365/365

You have no idea how happy I was when typing the title to this blog post.  Although I am dreading coming up with post titles for next year.  : )  But, most importantly.....I made it.....I posted a picture of Ana Kate every single day of the year for 2010!!  Yay!  I am so happy to bring this project to a conclusion.  I know I won't be doing it again next year, but will still post often as I've gotten in the habit.  I'm just glad I won't feel like I 'have to' post every day.  I'm not really sure that it improved my photography, but it does make me feel better about setting a goal and accomplishing it and keeping something going all year. 

I don't typically make many New Year resolutions, but I do have a few things I would like to work on in the new year.

1. Exercise more (hoping to maintain at LEAST 3 times per week....but love to get in the habit of 5 days per week)
2. Eating healthier (mainly cutting out meats, cheeses, and processed/packaged foods).
3. Reading my Bible in a year.....I set that goal last year and made it to April, then stopped.  I am going to try again and hopefully make it this time!  I am also hoping to sign up for a Bible study every spring and fall.
4. Take the time to appreciate all my blessings and try not to worry about all the things I can't control.

There are lots of other things I want to work on, but those are the things that come to mind.

I also wanted to mention that a very close friend of mine (who is only 37) had a sudden cardiac arrest a few days before Christmas.  She has 2 girls under the age of 3 and was in a post office (with her girls)when it happened.  Thankfully a bystander performed CPR, the paramedics arrived within 3 minutes and were able to shock her back to life.  They are not sure what caused it and cannot find a 'reason', but installed a pacemaker just 'in case' it were to happen again.  I spoke with her yesterday and she is doing fine....she's recovering well and will be back to 100% soon.  I am SO thankful that she is ok!  What a Christmas blessing!  I am hoping to be able to visit Robin this year as I have yet to meet either of her girls.

We have had an amazing 2010 and are hoping to have an even better 2011.  I am praying for health, happiness, and to focus on the things that really matter.  Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

364/365

Today Michelle and I got up and did a tiny bit of shopping and then had lunch before she left.  We had such a good time and Ana Kate LOVES her!  I wish we'd had more time together because we always have so much to catch up on.  I'm so happy she had a chance to come see me...even if it was only for a day.

After Michelle left I took a few pictures of Ana Kate and then browsed through Amazon to find more e-books to download.  I love my kindle!!  I really need to order a cover for it so I can throw it in my purse and take it everywhere with me.  : )

I am so excited that my 365 project is coming to an end this week.  I am so happy that I kept up with it, but I know I will not be doing it again.  I will probably still post on New Years and quite frequently....once a week at the very least.  It will be so strange not posting every day.  Then again I might post more often than I am planning.  Who knows.....but I'm definitely NOT doing another 365 project this year.  Maybe every other year.  : )  The best thing about doing it is that I have a picture of Ana Kate from everyday in 2010 (not to mention a pretty good log of our daily activities), which is pretty cool!  I'm going to put together a little book and I think that will be a neat little keepsake for her.

I plan on doing nothing tomorrow but playing with Ana Kate, reading, and relaxing.....pretty boring New Year's Eve, but that's how I like it.  : )

363/365

Today my friend Michelle came into town and we hung out and visited and had a great time.  We met up with Tiffany for dinner and had a great time catching up!  We ate at Bonefish Grill and the bang bang shrimp were yummy!  We ended up closing the place down. 

Ana Kate was happy to see me when I got back home, she wasn't going to sleep very well for Doug.  She is still up, so I need to get off of here and get her into bed!

362/365

Not too much going on here this week, so not a lot to say.  More cleaning today...thank goodness my headache was gone this morning!  I did some laundry, we watched some tv and Ana Kate took a great nap.  We made a quick trip to target and she was such a good girl while we were there.  Doug worked late tonight and Ana Kate was so excited to see him when he got home. 

One of my best friends from high school is coming to visit tomorrow night so I'm super excited to see her.  We have so much to catch up on, so it should be lots of fun! 

I am totally lazy with pictures this week....you can tell I'm ready to wind down this 365 project.  I will try my best to do better for the last 3....I want to finish strong!

361/365

I have had a migraine all day, so just a couple of pictures tonight.

360/365

Not much going on around here today....besides cleaning.  I really didn't get as much done as I wanted, so I'm so thankful that Doug helped me.  I'm super tired, not much to say tonight.  Hoping for more energy tomorrow, we're all feeling a little yucky here.

359/365 | Merry Christmas!!

She took this picture herself using my new wireless remote for my camera.

We had a wonderful day today.  Ana Kate was super excited about presents, we were surrounded by loved ones, but most importantly we celebrated the birth of our savior, Jesus, and the real reason for Christmas celebration.

