New Year, New Goals

This is my third year to do New Year's Resolutions. It's been a few years since I did resolutions. '08's resolutions proved to keep me so focused and remembering my goals that they became a subconscious effort and when the end of the year came faster than ever I was shocked to see I accomplished so many of them!! I did resolutions again in '09 and now here we are again in '12. My, how time flies.

Fireworks at my sister's

New Year's Eve 2011

Personal

On girl time

Invest time in those who have stuck with me through thick and thin these past few years. Specifically spend more time talking to them on the phone, make a point to get together with them, make them feel special as a person,  let them know how much they truly do mean to me, and continue to realize the importance, along with the renewed energy and love they bring, of girls' trips and girls' weekends even when it takes precious time away from my family but gives in return a happier, more confident and renewed me. The reward, the personal satisfaction of knowing I have done for them what I am so, so grateful that they have done for me.

Celebrating one of my besties wedding with another bestie

November 5, 2011

On time with my man

Continue to soak up and enjoy living with this amazing blessing of a man. Back in February of '11 I decided to concentrate more on the relationships I go home to every night than the girlfriends that I love spending time with. What a payoff this has had as Brando and my relationship is like a rock, if that's possible. He has blown my mind with his maturity and has risen to the level of insane calmness when I have my moments. We are starting to parent a teenager, and he has slowly taken that aspect over with that same calmness, maturity, and desire to develop a deep bond between father and son with Justinbustin that I am in literal awe of. In the meantime, I've noticed the girlfriends that have stuck with me, not only through the hard times previous, but through this time of restrengthening my relationship with my family. These are the girls I am truly blessed to have in my life. The reward, a lifelong appreciation for the time I have with this amazing man, and in the long run, I cross my fingers, a stronger, God-focused marriage as a result.

Annual New Year's Day family bike ride

January 1, 2012

Adding another one...

Continue to realize the importance of time and trips alone with my man. The past five or so years we have been so good about going on dates and trips together, just Brando and I. These last six months or so we have slipped a bit. Specifically, I want to remember to keep those dates and trips going as they have welded together our relationship in a way where we realize things aren't all about stress and the day-to-day grind, but are about him and I and how we enjoy each other and get along as well. The reward, the personal satisfaction of not only enjoying every moment day-to-day with each other, but rewarding those moments with times where we get to enjoy the full benefit of each other's company, and, no, I'm not being dirty.

Montana De Oro, Pismo Beach, California

Celebrating our eleventh anniversary

March 19, 2011

On enjoying the beauty of nature

This one is from '09, but I'm going to leave it in here, because, unless we move to a new town, I could reiterate these exact words this year as well.

Put a renewed effort into going out and enjoying our town. I'm not sure if it was the kids' school schedule, our jobs, or the pressure of the economy, but we've slacked off on our enjoyment of the local entertainment, nature, and beauty in the past few months and I'd like to get back into it as much or more so than we did before, as we have been having such a wonderful time doing over this Christmas break and had such a wonderful time doing this summer. Specifically, check out every new fun place we hear of in Austin, and every free new event that sounds interesting, including some of our favorites including Ballet Under the Stars, Shakespeare in the Park, South Asia New Year, Musicals in the Park, Barton Springs Pool, Mt. Bonnell, kayaking Town Lake, Laguna Gloria, Mayfield Park, watching the bats on South Congress, Whole Foods headquarters, and hopefully many new places this year!! The reward, knowing that I have enjoyed the beauty of my town to it's fullest and knowing that if I ever move away from here I will not be sad that I did not enjoy the time while I was here. Also, the satisfaction of having so many wonderful unique memories that can not be created any other time or place.

Annual New Year's Day family bike ride

January 1, 2012

On taking care of my body

Again, I may copy most of this one verbatim. Oh, it makes me laugh how similar my resolutions are this year to '09s. It makes sense though, as my life was semi put on hold in '09 when we moved, and then in '10 when we moved back again. '11 was a year of 'righting the boat' so to speak.

Put more effort into my hair. New year, new hair! Specifically, I've decided to change my part, and curl my hair a lot more to keep up with the current trend. Plus, it's soft, feminine, and feels freakin' gorgeous. To copy from '09 and continue on with the specifically, fluff up my bangs so they're not so freaking flat, get three haircuts this year instead of two, and put more effort into styling my hair even when I go out for simple things, but even more so for girls' nights out, dates with Brando, etc. By the way, this next part might be too much information for some of you! Specifically also to keep my eyebrows consistently groomed by shaping them at least once a month, plucking them at least once a week, and going into have them professionally shaped at least twice a year!! Oh man the way I look when I neglect them or forget to reshape them for even a week or two!! The reward, the personal satisfaction of having pictures where I put my effort in to look my best and can look back at and not nit pick at myself for not doing this or that with my hair and face!

