five people twelve times:: 1.11

i love a good idea when i see it.  and i copy it.  i saw this idea on tara whitney's blog last year but was not ready to implement it.  i knew that in january it would become a feature on my blog.  there was something about starting at the beginning of the year that just seemed right for me.  

it's simple really.  once a month take a family picture.  then write about what that month was like for your family; the good, the bad and the funny.  eventually i will turn this into a scrapbook layout.  in fact this month i know exactly what i am going to do.  easy and fast is the name of the game.  

i think what i am most excited about is looking back at the pictures of the five of us at the end of the year.   so here goes:

january

a new beginning for all of us.  january can be hard because we have come off a 2 week winter break.  bobby gets that time off of work, which is such a blessing for us, so we all get to be together.  and that's hard for me to let go of in january.  but we did.  bobby went back to work, the kids went back to school.  and i went back to my routine.  but with some changes.

i worked hard on my blog.  this time i didn't really plan anything out.  i just started writing.  what i was going to say was a bit vague.  i had areas that i wanted to focus on but i wanted to give myself the freedom to be inspired and write what seemed right for the moment.  i thought about it all the time and i ended up writing five days a week.  that felt right to me. i knew 3 people read my blog regularly.  but if i wanted to take this to the next level i would have to share it with more people.  make myself vulnerable, get feedback to see what works.  so i share it on facebook, twitter and on the message boards.  and guess what, people read it, and commented.  it's kind of really cool.

in talking to a mom at the preschool she mentioned that she was starting training for a 5k.  that is something that has been on my goal list for ever.  "i'll do one before i turn 40."  "i'll do it when i lose 10 lbs." "i'll do it when i have a running partner." it was never the right time.  but this year without much notice and without thinking about it long enough to change my mind, i committed.  i showed up.  i ran.  i wanted to die.  i didn't think i could make it. i made it.  and i was alright.  and i kind of wanted to do it again.  this time, all i needed was the will.  training is tough, but i love having the challenge.  and i know i can do it.

bobby worked hard on getting the bikes fixed up for the family.  his goal was to be able to ride his bike to the gym in the morning, work out and then ride back.  and he did!  he got everyone helmets and has taken sofia to the store a few times on his bike.  he is always working hard on something.  i love him for that.  he also pushed me to get my craft area organized.  i'm not sure if it was just because he wanted me to have my own space, or because he was tired of seeing my stuff all over the house.  either way, it works for both of us.  he put my table together, built a bookcase for the boys' room, hung curtains.  he worked on getting things done.  

and at work things are looking positive.  projects are moving in the right direction.  his boss is better and working on a few exciting things.  

jordan started off with birthday celebrations.  here at our house with the family.  and then at the end of the month with his friends.  because his birthday is new year's day we can get away with not having a party.  but this year he wanted just a few of his friends to come over for some video games and pizza.  i was so touched when he told me that he wanted me to tell people gifts were not necessary.  i didn't. and he was very appreciative of each one.  this is the last year before he is an official teenager.

his basketball games started this month.  he has really grown as a player.  a little more aggressive, a little more into the game.  last week he made the first basket of the game, and of the season for him.  it's great to see him enjoy this so much and be a part of this team.  and i am so thankful for the coaches who motivate him.

he won his class spelling bee and was top 4 in the school-wide bee.  his word was "sashay".  he spelled it "sachet".  correct spelling of a different word.

andrew was a lumberjack in the third grade performance.  no lines, no solo.  in fact i think he was on "stage" for less than 2 minutes.  afterwards i asked him if he had wanted a bigger part.  "no, i would have to learn too many lines."  no need for the spotlight.  

he's been doing really well in school learning his times tables and working on his moon journal.  he can get a little frustrated at getting things just right.  but he's working on it. we all are. twice a week he stays after school to play with a friend until jordan's basketball practice is over.  that means they don't get home until almost 5pm.  long day.

i had sofia's conference this month at the preschool.  this time it wasn't questioning if will she go to kindergarten, but how much she is enjoying her last year of preschool.  the teacher had so many positive things to say.  this was my favorite part of her written evaluation:  "she can run with a bunch of kids, engage in rough and tumble play, and then move to planning with friends in the sandbox on how best to build something together, delegating jobs to others and often taking charge of the process."  spot on.

we are working on improving our parenting relationship with her. we are fully aware that you can't parent all of your children the same way.  but in reading this book, i have stopped asking myself the question, "why is she acting like this?"  and started asking, "what can i do differently next time to avoid putting us through this." it's a process.  sometimes i just need someone to help me see the light. she may be cute, but she's not the boss of me.

we loved that wipeout is doing a winter season.  the only show that we all watch together.  who doesn't love the ski lift, and the 7 letter word?

we made going to church on sunday a priority.  and treated ourselves to dinner out afterwards. a great way to end the weekend.

we went to the snow and had the most awesome boys vs. girls snowball fight.  

we racked wine.  and then drank some.

we saw pictures of our new baby cousin in colorado.  hoping we get to meet him soon.

there was peace in the house.  i was on top of things.  i was focused.  but i am aware how quickly that can change.  i can get overwhelmed.  i can let things slip and fall back into old habits.  but for now i am enjoying it.