often this summer....more all family trips.
14. Take the boat out and go fishing even if it's raining!
15. Mop my floors more often! That's why I got the Steam Shark for Christmas!
16. Stop worrying so much about.....everything!
17. Enjoy my life as it is....everyday!
18. This one should be FIRST on my list: Be kinder to my husband as he is so kind to me :) He really is a SAINT!

Note: The photo above is Ezra and my daughter Kristina's dog Penelope(Penny) the Beagle at Christmas 2008.

Creative Christmas Gift Tags

My daughter Kristina is the most creative girl! Every year she finds the perfect Christmas gift for each member of our family(on a budget too). Each gift is thoughtful and perfectly suited to the recipient. But it is her choice in creative name tags that we enjoy just as much as the gift! Last year we each had a Moo card attached to our box as a name tag. Every card was a photo from years past. I had a photo of all 3 of my kids when they were young. There was a photo of my Grandpa on one. There were photos of my grand kids for me and their Mom too. There were older family group photos. All meaningful and appropriate to each person receiving a gift from her. We all oohed and aahed her creative choice! We all wondered what she would do this year?
This Christmas she found vintage black and white photos on what must have been an exhaustive search of vintage and antique shops for the perfect photo to fit each member of the family! These were sweet and quaint photos from another era. She wrote "To Mommy" and attached the vintage photo of what were clearly 2 sisters from the 1930's or so. Her sister Chantel's gift had a cute photo of 2 young sisters holding hands. I had another one with the silhouette of a young girl. Yet another was a proud little girl, with her head held high, arms clasped behind her back with her lovely pinafore dress on. All of these photos spoke to me of family, times past, tradition and love.....perfect for our family Christmas.

I look forward to seeing what Kristina comes up with next year. We expect this sort of creative genius from her now! Happy New Year!

Alvin And The Chipmunks: Christmas Memories

When I was young my Grandma would let us play records on a small record player she had. It was in the spare bedroom that I think we used to call the "toy room". This is one of the many songs I remember so well. Grandma had quite a collection of Disney records too! I have fond memories of every Christmas spent with my Grandparents. I miss them so much! I hope I am carrying on that same tradition with my own grandchildren. That all the things that we do now will be their fond memories in the future. Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
From Emma, Evan and Ezra
(and me too!)

Here are a few new photos of the grandkids that I took today. Some of these are going to be used for my daughter Chantel's Family Christmas card. I thought they all looked so cute but they weren't very cooperative! Oh well.....I did manage to get a few good ones in spite of them!

I'm looking forward to spending lots of time with the entire family on Christmas Eve. We have the most fun watching them open their gifts. It's Ezra's first Christmas and that is always a special time! Evan is very excited to open his gifts too and is looking forward to toys most of all, of course! Emma is looking forward to a few special gifts this year and spending time with family.

I'm hoping we can do something a little bit different this year and have a yummy Beef Pot Roast dinner with lots of sweet carrots, onions and potatoes! Just like Grandma used to make for me on special occasions. I guess I'm tired of turkey and ham. I must confess that Pot Roast is my favorite and I like it over cooked until the meat shreds! I think I would be banned from the family if we didn't have mashed potatoes and gravy too!

For dessert, I will be making chocolate fudge, pecan nut toffee and chocolate chip cookies for my son Daniel (who was very disappointed when I didn't have time to make them on Thanksgiving!). I'm sure the traditional Pumpkin pie will be there and so will the homemade cheesecake that Chantel always makes. Yum!

We will spend our day eating, opening all our gifts and visiting with my sister and her 3 kids who are going to celebrate Christmas Eve with our family. I have a lot to be thankful for this year and I look forward to 2009 with much hope! I wish you and your family well too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

New Photo of Ezra

Here is a new photo of Ezra that my sister Kristy took the other day. I had to share. He is so adorable and yes. I know I keep saying that! Oh....that hair! I need to get some new photos of the other 2 soon!