New year, new hair, new part

New Year's Day, January 1, 2012

Adding another one...

Let go of the stress about my face and inevitable aging. Specifically, realize I look the FREAKIN' same in pictures now as I did two years ago. If anything is changed, it's only that I photo shop less because I realize this is what God gave me. I can love it, or I can photo shop it and think I've changed every time I see an unphotoshopped photo. I am not going cold turkey here and I am not saying my resolution is to stop photo shopping. The reward, the personal satisfaction of knowing I am aging with ease and grace and putting less lines on my face by doing so.

Nannying a little girl

October 10, 2008

Li's birthday celebration with Li and KT

October 28, 2011

On my thought life

Balance. Rhythm. Specifically, realize life is about rhythms, stop beating myself up when life is swung one huge way because Justinbustin has a regionals coming up, or a transition to school is starting, or a transition to Christmas vacation is starting. Realize life is a rhythm, full of seasons, just like nature, and that it's only for a season, and probably a short one at that, that something is happening. The reward, the personal satisfaction of going through these seasons with much more ease and calm.

Guest Speaker for Justinbustin's robotics club

December 16, 2011

Aspirations

On school

Think about doing school online. Specifically, research it, try out a class, and decide if it's for me. As per above, that's all I'm going there with it right now. The reward, the personal satisfaction of satisfying my insatiable desire to learn, as I love to do.

Butterfly hatched from the caterpillars off our parsley plant

May 29, 2009

On my home front

I'll keep this one from '09 as well, as I still like the sound of it.

Keep my home maintained and decluttered and invite more people into my home. Specifically, set aside a time every month to declutter each room and throw out items that are no longer needed. Also, maintain our daily habits and routines by cleaning up after ourselves and teaching the boys that in our family we clean up after ourselves. Teach them that we work before we play, so that once we're done working hard we can play even more than we would've been able to before. Make a point of having multiple couples over once a month for dinner and a movie or margaritas and chips and a game night. The reward, giving myself permission to buy one new kitchen, decorating or entertaining for my home each month as I succeed.

Gingerbread house making party

December 18, 2011

On my family front

I'll hang onto this one, too, as I've started this back up in the last few months, any way.

Continue to take pictures that are actually a happy moment this year. Also, to take more fun and goofy pictures rather than smiley ones where you say 1-2-3 cheese all the time! Aw, it makes my heart smile thinking how many happy pictures we took last year. Specifically, making sure that I continue to capitalize on those happy moments before or after the fact and remind them how happy they will be to have those pictures later. Also, specifically, find and pay attention to interesting and fun set ups and faces in magazines, other pictures, etc. that will make our own pictures more interesting and fun.  I am so camera happy that people get irritated with me for it sometimes! Thanks to people like KT for encouraging me by telling me how good I am at snagging other people to take pictures for group photos. Most of the time I feel like I embarrass everyone I'm with when I do that. Good thing I don't care either way! I've also learned to take group photos by catching them naturally - when people are already standing together and talking and saying, "Look at me and smile!" The reward, the personal satisfaction of moments of our lives captured to look back and smile on.

Annual New Year's Day family bike ride

January 1, 2012

Adding another one...

Take more family vacations. Specifically, take the boys' snowboarding and skiing again and to Disneyland. Last year, we went snowboarding and skiing, and once snowboarding before the year before. The boys loved it. I didn't realize til' just now those were truly family vacations. I'm so glad we've already done them and I can't wait to do even longer ones this year. The reward, the personal satisfaction of knowing we took that time together as a family to create lifelong memories that I'm crossing my fingers will be stress-free as possible as a result of our maturing relationship as per above resolution.

Justinbustin's first time snowboarding

December 23, 2010

Mommy, Justinbustin's, and Shawners' first time snowboarding

December 23, 2011

Shawners' first time snowboarding

December 23, 2010

What are YOUR '09 New Year's Resolutions?

I was going to do '08 in Review with pictures but when I got to March and already had 80 pictures I changed my mind. So I'll do resolutions again instead. I love that I accomplished so many of the ones I made last year!

