Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!

I've made a few New Year's resolutions that I'm not afraid to share:

1. Pray more, stress less.
2. Exercise more, eat less.
3. Blog more, facebook less.

I've missed blogging, but haven't had the time to keep up with it...or so I thought. I guess I hit an all time low when I found myself stalking my 4th grade boyfriend's facebook page, just to see how much weight he gained and what his kids were dressed as for Halloween......Don't judge me.
Facebook is weird. I have "friends" on facebook that aren't really my friends. I get creeped out when someone asks me to be their friend and I have no clue who they are. And it makes me feel funny inside when I find myself in Joe Shmoe's family vacation album, clicking through each picture with a silly grin on my face as if I were there, and suddenly realize, "Who in the world is this person?" --Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the air. Maybe it's the fallen socialization status of planet earth, but I've vowed to facebook less this year, and for Pete's sake! I won't delve into someone's photos who I don't know. -Whew! I'm glad I got that off my chest.


With my lack of blogging this last year, I'd like to make it up to you... and my family digital scrapbook here. Here are some memorable moments that occurred in 2010.

February 11, 2010 Matthew turned 12 and Annie turned 5.




We celebrated with an "atmosphere" theme. Annie picked rainbows. Matt picked planes.




Matt is in 7th grade. He loves to draw.




His real passion is planes. He is working on getting his solo license. Currently, he has 4 hours applied toward his pilot's license. I know, I know..it's crazy that he has time logged toward his pilot's license, but is still 3 1/2 years away from driving a car. Does this make anyone else a little woozy?

Annie officially started school this year. Of course since she's been in a highchair, she thinks she's been homeschooling, but this is the real deal, Annie-bo-bannie. No turning back now. Welcome to Kindergarten, baby!



May 14th was a memorable birthday for Mary and Emma, as well.


Mary turned 11 and Emma turned 7.....thus the 7/11 picture.


We did this on their birthday....




Permanently etched in their ears is their 7th and 11th birthday. I'm not sure that anything could top this birthday.

I'll have to think of something REALLY good this year. Maybe tattoos? -kidding.....I think.


We've had two new additions to the family: Moses and Rocky. Funny that in the Bible, Moses was told to strike the rock.


That probably won't be happening here though.





Meet Moses:



He was no taller than the buttercups when we got him.


Meet "Rock:"



They are loved.










Oh! I almost forgot about our third addition to the family!

Meet Henry:




Henry is a hermit crab.




He is not loved.



Ok....ok..... maybe he is by Mikey.

I mean, who else would build a hermit crab this fantastic ferris wheel?

In October, my sunshine boy turned 9.




2010 brought him new teeth.


Mikey played soccer this past fall, and did fantastic! I think it was because he had the loudest cheering section.


Homeschool, homeschool, homeschool....that is my life right now.



Homeschoolers are an interesting breed, aren't they? I'll admit I still feel a little funny when I say, "We homeschool" because for some reason, I just want to blurt out immediately after, "but we're normal." I think it was the homeschoolers that I encountered when I was growing up that cause me to make that clarification. I guess that makes me a "people pleaser." And I don't want to be that. You do think I'm normal, though.......don't you????

Hello?





Anyone out there???



Mom?



**tap, tap, tap** this thing on??



Whether we're "normal"or not, we are indeed on this journey together.



Something funny that happened this year was when I told Emma to put "Ezra and the scroll" on the timeline. She grabbed the markers and went to town drawing away. A little while later, I walked by. I stopped. I stared at the timeline. I tilted my head to the left then to the right. "Umm...Emma?" I asked, completely puzzled. "What's that next to Ezra?"



She looked up at me with her big blue eyes. "It's a squirrel. You told me to make Ezra and a squirrel."


Have Mercy! we will get this child to college.




We had a wonderful Christmas filled with true joy, contentment and happiness that can only come from our Lord!








We started a new tradition this year. We hung a stocking for Jesus. The kids wrote down what they wanted to give to Jesus, and put the folded paper inside the stocking. Some of things that were written were:
"Dear Jesus, I want my words to make you happy."
"Dear Jesus, I want to bring a new follower to you."
"Dear Jesus, I won't scratch anyone." (oddly enough, that wasn't from Moses.) I won't tell you who wrote that, because that would be breaking family confidentiality......






Nope, I won't tell you....






It would be so wrong of me.







So, don't ask me again. You're not getting it out of me.



I'm happy that I blogged today. I just accomplished number 3 of my New Year's Resolution. Unfortunately, I typed this entire thing, while eating a raspberry pop over. I did pray this morning, though. -Two out of three ain't bad.

Happy New Year, everyone! I will return.




And I promise I won't wait so long.