Happy New Year!

Nothing says Happy New Year like a puking kid and that is what I had last night. I am hoping it was just something she ate (like the tons of junk food) and that none of the other kids start because no matter how many "mom years" I have under my belt...I still can't do puke. I want to send out a thanks to my sister, Gina and my brother-in-law, Deo for hosting us in their condo downtown for the weekend. We had an absolute blast and it just reiterates how much my sister means to me and how much fun we always have together. I truly enjoyed each of her kids my kids had so much fun (a little too much which is why Belle puked) and it warms my heart to see them so close to their cousins.


I know I did my year at a glance but now I want to write what I hope to either not do or do in 2012. I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions but I do like starting fresh with some goals in mind.

This year, I am going to practice going with the flow and instead of forcing things to be how I want them, accepting things for the way they are.

I am going to try and make it to church more often because I truly love the peaceful feeling I get when I go and for awhile after.

I am no longer going to check Nico's phone because he is at an age where I am not sure I want to know the details of what his friends are doing. He is pretty good at telling me what he is doing (and at times I think he thinks I am much cooler than I am) and unless that stops, I am not letting him know I am not checking, but I am not. Let me just say that the girls that text him are just as bad as the boys. Some of them are so mean to him that I wonder why he is friends with them and others need a class in playing hard to get.


I am going to make a conscious effort to live in the moment and appreciate the kids at the stage they are at right now. It is going by so fast that I wish life had a pause button but since it doesn't, I need to start doing this. I also need to do this to appreciate life as it is now. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow and that makes each day that we have even more important.


I am going to spend more time taking care of the friends that make our friendship a priority and stress less about the ones that don't. I'm trying to teach my kids to do this and yet I still have a hard time.


I am going to practice saying, "I'm not sure what my son/daughter's plans are" and stay out of what they want to do and who they want to do it with. In other words, avoid drama at all costs.


I know this is so corny and even as I type it, I can hear some of you laughing but I LOVE board games. I love relaxing with a glass of wine and sitting at a table with Leo and a bunch of our friends and playing games. I think I want to start a once a month thing where we alternate houses (or just come here) and do that. It's a great way to get to know each other better and there are always a lot of laughs. I don't want to do it each time we are together but once in awhile to change things up, it is fun. Anyone that likes the same and wants to do it, let me know. :)


I am not going to bring anything in this house unless I know exactly where it is going and what I am going to donate or throw out in its place.


I have a friend in Texas, a friend in Pennsylvania and a friend in Arizona that I have been trying to get to for awhile now. I would like to see them in 2012.

On that note, there is a spa weekend and a writer's conference that have my name written all over it (actually, they don't but I'd like to get to one or both of them or if one was combined that would be awesome).


Be excited to see my kids every time I see them whether it is when they wake up or come home from school because everyone deserves to see that someone is excited to see them.


Stop being a wuss at getting rid of the bottles and binkies (I'm just setting myself up to fail this one).

Some of the same old resolutions I have every year that I have again this year:

Make healthier choices with food and exercise more.


Send in my writing (I'd need my computer fixed or to start something new to do this).


Actively try and make money writing. I'd love for 2012 to be the year that this happens.


Spend more time doing things as a family and not be so busy I don't get to see my sisters and my parents (and Gramps, too).

Watch what I say and how I say it because both have power (maybe not in the world but with my family and friends).

What are some of your goals for 2012? I'd love to hear them.