This is my second year to do New Year's Resolutions. Last year's resolutions proved to keep me so focused and remembering my goals that they became a subconscious effort and when the end of the year came faster than ever I was shocked to see I accomplished so many of them!! I'm looking forward to making an effort at my additional resolutions this year until they become a subconscious effort as well!!

Personal

On girl time
Keep up the girl time I started two years ago. Specifically visit my cousin in California again, take that girls' road trip I didn't get to last year, visit Napa with my sisters and cousins, enjoy my Monday nights with Li and girls, spend my birthday weekend away possibly in Mexico, and take every opportunity I can to go out with and spend time with and enjoy the girls. As last year the same rewards hold true, the personal satisfaction of continuing to discover who I am apart from mommy and wife.

and adding to this one this year...

On time with my man
Make more effort to plan special time alone with my man to rediscover and relearn to enjoy who we are as individuals and who we are in our relationship. Specifically, continue to take dates once a week as often as possible and plan our "practice" vacation to Hawaii!!!! And actually take it!! This has proved to be much more difficult than I first imagined, what with juggling six schedules and all, but by golly I intend to work through it all and do it!! Brando and I have not taken a vacation in our eight years of marriage EVER, not even our honeymoon, unless you count two nights in podunk Texas as a honeymoon. I don't. We NEED a vacation and I am bent on doing it since I thought of the idea. I call it our practice vacation because, heck, we need the practice before we can do it as a family!! Most couples get their vacationing together kinks out of the way before they start popping out the kids. Well now our kids are older and we have that opportunity I want to take advantage of it in every way I can! Specifically, be okay with the time frame being less than perfect and the kids maybe not getting to have as much fun as if they were hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa in California if the timing doesn't work, or with Brando's Mom having to come out here and take them to school and bring them home while she's here. Also, being okay if the pricing is a little more than I would like to pay for, and understanding there's a price to pay for practice and eventually we will have it down to where we will be able to get the best timing at the best price. The reward, being able to be a friend, have fun and enjoy who I am with when the kids are not around, now and when they are grown up. More tangibly, the reward of taking another more stress free trip next year because we will have had our practice run!!

Adding another one...

On enjoying the beauty of nature
Put a renewed effort into going out and enjoying our town. I'm not sure if it was the kids' school schedule, our jobs, or the pressure of the economy, but we've slacked off on our enjoyment of the local entertainment, nature, and beauty in the past few months and I'd like to get back into it as much or more so than we did before, as we have been having such a wonderful time doing over this Christmas break and had such a wonderful time doing this summer. Specifically, check out every new fun place we hear of in Austin, and every free new event that sounds interesting, including some of our favorites including Ballet Under the Stars, Shakespeare in the Park, South Asia New Year, Musicals in the Park, Barton Springs Pool, Mt. Bonnell, kayaking Town Lake, Laguna Gloria, Mayfield Park, watching the bats on South Congress, Whole Foods headquarters, and hopefully many new places this year!! The reward, knowing that I have enjoyed the beauty of my town to it's fullest and knowing that if I ever move away from here I will not be sad that I did not enjoy the time while I was here. Also, the satisfaction of having so many wonderful unique memories that can not be created any other time or place.

On taking care of my body
Put more effort into my hair. This time it's my hair! Specifically, fluff up my bangs so they're not so freaking flat, get three haircuts this year instead of two, and put more effort into styling my hair even when I go out for simple things, but even more so for girls' nights out, dates with Brando, etc. By the way, this next part might be too much information for some of you! Specifically also to keep my eyebrows consistently groomed by shaping them at least once a month, plucking them at least once a week, and going into have them professionally shaped at least twice a year!! Oh man the way I look when I neglect them or forget to reshape them for even a week or two!! The reward, the personal satisfaction of having pictures where I put my effort in to look my best and can look back at and not nit pick at myself for not doing this or that with my hair and face!

On my thought life
Get into the mind-frame that college is not an option. It's a must. Specifically, figure out what my end is and use college as a means to that end. Figure out if I want to work towards being a teacher so I can be on the same schedule as the kids and continue doing something I enjoy after they're grown. Or if I want to work on being an engineer and end up spending 60+ hours in the field if I want to do something I really enjoy. Or if I want to force myself to get over my faint heart and do something in the medical field. Figure out where I want to be in 10 years and start making a plan to get there. The reward, having a solid goal to work towards and not some vague aspirations that I give up on easily because it's not solid enough to grasp any way. Also, knowing and being able to appreciate all the work that I will have put into it when I reach that goal.

