Life Lately

It has been really cold here lately. It is supposed to warm up this week (like in the 50's) We have been enjoying the Christmas break from school. This week both Cam and Jar start school back up again.

Here is what has been happening around here lately...

Jar got the mat for his desk, so now he can use the desk to do his artwork

Here is the newest piece of artwork that he finished

Michael went to Portland to help dig people out of their driveways...he was able to help an elderly couple, who then called him their "Guardian Angel".

Cam likes to take photos while Jar is at Youth Group...here is his setup.

I made roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and raw broccoli and cauliflower. It was delicious

Jar drawing at his new desk

Michael picked up donuts from Krispy Kreme while he was in Portland

He also picked up Chick-fil-A sandwiches

We walked through the new church building

Other things this past week:

• Cam had an eye appointment and ordered new glasses (brown ones this time)
• Michael and I watched Deepwater Horizon

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• We had pizza and family night--we watched The Crown TV series

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• I finished The Gilmore Girls on Netflix (it only took me 9 months or so :) )

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• Michael and I had Muchas Gracias for dinner and watched a movie
• Boys went to Youth Group
• We watched Last Man Standing and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

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• We watched more episodes of The Crown

Currently

Currently...

• I am thinking...that it will be hard to get back into the groove of school next week
• I am thankful...for a warm house to live in (especially after furnace broke this week)
• I am creating...a list of blog posts that I want to do
• I am going...to cut Jar's and Michael's hair this weekend
• I am wondering...what kind of weather this spring will bring
• I am making...a schedule for this winter/spring
• I am cooking...some roasted chicken and mashed potatoes
• I am looking...at Lily being cozy in the blanket
• I am playing...The Gilmore Girls on Netflix
• I am enjoying...a cold glass of water
• I am waiting...til the end of January to take down the Christmas lights
• I am liking...that I got the whole house organized
• I am wondering...what kind of glasses Cam will pick 
• I am noticing...that I have been going to bed too late every night
• I am buying...Michael his headphone earpieces
• I am reading...How we love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
• I am hoping...that Michael and I get into working out in the evening
• I am looking forward to...trying some new restaurants this year
• I am learning...that I do not even get hungry until about noon
• I am pondering...whether to work out hard with weights or just do cardio for now
• I am eating...roasted chicken and mashed potatoes
• I am drinking...lots and lots of water
• I am feeling...cozy
• I am watching...The Gilmore Girls
• I am enjoying...seeing Cam and Grace spend time together
• I am praying for...Cam and Jar as they figure out their careers
• I am working on...getting my journal caught up
• I am needing...to clean out the freezer and pantry
• I am trying...to stick to my schedule
• I am discovering...that stuff all over drives me nuts
• I am starting...to get in the mood for summer
• I am listening to...my pop/pop country music 
• I am annoyed that...I don't get more active
• I am anxious about...nothing
• I am excited about...doing some fun things this spring
• The world needs...kindness and love
• I believe...in laughing hard
• I am wanting...to get new floors in our baths
• I am remembering...when Jar loved to wear all the necklaces and rings when he was little

• I am laughing/giggling...at The Gilmore Girls
• I am designing...my dining room and living room in my head
• I am ordering...nothing 
• I am celebrating...getting the house all organized
• I am tasting...snickerdoodle coffee (I am not drinking it, but I am imagining it)
• I see...the beautiful Christmas tree with all of our favorite ornaments
• I hear...the dishwasher running
• I should...cut out sugar completely (that is what is getting in the way of losing weight)
• I started...waking up at 6:30 every morning (sometimes even 5:30)
• I despise...grocery shopping
• I am NOT...looking forward to coloring my hair
• It's been a big challenge...cutting out our eating out (I just hate to cook so much)
• I know it's a little weird, but...I want to organize my house almost every month
• I'll be one happy camper if...we could sell the camper right away at the price we want
• I love the fact that...we had a nice long break over Christmas

Currently...

• Outside my window...it is dark and rainy, but it is cozy and warm inside
• In the kitchen...the dishwasher is running; everything else is clean
• Around the house...I need to do some laundry
• One of my favorite things is...reading my blog posts after I finish posting
• Today...I did not feel very good
• Tomorrow...Cam has off work. It is supposed to snow again

End of year Questions

My Favorites as of now:

