Resolutions and Books

As I do every year, here's my recap of the goals I set for 2015:

1. Read at least 30 books. (And finish that dang Andrew Jackson!)
2. Run another half marathon. (Probably the Richmond Half in November.)
3. Complete and print blog books for 2011 and 2012.
4. Use the fabric that I have before buying any more (unless it's for a very specific project like curtains).
5. Write in my journal at least once a month.
6. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover during the month of March. (I'll continue to read it all year, but I've never done the "March Madness" challenge and I think it would be good for me to do.

I failed at two and a half. I succeeded at three and a half! Hooray! I read over 30 books (nursing a newborn gives you lots of time to read), but I didn't finish Andrew Jackson, I printed blog books from not only 2011 and 2012, but also 2013! I didn't buy fabric unless I had a specific project in mind (with maybe one exception...), and I read the Book of Mormon during the month of March.

That means I didn't run a half marathon and I didn't write in my journal once a month. How pathetic is that!? I always forget. 

My goals for this year are: 
1. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week (to make sure we get our money's worth).
2. Finish blog books for 2014 and 2015 (Then I'll be all caught up!)
3. Read 30 books
4. Go through every cabinet/cupboard/box in the house and get rid of things we don't need or no longer use.

Only time will tell how this year turns out.

And for those who are curious, here's the list of books I read this past year in chronological order.

1. Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
2. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
3. Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly
4. A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
5. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
6. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
7. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
8. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (this was a reread)
10. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
11. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax
12. Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra
13. Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison
14. Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
15. For One More Day by Mitch Albom
16. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
17. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
18. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
19. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
20. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
21. Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
22. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
23. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
24. 13 Hours: The inside account of what really happened in Benghazi by Mitchell Zuckoff
25. Frozen in Time: An epic story of survival and a modern quest for lost heroes of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff
26. The Martian by Andy Weir
27. Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
28. The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott
29. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (reread)
30. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
31. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
32. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
33. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
34. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
35. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
36. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
37. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
38. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
39. Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
40. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
41. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Like I said, nursing gave me a lot of reading time. I'm not expecting to be able to read as much this year. I think of these, eighteen are non-fiction/humor/memoirs etc. Twenty-three are not. My favorites were The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, (This can be read in a day. It's a great kids' book.) The Wright Brothers, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Frozen in Time, Destiny of the Republic, and All Creatures Great and Small. 

I've only finished one book so far this year. I'd better get crackin'!

Eli is ONE!

Eli's birthday was on Friday, January 8. It was a gray and drizzly day. I had high hopes of some cute pictures, but the lighting was so bad all day!

He woke up  and had his milk and cereal. (Not together.)

 I tried to get a cute picture of his in a birthday hat. No luck.

 The rest of the day was pretty standard. Took the big kids to school, ran an errand or two, two naps, picked the big kids up.

For dinner we had rolls, cheddar broccoli soup, and blueberries. All of which Eli loves! Cupcakes for dessert.

 The only one with him looking is blurry! Darn!

 He opened his presents - socks, pajamas, sippy cups, and a stuffed monkey.

 Then on to dessert.

 He didn't go hog-wild about it or anything, but I think he liked it fine. He prefers to be fed, so Dan helped him out a little bit.

 And after smashing some cupcake in Eli's face, it was time for a quick bath.

We sure love this little guy! His dr's appt is in two days, so I don't have his stats, but he has two teeth all the way in on the bottom and his top two are about half way in. It's funny how both sets have come at the same time. He pulls up on everything and will walk around things holding on. He can stand for a few seconds before falling. He likes to dance. He started clapping on his birthday. He loves Sam and Afton. He has a favorite blanket. He finally sleeps through the night (that didn't happen until around 9 months). He still loves toilet paper and destroying our house. He is really sweet.

Christmas 2015

Christmas break began with a trip to Grandma and Grandpa Cheney's for a quick sleepover. We spent the night Sunday and stayed Monday. Dan worked from Charlottesville and Dad had to work, too, but we were able to meet them both for lunch at Bodo's.

