New Year's Resolutions?

Now that 2011 has begun, I like so many, am trying to improve my current state of being. I have reflected upon this past year: it was a tough one full of hard choices, but full of great joy as these sweet children have and continue to blossom and learn and grow; as new "career" opportunities have arisen for Stephen and myself; and as we have come to a new place as a family, a place of warmth and active enjoyment of the life we have. We hope in this year to enjoy life; to not get bogged down in the things that don't matter; to taste our food and to feel the air and to soak in the smiles. As the year starts, I am trying to play a little bit of "catch up"...I've ordered pictures to be developed (which has not been done in almost 2 years...oops), made appointments that have been put off since 2009 (or was it 2008?), and now I have taken a peek at how lax I have been on the blog (I blame Facebook for this...very easy to share photos!). So, here's a quick recap of the past 2 months. I am not sure I will be diligent at posting on here, but since I'm trying not to worry and fuss over things so much, I'll just do it when I feel like it :)...hence the "?" in "New Year's Resolutions?" Happy New Year!

Halloween! Of course we must all dress up...how many excuses does an adult get to run around in a kilt or a prom dress in public, without being ridiculed (okay, so maybe the kilt brings a little bit of ridicule...or questions as to the undergarments)


Cute Woody and Jessie


Happy 5th Birthday to Mary Clare! We had 2 awesome Toy Story parties for "Jessie"...one with school friends and one with family and close friends.


And Happy 3rd Birthday to Patrick! We had a Cookie Monster party, complete with Cookie Monster cupcakes.


Christmas was celebrated with silliness and snow...but we missed our Aunt Maymel and Uncle Pat! Mary Clare wanted Santa to bring her brown boots and roller skates, and Patrick hoped for a HUUUUUUUGE dinosaur.





The one casualty of 2010 was the loss of our precious Babo...yes, Babo somehow disappeared from our clutches. At school? At home? The car? Who knows...we have searched high and low and no Babo has been found in several months. "Puppy" has now taken Babo's place, but Babo is still remembered. I'm sure Puppy will show up in many pictures to come...he is sitting next to me on the counter as I write, after helping Patrick arrange clementines (weirdo).


A new development for the new year is Stephen's food blog (and Mary Liz's eating of the constant delicious food)...check out www.vulcanstable.wordpress.com