New Yearsolutions

It's cliche, I know, but I always set 5-10 goals at the New Year. Usually, I achieve about 80% of them. This year I'm committing to spend some time on myself which will most likely be in the form of exercise. So yesterday, I put on my running gear (it's been taking up an entire drawer in my dresser without use for about 3 years) and went out for a run.

Since it's been so long since I've run, I'm starting with a beginner's plan from Runners World. Stay tuned for progress on this, my 2009 Goal #1.

Family: The Best Gift of All

We had a fun-filled holiday week with the entire family. I now understand why my Mom and Dad always ask for "the family to be together" as their gift. It was so much fun seeing our kids interact with their cousins. Spending time with everyone reinforced that my sisters and I are doing the right things with our families to carry on the tradition of a close-knit, low-drama, very functional family.



We spent Christmas Eve with extended family. Bean was in awe of her third cousins. They welcomed her at their table.



Squeaker got some up close time with her 2-month-older cousin, Sam. They wrestled on Christmas Day, and then power napped in nature at the River on the 26th.







Nana helped Bean learn about the tradition of decorating the tree.

Christmas Gifts

We woke up up Christmas morning at 8 o'clock (thank you, Santa, for granting my Christmas wish to sleep late), and enjoyed watching Bean and Squeaker cuddle on T & T's sofa before heading to OpaNana's.

The kids had so much fun opening their stocking and Santa gifts that we pretty much stopped after that. Kate loved her keyboard, headlamp, airplane, books, apron, dress from Grandma, Taki bear, and ballerina stuff.