Aspirations

On school
Get creative with financing for school and my time frame. Specifically, check into loans for school and what the specifics for paying them back are. Calculate what my income will be when I graduate and figure out how long it will take to pay them back. Then calculate the amount we will end up losing in twenty years if I don't end up getting a degree to where I can earn a decent income and having to settle for a job where I work my ass off and make less than $24k a year. As far as time frame, specifically, ask around and see what courses would be best to take online to get out of the way when there are times that I can be flexible with my hours in my home, but not out of the home i.e. in the summer. The reward, being able to accomplish my goals without being a burden on my family, and instead actually being able to help our future.

On my home front
Keep my home maintained and decluttered and invite more people into my home. Specifically, set aside a time every month to declutter each room and throw out items that are no longer needed. Also, maintain our daily habits and routines by cleaning up after ourselves and teaching the boys that in our family we clean up after ourselves. Teach them that we work before we play, so that once we're done working hard we can play even more than we would've been able to before. Invite each of the couples we know over, and make a point of having a new couple over once a month for dinner and a movie or margaritas and chips and a game night. The reward, giving myself permission to buy one new kitchen, decorating or entertaining for my home each month as I succeed.

On my family front
Continue to take pictures that are actually a happy moment this year. Also, to take more fun and goofy pictures rather than smiley ones where you say 1-2-3 cheese all the time! Aw, it makes my heart smile thinking how many happy pictures we took last year. Specifically, making sure that I continue to capitalize on those happy moments before or after the fact and remind them how happy they will be to have those pictures later. Also, specifically, find and pay attention to interesting and fun set ups and faces in magazines, other pictures, etc. that will make our own pictures more interesting and fun.  I am so camera happy that people get irritated with me for it sometimes! Thanks to people like KT for encouraging me by telling me how good I am at snagging other people to take pictures for group photos. Most of the time I feel like I embarrass everyone I'm with when I do that. Good thing I don't care either way! The reward, having those memories captured on film to enjoy that time over and over again, and having more than just smiling faces, more of the personality of each individual!

End of Year Resolution Update

So this was the very first year I ever did New Year's Resolutions. I meant to update them once a month, but as that wasn't a resolution I don't feel badly that I didn't. I almost feel better knowing it became a subconcious thing to work on them. I haven't gone thru them yet, but I have a really good feeling that I've covered a majority of them! We'll know by the end of this post!

Personal

On girl time

Keep up the girl time I started last year. So did awesome at this! Visited my cousin again - yay!, had SO many girls' nights not even including my weekly nights with my girls Li, M, and Ambr, took a cousins trip to Phoenix with my sisters and cousins. Not only did I have a lot of girl time, I had a lot of special guy time with my man, too. That came later in the year, and as a by product, but this year we went to our first vineyard and had our first wine tasting, had a date almost every week, sailed on our first boat together, ice skated alone for the first time together, and had date upon wonderful date doing something fun and new each time including watching Ballet Under the Stars at the Zilker Hillside Theatre, floating in Barton Springs, and climbing Mt. Bonnell.

Yup

On taking care of my body

Leave my freakin' face alone! Hmmm, not sure how I've done on this one. It's definitely not AS bad as it was at the beginning of this year. Part of that was discovering I needed to use separate wash cloths for my face than the ones I use for everything else. So mine are a special color now and used for my face alone. That helped a lot. I still irritate my face when I'm nervous but usually I'll catch myself and go do something more productive.

Yup

On my thought life

Be easier on myself. I'm working on it. I'm okay with who I am and seriously want to give myself a kick in the rear to be all I can be. Maybe that will be NEXT year's resolutions. In the meantime I don't apologize for who I am or lay blame. What happened in my life up until I could make my own decisions happened and all I can do is change what I do now and change what I do for my kids.

Working on it

Aspirations

On school

Finish another three semesters of classes. Eek! Well, finances kind of put an end to that for the moment as we barely scraped by this summer and fall. I am signed up for a class this spring though and am crossing my fingers I can once again handle work, kids, and school (how do you do it again, GFF?).

Working on it

On my home front

Get my  house back to where I need it to be. Somehow along the year I learned to accept my house for what it was and where we are in our stage in life with where it is. Along the way something amazing happened, and only in the last few weeks, I threw a wine tasting party for 25 people! I did not want to stress out the week leading up to it so I just busied myself decluttering and throwing out the junk that had accumulated that I hadn't bothered to toss. Shawners and I ended up clearing out 150 toys out of their closet alone. That doesn't count the two garages Brando and I compacted into one by putting up shelves and clearing an entire trunk and carload worth of things to go to Goodwill. Somehow my house has happily maintained itself since the grand decluttering and we are quite enjoying it.

