Cazier 2014 Resolutions

Now comes the time when we fess up to all the things we didn't accomplish, but try to make ourselves look better by expressing all the things we plan to do this coming year to make up for our inadequacies. Happy New Year!

I'll start. I didn't do too badly on my intentions. Let's evaluate:

1. Run 3 races. PASS (Although during this year I have decided that I enjoy boot camp a bazillion times more than running, I still made my three races. I ran the Hale Freezes Over, the Vineyard 5k, the Temple to Temple race, AND the Extreme Rhythm 5k. I don't think I ever even blogged about the last one. Becca and I ran it in September. I hadn't been running for months by then, so I was ecstatic with a 31:57 time. And I had a soft goal of running a 5k in under 30 minutes and I achieved that with two of the other races. Score.)

2. Read the Book of Mormon. PASS (Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours.)

3. Kid date once a month. FAIL/PASS (I did well for the first part of the year. Then the move happened and everything went haywire. Once we settled in the new place, I picked up where I left off and have been hitting every month since.)

4. Attend the Temple 12 times. PASS (Knocked that one out of the park. In the Fall I was going once a week for several months. Success.)

5. Track my spending. FAIL (I did really well, right up until June 1st. Then the move was eminent and my organization fell to pieces never to be recovered. You win some, you lose some.)

6. Stop biting my nails. FAIL/PASS (Remember how I didn't even care about this one? Well, I left my nails alone until May sometime. Then the move was stressing me out a bit. ((Yes, I know....broken record about the move.)) I started biting them again because I actually enjoy biting them. It may sound gross but I don't like nail clippers or files. It is just easier to trim them my own way. However, I do bite them less and that is good for me.)

Now for 2014. What great endeavors have I planned for myself now? I'm keeping it simple this year as well. But I'll go last this time. Let's start with the family. We had a fun FHE where we talked to the kids about making realistic measurable goals. They did some tentative resolutions last year, and some were accomplished.We'll keep working at it. Practice makes perfect.

Let's start with the kiddos. They all organized their thoughts a bit differently, but I will try to write them down just like they wrote them, spelling included.

ROBYN
1. Brush my teeth (in the morn) 300 days of the year.
2. Brush my hair 3 days a week excludind Sunday
3. Read my scripcers on Saterdays
(Lots of brushing going on this year.)

IVORY
Spiritual Goals: Read Book of Mormon
Personal Goals: Room clean once a week
Edicational Goals: 20 books, pass off Raz-kids, finish Fairy story, 15 new words
(I'm not sure about the 15 new words? Hopefully she won't learn them from friends at school.)

DAISY
Spiritual: Memorize 6 articles of faith (One every 2 months)
Educational Goal: Level 'D' of Raz-kids (Read seven books a week)
Personal Goal: Skate by yourself (Go skating 15 times this year), Wash dishes by yourself (Practice 2 times a month.)
(I definitely support her dish washing goal.)

JUNE
Goal #1: I want to keep up in my journal. I've been writing since October 2013, and I want to continue writing all this year. I'm setting a goal to write at least four times a week. After writing in my journal thirty times, I will reward myself with time with Mom and Dad, maybe going out for treats or for lunch with them.
Goal #2: I also would like to have daily prayer. I've been doing this for a year or two and I want to continue with it. I'm going to reward myself only once, at the end of the year, with a treat. It's a regular thing for me, so I don't want to reward myself too much, but I still want to reward myself, just a little.
Goal #3: I have never completed this goal before, so it's going to be hard for me, but I want to stop biting my nails. I want to paint my nails five times, having my nails long enough. Each time I paint my nails I want it to be when the first painting is worn off. I will reward myself every time I paint my nails with a treat.
(You can see that June is more explicit about her goals and the rewards that come with them.)

PEARL
(We chose this one for Pearl. Hopefully she gets the 'K' sound this year, although I really like when she says Chum- ere. {Come here})

And the adults?

TYLER
-Gospel study at least 3 times per week. (reward after 30 times)
-Fully trained in scouts. (reward: New scout shirt?)
(Should I add on here: Take wifey out on a date every week??)

MALEEN
(Yes, I have resolutions too. In categories, mind you. It just sort of happened that way, this year.)
Personal: Make bread once a month (or more)
Relationships: Send birthday cards to family
Spiritual: Read Book of Mormon and one commentary
Financial: Plan personal budget, stick to it each month
Home: Grow Herbs (Oregano? Basil?)

It should be a great year. I took the pictures because I felt bad for the girls who had no way to remember what they had written down last year. Some of them were rather surprised when I read their goals from last year. So, this time, I will give them each a picture to keep in their room. Maybe they will see it every once in a while and try to do a little better. Isn't that how it works for all of us? Every year we try to be a little better. I admit this is getting hard for me since I am pretty stellar to begin with, but we all have room for improvement. Apparently, I need to grow herbs.

