2012

Happy 2012!

My oh my where did 2011 go?

I feel like it came and went in the blink of an eye.

I'm not sure if that's because I'm older, because I'm a mom or because so much happened in our lives this past year.  Great things, hard things, challenging things, surprising things, and the like. Either way I am hoping 2012 proves to come and go at a much slower pace. 

Do you have any favorite moments of 2011?

Ours:

Our trip to Florida and Tennessee

Thanksgiving in Spokane with family

Grace: Starting Kindergarten, watching fire works for the first time without having a panic attack, dance performance for Moment's to Remember ....

(there were lots of 1st this year and lots of fears overcome.  It was a spectacular year of achievements for her)...

Loren's career change, becoming the Human Resource Manager at Lowes in Union Gap.

Melissa teaching dance over the summer, doing more photography and starting to work again in the fall

Melissa's dads visit to the Burg.

etc.

This is the first year we have done resolutions.

We have done goals in the past but like most people, never end up sticking to them.

So this year we decided to change things up a bit.  

And, we have such a strong desire this year to make changes that I know through prayer and God's help we can do it.

Loren's Resolutions: 

Get Healthy!

Eat treats only one day a week

Exercise 3 times per week

He's going to lose 20 pounds by July 1st and 40 by January 1st 2013

He signed on with Lowe's "Weigh Smart" program

He's heading up a team of 7+ people at his Lowes and they will all work on becoming healthier as a team, being accountable to one another

Melissa's Goals:

Exercise at least 3 times per week

Double my veggie/fruit in take each day

Eat treats only one day a week

Get more sleep at night

Removing things in my life that cause or have the potential to cause anxiety

Stay on top of the dishes so they don't pile up (we don't have a dish washer)

Spend at least one hour of uninterrupted quality time with Grace each day

And, blog more.  

Grace goals:

Stop interrupting 

Be quieter

Eat treats only 3 times a week 

What are you goals/resolutions?  

A little December 2011 Update:

December 19th we headed for Puyallup to celebrate an early Christmas with Loren's parents.  

It was a really lovely visit. 

Grace and her Grandpa Statema

Harris loving his Nascar Gifts

The Statemas are gardeners so Grace wanted to decorate a pot for them

Grace entertaining Grandma

After our visit with the Statema's we headed to the Turners

G & G  

Oh boy, the silliness that takes place at meals when these two are together
Mine forgets all her manners and all our meal-time rules
They just never want to stop having fun

My amazing friend!!!

A great Puyallup Trip!  Grateful the snow ceased this year and we were able to make it over the mountain pass to celebrate with family and friends. Not photoed is our lunch date with Shannon, Matt and Kai.  It was the most fun I've ever had at Red Robin.  I lost my voice from laughing to much.  It was hard going home.  Grace cried for quite some time.  We really miss our friends in Ptown.  They are irreplaceable.  

Grace T. made Grace S this gorgeous scarf.
She could not wait to open it so we let her open one gift early (hope you don't mind Jennifer) 

Favorite Christmas Moment 2011:

Christmas caroling on December 23rd with all these wonderful people.

A night of Christmas Caroling at Nursing Homes

Brought back memories of when I use to perform with Children Around the World

Walking the halls at the nursing homes singing songs of Praise 

Christmas Eve:

Baking

Baking

Baking......

Then Christmas Eve Service, grilled cheese and soup dinner, and preparations for Santa!

Making Cake Pops

Making Peppermint Bark

cake pops

Putting Reindeer Food out for the Reindeer of course

Cookies for Santa and Carrots for the Reindeer

A Christmas/Birthday card for Jesus

Someone gave us used Zhu Zhu pets.
So put together a letter from King Moonracer (the lion with wings from the Rudolph movie)
asking Grace to care for these toys from the Land of Misfit Toys.
She LOVED it and could not believe the movie is actually real.
 I love imagination 

Gifts for us from many people.
So blessed.

Gifts from Santa for Grace.
She got one Zhu Zhu pet and two things for them to go in.
He also filled her stocking with some socks and hair accessories oh yes and a thing of candy.

Frist thing Christmas morning.
Girlfriend slept in!!!....probably the only kid to ever sleep in on Christmas morning.

The candy from Santa

All the stuff from Santa and King Moonracer....and yes, that is a whoopee cushion 

She was so full of gratitude.

Thanks Tyler

Gifts from Grandpa Guibert amongst which is her new favorite movie: Horton Hears a Who

Grandma got us fun matching songs amongst many other things

So happy that IT'S CHRISTMAS 

Thanks Spokane Statemas

Thanks Dad/Papabear

Grandma got Grace the doll she wanted: A Bitty Baby

Grace so happy she got an Easy Bake Oven

The treats we made for the guards at the Jail

At the Jail in Ellensburg 
Our church encouraged the congregation to go out and do something for someone on Christmas day.  We chose to bring treats to the guards at the jail. We initially wanted to bring them to the inmates but we weren't allowed

Then home for some R&R and a little Disney Christmas  

And, Christmas Dinner, just the three of us.

So, we pretty much stayed in our PJ's Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.  Our first year EVER that we both had all four of those days off.  We loved every minute of it.  Relaxing at home spending quality time together is one of our favorite things to do so we are grateful we got to do just that while reflecting on God's amazing sacrifice for us.  

We hope your 2012 is full of hope and joy.