Inspired for 2012

 I always get so inspired and motivated with a new year.  I just want to attack all my bad habits and just become the person I want to be RIGHT then!  I know this is very unrealistic and the becoming is in the process, not the destination.  With that said, that is why I am approaching things differently this year.....Baby Steps is my new motto.. not burn out!!!

I am not going to throw myself into a thousand different things and hit burn out in three months.  I am going to eat an elephant (as the saying goes) one bite at a time.  My focus areas: routines- morning and evenings, not only mine but the kids too, organizing and beautifying, spirituality, time for me, and time for family fun.  And of course budgeting! 

For lack of time, I am only showing my small successes with the organizing part.  I can't express how gratifying it is to make something more functional.  My "zone" this week is the kitchen.  So I sat down and thought what gives me the biggest headache about kitchen stuff and it was my pots and pans mess.  I hate bending and digging and shoving and cussing. So I got online and looked at what options were out there and found this!

 These were from Home Depot and cost $20 each. I love them so far!  I don't have to dig around anymore and I feel so organized and I think it looks organized too!

My cabinets present some challenges.  First, they are super small and second there is a gas line that goes down the middle.   This shelving was cheap compared to what is offered online but I would rather start out cheap and see if this set up will work and then once they wear out get good ones instead of drop the cash and realize I don't like the system.

 By doing this small thing I freed up TWO drawers!  Instant gratification. 

 I felt so good I kept going and did this little drawer.  I got the idea off a site and really thought it was clever.  I have never grouped such items together before but to me makes perfect sense.

This horror is next in line.  I hope I can make some sense of these.  If nothing else knowing I posted these pictures online and need to show that I did remedy this dilemma will be just the motivation I need to finally tackle this pantry job!

Here are the books that I am consuming slowly.  I have already read "Sink Reflections" and can not say enough about this lady.  I am very inspired by her and she is the one that taught me about home zones!  I'm reading a few of the others now and am loving them! 

Thank goodness for smart, inspired, creative, wonderful and caring people who write and share so I can benefit and improve! 

2012 is going to be great!

Carson

 My handsome second born is now six years old!  Carson is really starting to phase into another stage.  He is acting way more independent and wants to do things himself and will get very vocal if you try and do other wise with him. 

His special birthday dinner that he requested was spaghetti's, green beans and applesauce with apple juice to drink.  I did not particularly care for this dinner but he seemed to enjoy it. 

 I really do think that this is the first birthday cake I have ever attempted to make and unfortunately it looks like it too.  He was so sweet because I was telling him I would do better next time and he said it was great and he loved it.....that's all that matters then, right? 

I can't help feeling a little guilty that he gets robbed a bit for his birthday celebration.  I am kinda burned out on the whole "celebrating" when his birthday roles around.  I think we will have to have a special party for him when the weather gets nicer. 

A few tidbits on Carson
Carson is into playing the x-box a little more now.  He is kind of a tough kid to shop for because he doesn't play too much with toys and the ones that he does say he wants don't keep his attention for long.  He loves to boss Morgan around and have her play his games the way he makes the rules.  Its funny how he has had to put up with Cole bossing him around for so long now that he can finally exercise that dominion over someone else now, (Morgan) he is taking full opportunity of it. 

He is super easy to have get ready for school.  His schedule is every day from 12 to 3:30 but on every other Wednesdays he goes from 8-1:30 and on the other Wednesdays he doesn't go at all.  Confusing...yes I know. He looks forward to going all day...I hope that sticks. 

His favorite color is blue, his favorite toy right now is his MP3 player, and his favorite cartoon is Cars 2.  What makes him the most mad is when Cole messes with him but he loves to play with Cole even though it always ends in fights.  The love/hate relationship of brothers.

Carson is a lot like his daddy.  He will only take so much picking on before he really looses it.  When the boys get to wrestling and Cole finally pushes him hard enough Carson will whip out his "fists of fury" we call them.  It is just as it sounds, he will come at you with all that he has and his little fists are going crazy....they may be little but don't get in the way!

This little boy can have some really good melt downs, which typically occur when asked to clean a really dirty room.  He is the type that will tell you he will do it and then not, but when asked he will say he has.  When caught he will smile and come up with some bizarre off the wall thing what happened. 

One of the many great things about Carson is how considerate he is.  He notices the small and compliments.  He is easy to read when he is pleased and his smile will light the whole room.  I love him more than I could ever say.  He brings so much light, love and great insight into my life.  I love my little carsonator! 

Family New Year's Eve Party

 I thought it would be fun to do snack foods for bringing in the New Year.  Lay them all out and we could just pick throughout the night.  I really should do this more often because I didn't hear one dinner complaint or "I'm still hungry", it was great!  A little meat, crackers, cheese, veggies, and fruit.  Topped off with a little homemade sheet cake. 

I try to do stuff we normally don't do to set special nights apart, so I suggested to eat in the living room on a blanket.  Not the best idea, but we persevered and attempted to talk to the kids about goals and why we make them. 

I think after Carson kept doing summer salts on the blanket and Morgan was flipping her hair into every one's dinner plate I kind of started loosing my patience.  Then add a heavy dose of Cole's stunts into the mix and I ended up with a full scale, mini, melt down. 

Carson had just got into trouble by dad, and I was threatening everyone within an inch of their life to leave their party hats on and just look at the camera.   (I had another picture that would really convey what was actually going on but I want to look back and remember the "happy" times.)


We all had a brief time out and came back together to eat some cake.  Cole had gone to his room to whip up this quick apology note, which won me over very quickly!

Carson soon recovered from his crying fit and was happy again.

And Morgan totally enjoyed the cake and then decided to jump onto the "I'm sorry bandwagon" too. 

It was a good night.  We made it through and it was still fun.  The kids made it to 11:30, but I was out by 11.