1. Person - Michael, Cam, Jar (I could not just do one)
2. Color - grey and brown
3. Food - scrambled eggs in butter
4. Smell - winter amber hand lotion
5. Book - How we Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
6. Movie - Black and White with Kevin Costner
7. Time of Day - afternoon
8. Day of the week - Friday
9. Things to do when bored - journal, read, blog, watch TV
10. Celebrity - Jessica Alba
11. Drink - water
12. TV show - Shooter
13. Fruit - cutie oranges
14. Vegetable - raw broccoli and cauliflower
15. Store/Shop - Marshall's, World Market, Target, and Trader Joe's
16. Workout - interval on elliptical
17. Quote - "A goal without a plan is just a wish"
18. Snack - applesauce with chia seeds
19. Meal of the day - lunch
20. Ice cream flavor - coffee (although I have not had any ice cream in a long time)
21. Season - fall
22. Dessert - cheese pastries
23. Life hack - put a rubber band on bottle of nail polish to work like a gripper
24. Hobby - journaling
25. Activity - watching Netflix with Michael
26. Restaurant - Panera Bread
27. Product - Scalp oil
28. Plate of food - roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies
29. Style of music - pop/pop Country
30. Book in the Bible - Proverbs

January Goals

These are my January Goals:

1. Do better at following my schedule
2. Eat clean/cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar
3. Cam eye appointment
4. Cam get new glasses
5. Set up dentist appointments
6. Blog once a week
7. Go out with Mom
8. Build Jar a fold-down desk
9. Start up family meetings again
10. Play one board game
11. Watch The Skulls and Dead Poets Society together
12. Watch The Secret Life of Pets together
13. Organize the whole house
14. Plan menu out for January
15. Read 5 books
16. Journal daily
17. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
18. Take down Christmas decorations
19. Order Blog book
20. Order Shutterfly book and Blurb book
21. Plan some things to do from now to May

These were my December Goals:

1. Go see The Star Wars movie
2. Go see Doctor Strange movie with friends
3. Exercise daily
4. Do a few juice detox days
5. Set up dentist appointments
6. Go to lunch with Mom
7. Blog 3-5 times a week
8. Listen to Christmas music...lots
9. Play board games
10. Make Christmas cookies
11. Plan menu out for rest of year
12. Plan some recipes for Christmas
13. Read 5 books
14. Journal daily
15. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
16. Go Christmas shopping
17. Wrap presents
18. Send Christmas cards
19. Do Christmas newsletter/photo page
20. Go to Mom's house for Christmas
21. Wipe down inside doors
22. Watch Hallmark Christmas movies
23. Make pretzel hugs
24. Make peppermint bark
25. Make some paper snowflakes
26. Do Advent calendar
27. Go to Farmer's Market Holiday Open House
28. Christmas programs at church
29. Go out to dinner and to see Christmas lights
30. Give to Charities
31. Plan budget for next year
32. Plan menu for next year
33. Organize entry table
34. Organize the garage bins

Life Lately

Here are some photos from Christmas that I did not post...

We went to Kalvin's basketball game...

It has been pretty relaxing around here lately. We have been enjoying being home. The boys start school up again next week, so we are enjoying the quiet.

We have not taken the Christmas decorations down yet...I love still seeing them

I always wanted a beauty advent calendar, so I got one at an after Christmas sale

I got caught up on all my journal writing

I made bacon wrapped goat cheese dates...they are they best

Cam set up Gma's new computer for her

Michael and Cam finally got Cam's photo hung

I made pasta carbonara for dinner

I got a pile of great books from the Library

I enjoyed a few Hershey's kiss cookies...my favorite

It has been pretty cold here lately...so Lily has been cuddling with a blanket

Having fun out with the boys...at Toys R Us. We also went to Target, Walmart, and Dutch Bros.

This is what I got in my beauty advent calendar

Catching some sun

Jar got a new storage container for his drawing markers

I got an incredible deal on Bowflex adjustable dumbbells...the boys were stoked

The air inducer on our furnace stopped working...we were without heat for 11 hours. Michael saved the day though when he replaced it.

old air inducer

the boys talking through everything

it got down to 63 degrees in the house

new air inducer

What a cutie

Michael and Jar built Jar a fold down drawing desk in his room (built in 2 hours or so)

We had some bad weather again...snow first and then freezing rain. Church was cancelled.

Michael and I watched the College Football Championship...Clemson, SC vs. Alabama. Alabama normally wins...they won last year against Clemson. Clemson pulled out the win in the final seconds of the game. It was a great game to watch.

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Michael brought me these Swedish Fish home from work...my favorite.

Jar finishing his workout...jumping rope in the rain

Other things from the past two weeks:

• Jar did some drawing

• I got my Christmas journal all filled in

• Cam had to reboot his computer...he was having a lot of trouble with it
• I organized the whole house...good luck finding everything, boys 😕😕
• We watched The Skulls movie and Dead Poets Society movie

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• Cam got his final grades back...he got A's in both classes (he thought for sure he got a B in one of the classes)
• We watched The Secret Life of Pets

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