Yup

On my family front

Enjoy life! In the moment. Oh my gosh, this has probably been the most fabulous success in my resolutions. I have so enjoyed every. moment. of this year. Doing what I want, when I want, and how I want. And not blaming others for myself not having a good time if I didn't open my own damn mouth and make what I want to happen happen. Specifically, I had a blast tubing the Guadalupe with my girlfriends and one of their boyfriends. Brando? He stayed home with the kids and I didn't apologize for it. The trip out to see my cousin, the trip to meet up with my sisters and cousins, the countless dates with Brando where I said where I wanted to go and stuck with it (Ballet Under the Stars was a major feat and he LOVEd it : ), the many many moments with the kids where I didn't apologize for doing what I wanted to do, regardless of what they thought we should do. And the pictures I took? Every single one I look at I can tell you the specific happy moment surrounding that picture. No ugliness at all. That doesn't mean there weren't fights, I just didn't force them into making a happy moment out of it. I just let them be and fall by the wayside. The happy moments take the stage and shine in every picture. And there are so. very. many.

Absolutely yup!

Four out of six ain't bad. That means I kept two thirds of my resolutions and am still working on the final third! Whoohoo! How did you do on your resolutions this year?

Resolution Update

S, I'm totally following on your heels here. Maybe next year a resolution would be to "remember on my own to update".

Personal

On keeping up the girl time I started last year. Well, I've had a few girls nights, but no girls' trips planned. I've been 'talking' about a few, but I keep waiting for someone to say "Yes! Let's do it!!" and no one has. I've never really planned anything like this before, so I'm not sure if it's the money issue, timing issue, or both, but I'm going to try a different tactic and plan something for next year so it's quite a ways in advance. Suggestions from experienced girl trip takers (road trips or otherwise) are welcome! 

On taking care of my body and leaving my face alone. I don't even want to talk about it. I feel like my complexion has gotten WORSE since I started the whole skin care regime, but really I think it's because I've been treating it worse because I feel like the skin care routine will 'fix' it. I need to do both at the same time!

On my thought life and being easier on myself. Sigh. See previous post. I have developed more of a backbone with Brando and the kids - not letting myself feel bad for saying NO or having an opinion that differs from theirs. On the other hand I've really been down on myself for my space in life when I really need to be okay with where I'm at for my sake. On that note, thank you all for your wonderful, sweet and almost posts(!) on Keeping up with the Joneses. I totally wasn't expecting that and every single one warmed me to the heart to know I'm not alone, but that I also have no reason to be thinking that much like I'm trying to convince myself : ) .

On my aspirations of continuing my goal of finishing school by finishing another three semesters of classes. I'm doing well with a 105 average on my class so that's something to be said! Need to set an appointment to see a counselor for next year. So far I'm going for broke with these math classes.

On getting my house back to where I need it to be. Well it's being maintained. I've gotten a few projects done. Today I moved some of the stuff from the garage to storage. I unpacked the ungodly corner of my room that developed when we got back from Cali. I've been keeping decent food in the kitchen, at least snack wise, not so much on meal wise. I need to keep hacking away at it baby step by baby step.

On enjoying life In the moment in my family life. This one I've been doing great on. Less pictures to show for it, but I really am enjoying life in the moment. The boys (all 3) and I went to an open house at Lifetime Fitness and Brando and I watched the boys swim for three hours. Saturday Justinbustin had his Pinewood Derby and took first place OVERALL!! Later that day he had a three hour birthday party at the Lifetime Fitness that we went to on Sunday. Shawners and I came home and made cookies while he played away.

To wrap it up S style. I still need to work on 1, 2, 3, and 5, and keep up 4 and 6. While this was a little disappointing to write down how much I still need to work on it is also a good kick in the butt to keep myself going on these things.

2008 Goals Update

So S posted an update of her resolutions here, which reminded me I need to post an update of mine. You know, keep myself accountable and all that sh*t. You can see my original goals here.

Personal

On girl time: So far so good with this one!! I've been to dinner countless times, two girls' nights so far this month including a martini party, lots of afternoon rondevues, and I've been very good keeping in touch with email. I even made a new friend and we have a date set to go get coffee next week. Yay me! I've got two trips to California lined up, and am planning a third in June for my girls' trip! Note Hanging with friends doesn't really help me discover who I am as I had previously thought, it helps but I'm realizing not as much as school and therapy.