We also decorated sugar cookies with 13-year-old sprinkles. They still tasted good.

Tuesday I spent the day getting ready for the Dursts, who arrived later that night. We visited a little bit and then hit the sack.

Wednesday the Dursts wanted to do some Christmas shopping so Dan took them out for the morning. We hung out at home most of the day (the weather was pretty crummy the whole time they were here - raining a ton) and ate an early dinner so that we could go to Miracle of Christmas.  Miracle of Christmas is a live nativity that is put on by the owners of the Richmond Metro Zoo. They do it for three nights each year and it was the last night, so I really wanted to go. It was lightning and thundering and pouring down rain when we got there. We waited outside under a pavillion for a while, then we were ushered into a big room where everyone squeezed in. Normally there's a musical performance and then the live nativity - both outside. Because of the weather they did the musical performance inside and then we waited until the weather cleared to watch the nativity. It was beautiful! The experience took a lot longer than it should have because of the rain, but I'm glad we went.

 Sam's on the verge of making his cross-eyed face...

Thursday, Christmas Eve, we decided to go to Christmas Town. It's when Busch Gardens transforms into a light-covered holiday wonderland. It was raining again.

 but we had already bought out tickets so it was Christmas Town or bust! (Really we would have just turned around if it was raining like that when we got there, but fortunately it wasn't.)

We stopped for some BBQ on the way at Pierce's Pitt.

 When we got there, it wasn't dark yet so we did a few of the rides they had open (most were closed)

 and met up with G&G Cheney to go watch a Christmas show. It was way too over-the-top. When we got out, it was getting dark so we took a nice train ride around to see the lights. That was the best part.

I don't think I'd go back, but at least now I know!

We got home, ate some quick dinner, watched a nativity video and put the kids to bed to prepare for Christmas morning.

 Christmas morning the kids came down and saw their stockings.

Then we had some delicious chunky bread prepared by G&G Cheney. After breakfast we all opened our presents.

The kids wasted no time in breaking in their new toys. Afton recruited G&G Cheney to help her with her new chemistry set.

 While Sam got to work on his new hot wheels garage.

 I wanted to get cute "first Christmas" pictures of Eli, but he was feeling sickly and didn't really cooperate...

The weather was really nice - like 70 degrees or something. So Dan cooked the ham on the grill while I used the ovens for other things.

 (Dan built that pergola, by the way. Have I ever put a picture of it on here before?)

After our feast.

 And for some reason, our own American Gothic Christmas dinner picture. I think it was Dad's idea.

 I can't believe I was the only one who was cracking!

 G&G Cheney played a fun drawing game with Afton and me while everyone else went on a walk. Then they headed back home.

Later that night I remembered two presents that I had totally forgotten to give to Afton. Oops! So I gave her those. I had one for Sam, too. Not sure where my mind is.

The Dursts bought us Settlers of Cataan so they played that with Dan and Sam.

While I tried again to take pictures of Eli in his new jammies from G&G Cheney.

Saturday our little family went to Walmart early to buy Christmas stuff on sale (Dan wants a Griswold-like Christmas house in the future and he's building up a little each year). Then G&G Durst and everyone except me and Eli went to clean the church since it was our turn. Afton and Sam worked on her new lego set.

After naps, we decided to go to the art museum for a little while.

That night we played Ticket to Ride.

Sunday Dan had early meetings. The kids and took a walk around the neighborhood because it was amazing!!!!!! In the 70s. So glorious.

Grandpa Durst and Eli bonded.

 We went to church, had dinner, and played more games.

The Dursts were supposed to go home Monday, but their flight got cancelled, so they stayed an extra night. Monday we went to Chick-fil-a and tried to go bowling but the wait was 2 hours. So instead we looked at some pretty great Christmas lights.

It was a fun visit and a nice Christmas. The rest of the time, the kids and I pretty much just hung out. We went to G&G Cheney's one more time for the day, took down the Christmas stuff, and got ready to ring in the new year!