A Year in Review. . .

2010 was a wonderful year, but definitely had it's challenges.  We added another member to our family, and after finishing out the school year I decided to take a year off to be home with our children...a decision that I will never regret, but one that has taught  me  how hard stay-at-home Mom's really work.  I have honestly never worked harder.  Weeks into Summer, we put our house on the market, made an offer on the house of our dreams (with our house still on the market), closed on the house of our dreams (with our house still on the market), and within days of closing....got an offer and sold the house where our married life had began.  The house where we brought both of our children home from the hospital.  The house that held all of our memories, the good and the bad.  We packed up our lives, moved out with the help of friends and family, and then unpacked our lives,and hopes and dreams into our new home.  We celebrated our first holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas..It has been action packed to say the least, with a lot of stress, a lot of laughter, and some tears along the way.  But mostly it was filled with lots of wonderful memories.  I wouldn't change a single thing, b/c even the stressful parts of 2010 made us better.  It made us appreciate our love for one another, our 2 amazing children, and our wonderful family and friends. As I look back on 2010, it was probably the most monumental year of our married life, b/c it was full of more changes and challenges than we have ever encountered in our married life together.

I am a "list" type of person  by nature.  I write lists all the time:  to-do-lists, grocery lists, lists to remind me to do something I know my scattered mind will forget, lists of schedules/activities for the week, etc.  So, I always enjoy making a "list" of resolutions for myself, and crossing them off throughout the year.  I believe in the power of a list to hold you accountable, and to remind you of what needs to be done, and to give you hope and change for the future.   With that said, here is my list for 2011....

*I will spend less time focusing on how clean and organized my house is, and more time enjoying the people within it (this is hard for a Type A person, but I resolve to do it!).

*I will MAKE time for myself each week.  Whether it's getting together for a girl's night out, going for a walk /run for some alone time, grocery shopping w/o two kids in tow, or treating myself to a pedicure....I will do it.  Not just for me, but for our family.  Sometimes being away makes you refreshed and reenergized and a better member of the family.

*I will work out 3-4 times a week.  I will finally shed those pesky 10-15 pounds that have been preventing me from wearing my old wardrobe and creating stress in the morning.

*I will only allow myself 2-3 Iced Cappuccino's  a week, from Tim Horton's.  This will help me with my above goal, but will also save us $2.87 a day....yes, I said it....a day.  Shameful, I know.  Sigh...

*I will try to do at least one random act of kindness once a week.  I truly believe that one person can make a big change in someones life....even if it is a random stranger, or something seemingly small.

*I will try to meet my husband at the door with a smile and a kiss, instead of with frustration or a request as I sometimes do. 

*I will practice more patience with my children and enjoy every day I have with them.  Even the days that can sometimes seem to last forever or be filled with challenges.  Because it goes by quick, and one day I will wish I still held the power to heal their heartaches and solve all their sorrows with a silly joke, funny face or bear hug. 

Here's to 2011!   I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!