Peace out 2013.

Book Review 2013

I feel that I didn't read as much this year, but when I totaled up my books read,  I hit 23. I don't think I can count all of them really. I didn't do summer reading, but I did read plenty of kids books and put them on the list. At one point I was reading to Robyn to get her interested, and I think it worked in a way. So, you can see them all here, in no particular order.

And now I'll tell you my top picks. I enjoyed many of them, but I require myself to narrow it down. Here they are.

TOP 5 PICKS

5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba: This was a very inspirational book. It is a true story about a boy who builds a windmill in his village in Africa. This is made more amazing by the fact that he figured out how to build it on his own by reading books from the library and finding pieces one at a time. The first half of the book was hard to read as it talked about the deprivation in Africa, but getting to the end was well worth it.

4. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman: This book is just interesting because you learn a lot about yourself and hopefully those who you love. We all enjoy different things, and it is foolish to think that your spouse or children will want to be loved just like you do. And over time, I think my love language has changed. Good to reevaluate. This studio C skit made me laugh since it talks about the 5 love languages.

3. Emerald Atlas by John Stephens: This book was the one that sparked Robyn's interest in reading and helped her read two rather large books on her own. (The third one is not out yet.) It is a fantasy story of three children and the hardships they face as they try to recover three magical books. It is a little scary in parts, but a fun story. (I haven't read the second one, The Fire Chronicle, but Robyn recommends it.)

2. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty: Loved this book simply because it made me realize how great my life is and how I should treasure what I have. Alice falls while exercising and forgets the last ten years of her life. While her last memories are of her honeymoon and expecting her first child, things have drastically changed in ten years and not in a positive direction. This books makes you contemplate that perhaps you don't have all the answers right now. ALERT: Lots of swearing. I was disappointed in the vocabulary used, but I edited my copy and if you would like to borrow a 'clean' version, feel free.

1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer: I'm sure someone has recommended this book to you at some point. Listen to them, and go read it. It was fantastic. Riddled throughout with realistic pictures of the occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII, it is still a lighthearted book that makes you laugh and cry all in one. Simply splendid.

Things to note:
* Insurgent didn't make the list because I read it too long ago and haven't read Allegiant yet (which I heard was not as good). Sadly, I have already forgotten much of the story. Stupid swiss cheese brain.

* You may have noticed several of the Lemony Snicket books. June told me to try them, and I could only get through four before I had to stop out of sheer annoyance.

* I would love for you to tell me your favorite book of 2013. Unlike last year when I filed the titles away and never read them, I will really try to search them out this year if you bother to comment.

Oops. Totally missed one. I read this right around Christmas. Fast little thriller. Haven't read many of her books before. It was fun.

Ringing It In

Hello 2014! I've been expecting you. I think I am ready for another year to begin. Projects are stirring in my mind. Resolutions/intentions are forming in my brain. I have purposely not set any yet. That way I don't feel obligated to start anything from day one. It seems easier to give up on something when you miss ONE silly day. Instead I will hold to that truer idea that you can change any time you want. Start today. Start now. Or ya know, next Monday.

I wasn't going to have a blogging goal, but I am aware of how easily distracted I am by other projects. When I finally ordered my blog books for last year, I noticed that I tend to blog more in the second half of the year. Why is that, I wonder? Do I need a goal for only the first half of the year? We'll see.

In true January fashion, I need to finish blogging about Christmas. (Some things never change.) Christmas was really nice this (last) year. It was super fun to have my family here celebrating with us. They slept in while our girls got up early to open stockings. I say early, but we didn't start until 7:47. The girls were super cute reading on the stairs waiting to come down.

I (in all my morning glory - don't worry I showered later) was busy making breakfast. (Raspberry Bread Pudding, Kneader's style.)

Tyler had stoked a fire in Midgard and things were looking cozy.

So we unleashed the troops. They know the drill.

Every year I forget how small Tyler's stocking is and end up wrapping stuff that didn't fit and putting it under the tree for him. After all, most people's stockings don't actually fit on their feet.

All the girls in post stocking hats. Aren't they delicious?

And I had to throw in this picture because I love it.

After stockings, we waited for the rest of the family to wake up, or arrive, and then we got down to present opening. We all drew names, which I think made for a good amount of presents, but not too much. Everyone got something they liked, I think. Here is a peek at each person. In no particular order, behold....Christmas morning.

Hey, even I got on there. Although this was the only picture of me. (Unless you count my unshowered self from earlier. Let's not go there again.)

Good times. More festivities to come in future 2014 episodes.