I Spy

Fun things I've seen the past several days while running:

*Hundreds of geese
*Coach Jerry Sloan (former head coach of the Utah Jazz)
*5 deer


Not so fun things:
*piles of horse manure

I just don't get it. I've been running the Jordan River Parkway Trail. All along the route are reminders to clean up after your dog. There are even baggies provided for this purpose along the trail. I find it hard to be concerned about a tiny pile of dog poop when I keep encountering massive amounts of horse poop. I realize it might be impractical to expect people to clean up after their horse. However, the flip side is that I'm sure it's hard to motivate a dog owner to care about the little extra their dog might add. I might soon have to take up hurdling to stay clear of the horse crap but I guess I should just be glad I don't have to worry about dog doo-doo. Lucky me!

MIA

The last two days have been so crazy/fun/busy that there has been no blogging activity from me. In fact, I haven't even touched my computer.

Friday after taking McKayla to school (we're without one car) I rushed to get ready and then Chandler and I went and watched Alec in Special Olympics bowling. After the bowling we rushed to the Children's Discovery Museum (stopping at a 7-11 on the way to buy them a hot dog for lunch - how healthy). We enjoyed the museum but then I rushed home to do some algebra tutoring. After tutoring, Kevin and I went running and got home in time to shower and go to bed.

Saturday I awoke early because Chandler had a 7 am soccer game in Murray. His team won 13-1. Chandler played defense most of the game but managed to score a couple of goals. After the game we rushed to his Lego League competition (we got there an hour late). After the competition, we shopped at Costco on our way home. We were home for 25 minutes and then went to Chandler's basketball game. This time his team was the one to get their butts kicked. I literally ran home from his game so I could get my 5 miles in for the day. Got home in time to tutor algebra again. Then had a quick shower and got ready to go to dinner with Kevin and some friends - Texas Roadhouse - YUM! Got home about 8 or 8:30 and was ready to fall into bed (if only).

Still, a fun couple of days.

Infinity scarves

I have become slightly addicted to Pinterest. The other day I made a "slutty brownie" recipe for my family that I found on Pinterest. (They are "slutty" because they are easy and a bit filthy - heehee!) I also found these Infinity scarves on Pinterest. Knowing my girls love scarves I just had to check it out. They looked so easy that I immediately cut up a t-shirt and made one. My girls loved it and wanted more! Unfortunately, I don't keep old t-shirts around so we headed to DI for a t-shirt shopping spree. We came home with 7 t-shirts and have made a scarf out of each one of them.

Here's me in the necklace-type one.
Shanley and McKayla much prefer the ruffle-type scarf. Here is Shanley in one.

For McKayla's I added a small pom-pom edging to one of the ruffles. I love that effect.

I love these scarves! They take about 15 minutes to make and cost me $1-$2 each (could be free if I'd just not throw away old t-shirts),

a new tradition

This year we started what I hope will be a new Christmas tradition - a 12 Days of christmas Service advent calendar. I made these trees.Inside each tree was a service to perform (i.e. sweep someone's gutters, write a missionary, bake cookies for someone, watch someone's kids, write a serviceman, etc). We opened a tree each day and performed the service.

books I've read in the past month

Here's the books I read in December. I've ** the ones I recommend.

**Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

House of Learning by Richard and Kathleen Walker

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

**The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

New Resolutions

I've been thinking about this one a lot lately. There are so many things I wish to accomplish but I can't do EVERYTHING. So, here is what I feel is most important for me to do in the year 2012.

Home Improvement
1) Build shutters for the windows in the front of my house
2) Paint the shutters, outside trim, and outside doors
3) Plant lavender in front of the house
4) Do window treatments for family room, dining room, kitchen, Shanley's room, and the master bedroom
5) Paint/stain the back deck
6) Paint the master bathroom

Family
1) Plan a special date with Kevin once a month
2) Spend one-on-one time with each child every month (away from the home)

Social
1) Have 2 game parties for adults this year
2) Host 2 special FHEs with other families this year

Physical
1) Lose 20 pounds
2) Climb Mount Timpanogos
3) Run a marathon and a half marathon

Mental
1) Make sure 1/3 of what I read is uplifting (spiritual, classical, best-book type stuff)
2) Write a book

Spiritual
1) Spend 1 day a month in the temple
2) Go to 3 new temples
3) Read the New Era and the Ensign every month
4) At the end of every day, record the hand of God in my life for that day

I will report progress every month so that I can be held accountable.

Resolution Check-Up

It's time not just for the monthly accounting on how I've done on my goals but for the sum total of the year's progress.

Lose Weight - I don't even want to talk about this one. It is so bad! Guess I know which goal I will carry over to the next year.

Read Jesus the Christ - COMPLETE! Yea!

Go snowshoeing - COMPLETE! Yea!

Run Ragnar - COMPLETE! Yea!

Write My Grandma's Life History - I did spend some time locating the interview tapes of my grandma. I spent a lot of time looking for my notes that I used to type the lost draft of her history. Unfortunately, I can't find the notes. I know they will turn up and I just need to keep looking. I feel like there was progress made on this goal because I at least have regained the desire to do this. Losing an almost-finished rough draft was painful but I think I've finally recovered and am really ready to start again. Now I just have to locate my notes.

Do family search indexing - COMPLETE! Yea!

Attend 5 Temples that I've never been to before - I went to the Albuquerque Temple this month. Overall, I only made it to 3 new temples this year so I fell short of my goal. On the other hand, I took McKayla to 5 new temples this year! Unfortunately for me, only one of those was new to me. I'd been to the other 4 before. Still, I can't help but feel good about my 3 new temples and McKayla's 5.

Overall, I accomplished more than I didn't. I feel good about everything except the losing weight. I am excited for a new year's worth of goals.