What's up?

Hello there...oh, it's 2011? And I haven't posted anything since my New Year's resolutions? Well, I suppose I should catch up on a few things.

For Mom's birthday, we went to Napa River Grill. It was okay, but for the money, we thought it should have been better ("go put a glaze on this or something"...for all my fellow Brian Regan fans). But, Mom was beautiful as ever and never looks any older!

Vera was in town again last week and her expression in this picture of her and Ben playing cracks me up...she was just staring at Ben for a minute and it was cute.

Ben went skiing last weekend in Tahoe and totally loved it...

...meanwhile, he let me know he was thinking of me and sent me flowers at work the first day he was gone. This brightened my day! I love that my husband is so thoughtful!

We got some snow of our own here and class was cancelled one night...score!! Made me feel like a little kid again getting a snow day! :)

Resolutions, old and new

Well, it's that time of year again...the very beginning of the year, that is...time for new year's resolutions! I like to take Dave Ramsey's advice by making resolutions that are specific, measurable, mine, within a time limit, and in writing. He also recommends making 7 goals: career, financial, spiritual, physical, intellectual, family, and social.

Looking back on some of my 2010 resolutions, I didn't achieve all of them...but sometimes plans change! While I did pass 18 hours toward my MBA and run the mini-marathon, I did NOT take 2 pieces of the CPA exam. That goal was made before classes had started, and I realized pretty quickly that there was no way I would have time to study for the CPA exam while in school.

On to 2011. To list a few:

Intellectual- to get my MBA by December.

Physical- to run the Triple Crown races and mini-marathon and beat all my times from last year's races.

Family (only because I don't know where else to categorize it)- to get up at the same time every morning so I have time to get something done every day before work...whether it be exercise, homework, whatever. Then I won't be as stressed in the evenings with a lot to do and will have more time for family and everything else!

Of course, like most people, I am motivated to eat healthier and exercise and all that stuff, but I don't really want to list that as an objective because it's not very specific or measurable, and we all know I'll be over that in a couple weeks...ha!

Five Foot Two

A clip of me jammin' with Nana on the ukulele that belonged to her mother...pretty old ukulele! We were attempting to play an old favorite of hers, "Five Foot Two", but I butchered the whole thing...didn't know some of the chords and especially not in that key...oh well :) She taught me the ukulele that night too! My grandma plays piano by ear as well, which is how that talent got passed along to me.

Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful and went on for days. We went to a lot of parties and spent different days with all the family, so let me sum up.

First, there was the Bible Bowl movie night for high schoolers at our house- we watched Elf, then played some Wii.

A Bible Bowl party for sponsors was thrown for us by Lisa, who used to run the program before us.

We had a Bible Bowl skating party at Iceland. Then we had the traditional white elephant Bible Bowl gift exchange at practice.

It was a lot of fun and I think the kids enjoyed all the festivities!

We went to Jason's 4th annual "Sweaters and Sweets" Christmas party at his house to listen to his band play some original music and Christmas songs with Amanda as a guest singer.

The day before Christmas Eve (or "Christmas Adam", as my family likes to call it), we got together with my extended family at my Aunt Becky and Uncle Bill's house.

Becky and my cousin Amanda (24 weeks pregnant here!)

Amanda and Eli, playing with his new basketball goal

Ben and I with a bunny on my head

My mom with my cousin Ryan acting silly

Ryan demonstrating the awesome drinking straw eyeglasses I gave him

Our family friend Liz, eager to open her year-old present (it was actually our gift to her from last year but we never got it to her, so we used it again this year!)

After opening presents, Becky broke out into "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" so everyone joined in...followed by a few other carols. My family likes to sing, what can I say. After it died down, I broke out into "Feliz Navidad", which got a good laugh.

Christmas Eve we celebrated with my immediate family and my grandma. I only took a few pictures...I guess I was so into all the excitement that I didn't even think about it!

Dad and Mom, while Mom opens her obligatory rooster gift from me

Scott and Jenn, as Scott opens our gift and Jenn eagerly awaits hers

Christmas Day, we had brunch with my parents and extended family again. That evening, I made dinner for my sister- and brother-in-law and niece who came in town, and Ben's grandma. We were the only family in town at that point in time, so we celebrated over dinner and some Wii.

The day after Christmas, Ben's parents were back in town, so we opened presents with them.

Emma loved her new golf clubs!

Ben couldn't get enough of our niece Vera

Vera loved tissue paper!

OK, so Vera was pretty much the center of attention as far as any of us cared :)

Ben's brother and family got in town on Wednesday, so we hung out with all of them the next few days.

Holding Vera

Playing with the paper dolls I got my niece Reagan...what a cutie she is!

My nephew Quint just loves vacuums! Still hard to believe how big he is getting!

Vera and Reagan playing together

We had such a great time seeing the family and our nieces and nephew. Wish we could see them more often!

Today, I took down all the Christmas decorations. It's always so depressing to me when it's all over, but it's also a good time to look forward to the new year and make plans for what lies ahead!