Resolution Wrap-up

Time to evaluate how I did on my resolutions this year.

1. Learn how to be a good mother & enjoy and embrace motherhood. I have thought about this a lot. Even though it may seem like I complain a lot about how much I miss my job or how boring I've become, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mother. This has been a year of learning for me as I've tried to adjust to being a stay-at-home mom. It definitely has not been easy, and I don't feel like I'm the best mom I could be, but I'm glad that I get to be the one who experiences Emily's life first-hand. I'm grateful I got to be the one to watch her learn to crawl and take her first steps and learn to eat with a spoon and say her first words. I'm grateful that I understand her words that she tries to communicate and I'm grateful to be the one to try and teach her new things. I know I've got a long way to go at this whole motherhood thing, but I'm grateful for the chance to try.

2. Get back in shape. I don't know that I'd say I'm back in shape, but I was able to train for and do a few challenging races this year, including my century bike ride. And I was able to run a 10K again.

3. Enhance my friendships. I sort of gave up on this one after I tried inviting people multiple times to things and they never would come. And then I haven't really tried again after we moved. Maybe when we move again.

4. Stay mentally/intellectually challenged. I have been able to keep up my freelance work a little by doing at least one project each month, so at least I did that.

5. Don't become lazy, frumpy, or a recluse. I think I've done ok at this one.

FAMILY GOALS

1. Attend the temple once a month. Not so great at this.
2. Earn enough money between the two of us so we won't have to dip into our savings. Check!
3. Be positive and focus on what we have instead of what we don't. Uhhh....we tried.

Christmas

Christmas this year was fabulous! We were so spoiled and had so much fun visiting with all of our family. We started off the festivities by dressing Emmy up in her cute Santa dress and taking a picture by the Christmas tree. She wasn't very happy about that plan.

Then we headed off to the Livelys and tried again.

Emmy loved their Christmas tree! We had a fun Chinese dinner and watched some Christmas movies.

Then it was time to open presents! Emmy was so funny opening her presents. One of the first presents she got was a little doggie. She loved it!

After opening a couple of presents on Mom's lap, she decided to help herself to the rest of the presents under the tree. She would go grab one and start opening it as fast as she could.

And then throw the paper up in the air. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever and I let her open some of mine too so she would keep doing it. It was hilarious!

After awhile we put Em to bed so we could open our own presents.

Then we played Settlers and ate fudge and cookies. The next morning Santa came to our house!

Em wasn't nearly as excited about opening her presents this time.

She just kept looking for her doggie and her baby. And then she carted them around all morning.

We finally got her to open some presents on Christmas morning. She loved this fun animal magnet book.

Matt got his favorite things...pizza and cookies!

We then went to Matt's parents' church to hear their choir program and then went over to the Shepherds for more presents and Christmas dinner. Buddy the Elf made an appearance.

He came to give Matt a Christmas gram. He got a Noodles gift card and some syrup. Rivers was pretty funny opening his presents....he would tear off a small strip of paper and then hold it up for everyone to see.

Em kept looking for more doggies, seriously as she was opening each present she kept asking, "doggie? doggie?". She thought all her presents were going to be doggies. But then she consented to read books.

We played games and ate snacks for the rest of the day. On Monday we headed down to my grandma's house for the big extended family party. It was a great Christmas. We had so much fun and then we took lots of naps on Tuesday.

I love to see the temple

Last weekend we went up to SLC to see the lights at Temple Square. We made sure Emmy was bundled up nice and good.

She did not know what to think of her mittens.

Em loved the lights! She kept saying, "more? more?"

She especially loved all the Christmas trees! I think she is going to be sad when we take down ours.

It was a fun evening at Temple Square.

Christmas choir

I have finally started going to ward choir practice again. I haven't been since before Em was born, and I sort of missed it. Not like I sing great or anything, but I enjoy the music and being able to get to know people better. Anyway, so we have obviously been practicing Christmas songs for the past several weeks, and 2 out of the 3 songs we are singing make me get teary every single time! I can't even hardly get through them.

The first one, When Joseph Went to Bethlehem, reminds me of how Matt was about a year and a half ago in the delivery room. He was so nervous to become a daddy, but his baby girl loves him so much. Anyway, here are the lyrics... it's the second verse that gets me.


When Joseph went to Bethlehem
I think he took great care
To place his tools and close his shop
And leave no shavings there.
He urged the donkey forward,
Then, with Mary on its back,
And carried bread and goat cheese
In a little linen sack.

I think there at the busy inn
That he was meek and mild
And awed to be the guardian
Of Mary's sacred Child.
Perhaps all through the chilly hours
He smoothed the swaddling bands,
And Jesus felt the quiet strength of
Joseph's gentle hands.

And close beside the manger bed
He dimmed the lantern's light,
And held the little Jesus close upon
That holy night.

If you want to listen to the music, click here:

The other one is about a little shepherd boy who feels inadequate because he doesn't have a fancy gift for the Christ child like the wisemen have brought. I can't remember all of the lyrics to post, but it is beautiful.

Anyway, I love Christmas music and the spirit it brings.

Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all a good night!

A girl and her Christmas tree

Emily loves our Christmas tree.

Every morning when she wakes up, she runs to it and says, "dat, dat" which means "lights". Then when we turn on the lights, she yells out "Nooey!". I'm not sure where she got that from, but it is hilarious. Maybe it means "pretty"???

I tried to get it on video, but it's much better in real life. I just love how her face lights up and she exclaims "nooey!" with such awe when the lights come on.



And she does this every time she sees a Christmas tree anywhere. I love it!

Christmas card

Our annual Christmas card. Merry Christmas!

Nativity

Years ago my Aunt Tracey gave me these nativity magnets. Now they are one of Emmy's favorite things to play with. She will stand at the fridge and rearrange them multiple times a day. And to my surprise, she could point out all the pieces when I would ask her where the camel was or the angel or whatever.

She was very annoyed that I interrupted her to take a picture. Ha!