New Years Resolutions Past and Present

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This is me right now, typing about my non fifty two pictures of myself this year. I am sitting here in my red sweater searching for pictures of myself on this computer, that I didn't post this year. Wish me luck.

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FAILED- FAILURE - Incompetent - PROCRASTINATOR - DISAPPOINTING - LOSER - WEAK SAUCE -
I did not make it to 52 pictures, I didn't even come close. So this was my last ditch effort to get some pictures of me in before the years end. Maybe I'll try it again next year but with a more achievable goal of 24 pictures. Two a month sounds do-able right?

On the other hand, I think that I was quite successful on my effort to "Lift Where You Stand". I made a conscious effort each week to help someone out in some little way. There were weeks that I would be able to help one or three or four mothers. I did a lot of babysitting and tried to help where I could. On that note, I'm a little burned out. I am trying to schedule nothing and do nothing for a while.
I have two new goals for this next year.
First is to stay sane. You might think this is a funny goal but I think it's entirely necessary. I'm slowly going crazy and so I'm going to slow things down a bit and try to sleep more and make sure that my husband sleeps more. (He's losing it too. ) I want to enjoy the moment more. My kids are at the most adorable ages and I plan on loving on them a little more this year.
Second I need to lose 20 more pounds.

Christmas Catch Up

Mike and I played Mary and Joseph at the Ward Party. I had to sing the Lullaby, Out Loud. It wasn't good. I tried to get out of it by letting them know that I was certain that Mary and Joseph weren't chubby. They didn't care. I call it desperation.
This little orphan girl pretended to be Mary all month long. She always had something on her head and she was often found singing to her baby Jesus, which this day happened to be a pink dragonfly.

We had a great Christmas week. Life has been so busy and fun. We spent Christmas Eve with several families and then had a nice quiet Christmas Day with our little family. We were spoiled by Santa and family. We're still trying to recover from all of the excitement. Here are some pictures of our week.

Lindsey and Josh at the Jensens Christmas Eve party.
The Jensens were great hosts and I don't have a single picture of them but we had fun with all of the families.

Tami and Scott

Jane and Maggie

Richard and Sumer

Christmas Eve when we got home we opened up our pajamas. The girls had matching owl jammies. (35-52)

The boys and huge fluffy fleece polar bear pajamas. The fleece is Mike's worst sweating nightmare but he was a good sport.

Christmas morning after gift opening the boys spent most of the day like this.. new wii game.

Mags, Bernie and Kimber (36 -52)

Mags and her Santa gift. She was very aware that this was hers and she would scream if Charlie or Jane tried to take it for a ride.

Mike with his helicopter that broke later that day. Ha.

Jane got spoiled this Christmas, Grandma sent fluffy skirts, Cousin Amie sent a crazy pattern outfit that she put on that same day and Aunt Debi went hog wild making doll clothes for her new baby doll.

Jane and Moe

I missed a picture of Charlie because he was upstairs spiking his hair. So high maintenance.

And Finally.....

Here are a bunch of photo's to prove that we had a great time with friends in Hawaii.

Mike, Ali, Shannon, Matt, Shauni (hiding down low), Paul, Jeremy

Four of us got to drive in a sweet baby blue Grand Marquis.

We love our waves.

Shauni and her fabulous hat.

Shauni and Jer kayaking up Wailua River

Mike and Kimber

Ali and Paul

Ali is six months pregnant and such a trooper. Matt, Ali, Mike and Paul

We were hiking through mud, mud and more mud.

It was awesome.

Mike, Matt, Shauni, Jer

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But we did all of that hiking to get to here. Worth it.

I even went through/behind it with Mike's help.

This is what Mike and Jeremy would do as they waited for their wives to be ready for the day.

Not such an attractive picture of Matt but a really cute pic of Shannon so I had to include it.

Jeremy and Shauni doing another hike to Kipu Falls.The boys all jumped off of the cliff to then climb up a ladder and get to the rope swing. Here's Mikey

Shauni and Shannon

Matt, Paul and Mike climbing up the inside of a tree.

Ali and Paul in his cute little short shorts.

Mike, Jeremy, Paul & Matt
Yes, they are pointing their guns at me. Yes, they are 35 years old. Yes, they spent a long time digging their trenches.

That's Mike in the water holding up his shorts, he said that he was "cleaning the sand out". We all opted to stay on the beach until he was finished.

Mike, Kimber (33-52), Shauni, Shannon

On our way to the Nepali Coast. We stopped for snorkeling, turtle watching and we enjoyed dolphins on the way there.Shannon

The beautiful coast line....think Jurassic Park.Kimber and Shauni

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Vacations are the best.

Planned Bliss

The children are all being cared for back home. We are celebrating our ten year Anniversary with some of our friends. I'm certain that this makes up for all of the times we have completely forgotten our anniversary. Three of the four couples were all married the same year. We all hung out with each other while dating and we've managed to keep our friendships going amongst all of our crazy lives. Here are some pictures of our fun adventures in Hawaii. There will be more to come in the next couple of days.

Mike and Kimber ( 31-52)

Jeremy and Shauni

Matt and Shannon showing their deep abiding love for each other but really just being sarcastic.

Paul and Ali

Ali is six months pregnant and was quite a trooper through out our adventures. There will be more fun pictures to come. If only I could share all of the stories.

My Crapnosis

I feel crappy. Yep it's out there and I said it. Is there anything worse than feeling sick while all of your children have energy and want to live a normal life? No I say, it just leaves you feeling all the more crappy. I took a picture of my miserable self.

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Mike is doing his best (which is really quite good). He has been taking over every aspect of the home while I sit in bed or on the couch most of the time and feel crappy. The other night I couldn't sleep and so I finally decided to go to the Dr. and have him give me a real diagnosis.I have been sick for about a month but it really only got bad a few days ago. So I have pneumonia and a sinus infection. Really the sinus infection is what bothers me the most. Sure there's fluid in my lung but it doesn't make me feel crappy.

Shenandoah Hike

We went on a lovely hike this weekend. The leaves are just starting to change and the hike was perfect for the kids. The whining didn't start until the very end. Then all three fell asleep in the car on the drive home. I'd call it a success! Mike and Moe

Charlie and Jane inside the trunk of a tree.

Mike and Maggie

Jane, Kimber, Charlie

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