Ramblings

I know it's been a long, long time since I've updated my blog, so who knows, maybe nobody will read this. I'm sitting here alone reading through the blogs of friends and family because Brett is camping for the weekend. As I sit here and read, I'm struck by so many different thoughts. I'm encouraged, disappointed, elated, overwhelmed by the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that people share in their blogs. I look at all the trials and accomplishments that people have in their lives, and wonder why the need to share? That's not actually true. I know why people share. They want to feel connected to other human beings. They want to be understood, cared for, acknowledged, yet at the same time want to feel protected. They want to feel safe. I'm often overwhelmed by the lives that other people lead. As most of you know, I deal with people on a daily basis, and many of those people are struggling with situations that most of us wouldn't care to imagine. Yet, at the same time they are not that different than the rest of us. They are looking for other human being to share their thoughts with, to feel understood by, and to be cared about. Every day, I think about how blessed I am to have been born into my family, to have my children, to know the people I know. I hope that when things get tough, we can all remember that somebody loves us and somebody is worse off than we are.

Wednesday Night Update

Two weeks ago way my 35th birthday so Wednesday=Family Night+ my birthday= Tubing at Soldier Hollow. It was Brett, me, Spencer, Monika, Tauni, Jordan, Raven, Brett's mom, and my mom & dad. There were no lines and "most" of us had a really awesome time.

This is the entire gang warming up after a cold night on the hills.




Mary Ann (Brett's mom) is always up for fun adventures like this.

A rare photo of Spencer and Monika together.


My mom and dad

I'm all bundled up like an Eskimo

Brett and Monika bundled up to stay warm

This was a really fun way to spend my birthday and family night. Thanks to everyone who came with us.
Last week, Family night=Build your own super nachos and root beer floats

The boys and their Nachos. I would love to say that Brett ate all those by himself but we actually shared.... and I think I ate more than he did.


Overall, Wednesday=Family Night+? has turned out pretty well the past couple of weeks so keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted.

Wednesday = Family Night = ?

This past Wednesday night, Brett and I decided to implement "Family Night". Several months ago we had game night on Thursdays but had really slacked off so I decided it was time to spend more time together. Our nights have turned pretty predictable, consisting of eating dinner and the kids disappearing to their rooms or onto the computer to chat with friends. I feel like there needs to be at least one night a week where we spend some "quality" time together. At work that day I brainstormed some possible ideas:
Dollar movie
Miniature golf
Board Games or Wii
Make Banana splits
Bowling
Swimming
Make your own super nachos
Root beer floats
Order take out
Trafalga
Kids make dinner night
Decorate cookies
Build a snowman
Try something you've never tried at a restaurant
2 for 1 milkshakes at Rocky Mountain drive-in
As I said, I was just brainstorming and was definitely open to suggestions. My hope was to create a calender and assign everybody their own week where they got to pick the activity. That night we decided to go out to dinner at La Casita and talk about our future "Family Nights". Holy crap, you'd think we were dragging the kids to the slaughter house. Taking the kids to dinner but calling it something else is not a good idea. Spencer pointed out that there were no other 15 year olds there with their parents and Monika complained that she had come home from her friends house early but we didn't leave for 30 minutes. After dinner we went home and I had the intention of playing a game, watching a movie or using the Wii. Both of the kids disappeared to their rooms the minute we walked through the door, saying that "We already had our fun, and it wasn't even that fun!". I eventually got them out to the living room where nobody could agree on something to do and we ended up in a discussion about why "Family Night" was so stupid and how nobody wants to spend time with me. After accomplishing nothing more than an hour of discussions, the kids went to bed, and Brett thought the idea of "Family Night" was over. He asked me if I really want to try that again and my response was "Yes". Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment or maybe I'm just not willing to give up that easy but either way I know that it is normal for kids to fight against change and hold on to the existing routine even if it's a bad one. This Wednesday is my birthday so we will be doing "Family Night" again if they like it or not.

New Beginnings

Ok, I will try to keep this brief. I have been really bad over the past few months at updating the blog. It's not that we haven't done anything, quite the opposite in fact but I think I have a motivation problem. I get these random thoughts and ideas for things I would like to blog about but just don't ever sit down and do it. After reading through Jessica's most recent post on funny events in 2008, Kim's posts on the Holiday Season and Nick's accident, and Tiffany's posts on the kids and some of the health issues they have been dealing with I am reminded of why I started my blog in the first place. It's not fair for me to just look into other peoples lives without being able to share at least a little of mine. I want my blog to be an honest look at what goes on in our lives but sometimes honesty is hard when you are allowing people to look into your world. Some of you may know that I said that I don't make New Year's resolutions so that I don't have anything to fail. That statement is still true, while at the same time I am committing to do better with the blog and allow each of you an honest look into our lives. The good, the bad and the ugly. Wish me luck.

Tagged for Christmas!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Some things are just easier to put in a bag.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I would like to do a real tree one year and Brett and I have talked about getting a permit and cutting one ourselves.
3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever I get to it. This year it was about a week after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I get to it. Hopefully before my Birthday. JK
5. Do you like eggnog? Not so much
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Doll
7. Hardest person to buy for? Brett
8. Easiest person/people to buy for? Me. Oh can I say that. Monika is pretty easy
9. Do you have a nativity set? Yes
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I'm horrible and I never send them out but I enjoy getting them in the mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The gift I didn't get. I was like 4 and wanted a dress up wedding dress. Instead I got a letter from Santa telling me about some other girl who wasn't getting anything so he gave her my dress.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't really have a favorite. Miracle on 34th Street is good
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually sometime in November, but most of it gets done the week before Christmas.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate Roll -Just for tradition sake because I really don't like sweets
16. Lights on the tree? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? I really can't think of one that is my favorite
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home. I went to Mexico one year and as much as I enjoyed it, it was weird to be away.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course, but I don't feel the need to prove it.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning of course. Santa comes during the night so there would be nothing to open on Christmas Eve. We do open PJ's though.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Feeling like people just want, want, want.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have a teddy bear theme on my tree as well as my Nativity set
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Happy, respectful, kind, grateful kids but since that may be too much to expect I want the wii fitness and a gym pass.