Leaving my face alone! In just the last week I've done really REALLY well leaving my face alone. I've learned how to take care of it without beating it up so much, and I've fully infiltrated my face care routine intsteaming my face every other week or so.

Being easier on myself: So this one I haven't thought much about, I guess I have been too busy to! I think I've subconsciously been working on it, because there's been more than a few times I've given myself a break when I would normally get totally down on myself. Thanks to PB&Razz, I've made a decision to not argue in front of the kids. We've done better on it, as in leaving the arguments as heated discussions without yelling, but eventually we'll get to where we take it in the other room immediately or wait until later.

Aspirations

Finishing another three semesters of class: I'm on my way! I'm taking another math class this semester and will hopefully stack up a few more in the summer, once my math. I originally had a desire to do psychology, but four year psychology degree = no money and I need to be able to make some money after my four year.Teaching eaching highschool or college sounds intriguing. I'm going to look into what it takes and go from there.

Getting my house to where I need it to be: Besides my house being a freakin' pigsty right now I've been steadily doing mission after Flylady mission and the weight of all that lurks in the corners is being slightly lifted. Now if only I could get the laundry to lift itself off the floor and hang itself up.

Enjoying life! In the moment: Oh I've been soooo good at this! We've been having SUCH a blast this month!! Going to Houston, spending the days at Zilker, actually making it to church, going to cub scouts, girl night and girl times. And there are pictures! Lots and lots of pictures!! Happy pictures! Now I just need to find the thing that takes them off my card to put on the computer.

So In Love

Sunday we had breakfast at Austin Java and then walked Town Lake while the kids biked in front of us. Justinbustin took this picture of us and I heart it.

So in love

More pictures from the day...

Pedaling hard

Brothers - I don't know why Shawners has his hand up in the air on this one, but it's so cute.

Skipping Rocks

I love this moment of the pretty, shiny ornaments catching Justinbustin's eye.

Mr. Independent

A tired moment

A happy tree... or stump

Random Austin art on the bridge

What are YOUR New Year's Resolutions?

Normally I don't do New Year's resolutions. But this year, this year is different. I need New Year's resolutions to keep me focused, and help me remember a goal.

Personal

On girl time

Keep up the girl time I started last year. Specifically take the road trip with the girls that I've been wanting to do, visit my cousin in Newport Beach again, take the girl cousins trip to Tahoe we're in the process of planning, and have a few girls' nights out in the summer to boot, preferrably without the hate being with the guy aspect that encouraged me to get out. The reward, the personal satisfaction of continuing to discover who I am apart from mommy and wife.

On taking care of my body

Leave my freakin' face alone! Specifically treat my freakin' breakouts instead of making them worse. Enough with the nerves already - I always torture my face when I'm stressed out or feeling yuck. The reward, a night out with the girls. Yeah, I definitely need a tangible reward for that one.

On my thought life

Be easier on myself. Specifically give myself a break for who I am and what I've done. Sometimes I feel like I am the world's worst accomplisher. Okay, so I don't have a PhD like GFF, and I'm not about to get married like Allison : ) , and I'm not a world traveller like Lava Rocks, but dammit I AM married, have two beautiful children, live in the beautiful city of Austin in an apartment that rocks other apartments, am going to school, homeschooling my children (love/hate relationship aside), and am working. I totally rock when I remember it. The reward, an anniversary trip for Brando and I that I get to plan.

Aspirations

On school

Finish another three semesters of classes. Specifically, take my math class this spring and then two other core classes during the summer and fall semesters. I'm still only taking one class at a time so I can keep up the 4.0 GPA I need to transfer to UT, but that may change depending on the kids' school situation in the fall. The reward, the satisfaction of being on my way to getting my degree.

On my home front

Get my  house back to where I need it to be. Specifically, get back on board with Flylady's emails even if it's just the mission of the day. Man, clutter sneaks back up on me without me realizing it. The reward, the feeling of relief as the weight is lifted off my shoulders of realizing I have a clutter free house.

On my family front

Enjoy life! In the moment. Specifically, taking lots more pictures, but actually ENJOYing the pictures. Oft times a picture can look like a beautiful moment when that's all that it is, beautiful on the outside. This year I want to capture pictures that are beautiful on the outside AND inside. The reward, the satisfaction of having happy memories to go along with the beautiful pictures.