Mimi, Whitney, and Josh all got here before Ana Kate woke up this morning.  I heard her little feet coming down the stairs, so we were all watching for her.  When she walked into the family room dragging her pillow she stopped, looked around at everyone, and said, 'What in the world?!' She was about to ask what they were all doing here when she either, a) remembered it was Christmas or b) saw her princess castle set up by the tree in the game room.  She ran in there and was SO excited!

 

Next we opened up all the presents.  She got tons of toy story toys and moon dough, and hungry hippos, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Whitney brought everyone lots of presents and was so thoughtful....she is such a sweet girl.  Doug and I knew most of what we were getting.  I asked for a few things for my computer and camera, but he also surprised me with a kindle!  We even got a little snow today...just flurries, but Ana Kate really wanted snow on Christmas, so she was excited.

We all had fun playing with our gifts until lunch time.  I made a ham with a few side dishes and Whitney made deviled eggs.  It was yummy!  After Whitney had a nap and Doug and Josh played the wii, they headed home.

We were pretty lazy the rest of today.  My house cleaning starts tomorrow!!  We have moon dough everywhere and I'm not sure I'll ever find all the 'food' that goes with the hungry hippos game.  ;)

358/365 - Happy Christmas Eve!

Today was very laid back for me.  I just hung out with Ana Kate, wrapped the last couple of presents, and made some treats.  Doug was hard at work cleaning the bathroom, replacing a broken tile, and putting in a new toilet.  He worked for hours upstairs and it looks really nice!  I decided to do my cleaning on Sunday because I know I'll have a mess after tomorrow.  : )

We let Ana Kate stay up a bit later than normal and she didn't have a nap today, so hopefully she won't be up super early tomorrow.  I got a few pictures of her in the Santa hat like I do every year on Christmas Eve.  I'm off to help Doug put her doll house together so it will be waiting under the tree tomorrow morning.

357/365

We stayed home this morning and then decided to finish up our shopping when Doug got home from work.  He worked a half day today, so we decided to go eat lunch when he got home.  Our waitress really liked Ana Kate and was telling her how cute she was.  Our waitress also happened to be asian and Ana Kate asked her if she spoke Vietnamese....it was cute!  She met a couple of Vietnamese women a week or two ago and they were trying to speak to her in Vietnamese....so I guess she remembered that.  She is SO talkative.....she talks to everyone all the time (if it's her idea of course).  I don't know of any other 3 year old that orders for themselves at a restaurant, but Ana Kate does.  She really doesn't like it when I try to order for her.

After lunch Doug had to do a few things for work, so I dropped him off at home with Ana Kate and did some of my shopping.  I picked them up and we went to walmart....it was packed!  But, we got our shopping done and back home before it was too late.  Ana Kate posed in front of the Christmas tree tonight and was making some of her funny faces.

356/365

Today Ana Kate was again running down to the Christmas tree as soon as she woke up.  She is so excited and its adorable!  I keep telling her how many days until Christmas, but anything beyond tomorrow is tough for a 3 year old.  : )

We got ready and went to see Doug at work.  She wasn't as talkative as she usually is, but she does like going.  I typically only take her on Halloween, so today she kept asking everyone for candy.  After our visit with Daddy we went to lunch with Whitney.  Ana Kate was very good and so after lunch we did some shopping.  I really had more stores to go to, but it was closely approaching nap time, so we headed home for a break.  Ana Kate took such a good nap that I decided to finish up my shopping tomorrow rather than go back out tonight....it's so cold!  Hoping to get everything done tomorrow and then start frantically cleaning house.  : )

355/365

I woke up this morning to little feet running down the stairs and to the Christmas tree.  You see last night before bed I had explained to Ana Kate what we would do on Christmas morning and she thought that was today.  : )  I told her to come back up to my room and she was a little disappointed to hear there would be no presents opened today.  This is the child that never leaves her bed without first calling for me at least 10 times and usually requiring me or Doug to go get her out of bed.  She is SO excited for Christmas.  She has memorized who all the presents belong to and can't wait for everyone to open them.

I have a few more things to get done before Christmas, but we just relaxed at home and it was nice.  We have a busy day tomorrow, so I'm off to bed.

354/365



Always talking.....

 

We have been home all day today so far.  I had planned to go shopping, but Ana Kate just wanted to watch movies.  Whitney stopped by around 3 and I thought we'd leave after that but Ana Kate came and got in my lap and was soon asleep.  So, she's taking a late nap and I'm hoping to get out and finish up my shopping tonight.  Hopefully she'll be in a good mood when she wakes up.  I took a few pictures of her just before Whitney came over.  She had 2 braids today and loved showing them off.