goals.

Sometimes when you are thinking of your resolutions for the new year, do you automatically think of failure?! Maybe it is just me, because of how many times I have said that I was going to lose weight for the new year...and it has never happened.

This year I really do want to get my body back. I started New Year's Eve, and have made little changes to attempt to get more physically fit. Check back with me in month, okay?!

I wanted to pick a word for 2013, and I decided on RECONNECT. It can mean so many things, and that is why I liked it so much.

I need to put down my cell phone, and reconnect with the people I am really suppose to be spending time with.

I need to reconnect with Paul, and go on more dates.

So, 2013 is my year to reconnect.

I started thinking of some simple things that I wanted to change in the New Year...

I want to wear more jewelry.
I want to put my contacts in more.
I want to make my bed.
I want to plan a few family road trips...NOT to Twin Falls. :)
I want to cook more.
I want to do more service.
I want to be in more pictures with my kids.

We actually started having family prayer at night, and have been good at it...now we need to get the hang of it in the morning. Maybe even add a FHE lesson once a week, because we already have plenty of family time.

I am thankful that a new year always brings that time to ponder what we can do better. We can always hope the new year is better, and more amazing...can I get an Amen?!

bina baby.

6 months.
Where did the time go? Doesn't everyone say that?

Two teeth.
Rolling.
Wormin'.
Mommy loving.
Happiest little thing on the planet.

Not loving solids.
Best thighs in the house.
Biggest smile.
Finally sleeping at night.
Still hates to be cold.

Loves naps snuggled up to someone.
Hair is getting close to being able to put little pony tails in it.
Will only take a pacifier under 2 circumstances, sleep and carseat.
Laughs at Devin.
Looks like Savannah.

Totally madly in love.

Stats coming soon.

highlights.

Since I could obviously talk about Christmas/December for another month, I decided I would do a highlight post of some things that definitely deserve mention.

The kids picked out presents for each other this year. I loved that Bina got maracas from Devin. The hit was the xylophone for Devin, and the girls played tea party with the new little set. On Christmas Eve morning we woke up and had a warm up for Christmas. I had wrapped all the presents and left them under the "kid" tree. Super fun, and they were proud of everything they had picked out.

Since we don't have a lot of people to buy for at Christmas, we picked out a family that we thought needed a little extra love this year. It reminded me so much of my childhood when people would do nice things for our family, because we didn't have much. It left Paul and I feeling so appreciative of everything we have, and looking to serve more. It makes you have the best feeling.

I can't even count how many batches of cookies we made, and I even branched out of my normal M&M cookies to make peanut butter. Devin is a pro in the kitchen with me, and even helped decorate plates of goodies. I think I need to start doing plates year round. The kids fight over who gets to take them to the door, and now when we make any goodies Devin says "thwese for our fwriends?".

BFF was here for Christmas. We got to see each other briefly, and my kids put on a show for the 30 minutes we were at the yogurt shop.

Kim took Bina's pictures, and I can't wait to see them. I loved watching Bean be wide-eyed and love getting the attention from Kim. Also, Bina turned 6 months old...I know, say whaaa!?? {Post coming soon!}

Grandma Sell from Wisconsin hand delivered presents for the kids. Savannah wanted to talk about the play she was practicing for, and Devin wanted to be crazy...shocking.

We went to our ward Christmas party, it has been a decade since the last time we went. Wowza.

Aaand now we are all caught up, I think.

Polar Express Round 2.

The first time we did the Polar Express in our car, Paul had to work. The kids had been begging to do it again. So, when Paul said he had some errands to run, I piled the kids in the car and called it the Polar Express. After the kids realized this wasn't just about seeing lights, and Paul realized his Polar Express wasn't as cool as mine...things changed.

We like a good competition around here.

Paul quickly had the funniest conductor voice ever, and was asking the kids who had the better Polar Express. He was trying so hard, but since I am the one telling the story...my lights were so much better. Even if Savannah was trying to save his feelings by telling him it was a tie. Whatevs Savannah, we know my lights were better.

I will admit Paul had much better treats, because he took the kids for pancakes and hot chocolate at IHOP afterwards. I already said I will have to really up my game next year, and now it is official.

PS Thank you Krystal for gifting us the Polar Express soundtrack, we definitely are going to get lots of use out of it.

bowling.

We normally go to the movies for our Christmas day activity, but this year we couldn't find a movie that was family friendly that we haven't already seen. We were kind of bummed about it. Paul decided that we needed to do something, and called to see if the bowling alley would be open. Sure enough, it was.

We arrived to an empty parking lot, and wondered if they were really open. Oh yes they were, we were just the only people crazy enough to come early on a Christmas day.  It was actually really nice to have the bowling alley to ourselves, because Devin was a wild man.

Devin not only tried to kick the bowling ball down the lane, he tried walking down the lane, and even somehow managed to throw the bowling ball down the wrong lane unintentionally. He likes to keep thing interesting.

We ordered food from the snack bar, played games in the arcade, and decided this was more fun for the kids than a movie. Oh, and one little one decided to take a Christmas nap.

Call me crazy, but I am one of those people that has to get out of the house everyday...even on Christmas day. I think we will just add it to our Christmas day festitivies, and go to the bowling alley after our Christmas movie.

more christmas.

We took multiple trips to Santa for Devin. The first was a total bust, because he would not make eye contact with Santa. By the third time...he was happy, and excited to repeat that he wanted SPIDER-MAN for Christmas. Devin wasn't specific, he just wanted a Spiderman. He never changed his mind, or added to his wants.

Our friends Dwaine and Lynda came over, and when they asked him what he wanted he jumped up and down, and yelled "SPIDER-MAN!". We really do have the best friends, because the next week when we went to visit them...he unwrapped a Spider-Man blanket, and a big Spider-Man too! He was so excited, and has slept with those things ever since.

Santa brought more Spider-Man stuff for Devin, but can you guess what he liked more? All of Sabrina's stuff. I have spent more hours protecting her toys than you can imagine. The punching bag that Santa brought for Bina is a favorite for everyone. I can only imagine how much the cool factor would go up if I actually added the batteries to it. Eh, maybe in 6 months I will get around to it.

{waiting at the top of the stairs Christmas morning}

While all the kids were playing, unwrapping, and all smiles I couldn't help but feel so blessed that this is my life. This little family of mine makes me incredibly happy. I love that Christmas for us is all new traditions, and that Paul will play along with some of my crazy ideas {ahem, Polar Express part. 2}. I couldn't have planned this year out any better, and my only hope is that I can repeat it all next year.

christmas miracles.

This Christmas season was one of my favorite. It was low key, and filled with lots of family time and service. I hope to repeat it again next year, and was slightly sad to see it all end.

I didn't have high hopes when the season all started with having THE Santa talk with Savannah. She cried, and was devastated...but the days followed were story after story that kids at school were telling people. I was beyond grateful that my gut told me to talk to her. Then something really fantastic and strange happened, even after the talk...she still believed. It made things really magical.

Our kids don't make lists, and when they sat on Santa's lap they only asked for one toy each. Savannah wanted a Webkinz, and Devin wanted Spiderman. It made things really easy and fun for Santa.

When I started looking for Savannah's present I realized all my go-to places didn't sell Webkinz anymore. So, since we already had the Santa talk, I just told her that I couldn't find it...and what else did she want. Well, she didn't want anything else, so I just picked up a Lalaloopsy doll...and hoped for the best. Not even a day later Nicole told me that they had Webkinz at Seagull Book, and Paul and I buzzed down there to see. We walked in to find $2.99 Webkinz, and lots of them. Oh gosh, this was going to be the surprise of all surprises. This for me was when the magic of the season really started.

We ended up going to sit on Santa's lap two days before Christmas, and she randomly said she wanted a Lalaloopsy doll. I almost burst inside with excitement. This girl was going to freak out when she not only was going to get the Webkinz, but the doll too. I don't think she really thought she was getting either, but didn't lose hope. I had already told her that Santa's sleigh was filled, and it might be too late for a change of mind.

Her and I had lots of little talks about if you believe, you will receive what you want the most, and if she really wanted to keep believing in Santa it was okay. Santa is like magic and just may very well find a Webkinz, even if Mommy couldn't. I think her little heart just couldn't help but hope for Santa to be real so that she could get that one toy.

I shed a little tear when I was putting out all the toys Christmas Eve, and I placed that pink poodle Webkinz by her pile. I added a note from Santa that was printed from Treat that said that he was glad she still believed.

You would never know I had the Santa talk with Savannah just a few weeks before. The magic in our house is very much still alive, and it was just one of the things this year that made it special for us.