Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful, full month of December.  My mother in law came to visit in mid December, from east Canada.  It had been 3 years since her last visit and we were all so happy to see her again.  Some of teh fun things we did for Christmas: 

I had the most Christmas parties to go to.  The Moms at my home study program had a party. My homeschool support group had a moms cookie exchange. My husband's company had a party.  Our friends at the beach had their annual gift exchange, white elephant party.  We got duds this year.  There is supposed to be an even amount of nice $10 gifts and silly gifts.  We got a Ped Egg (for feet) and OUR silly gift we gave last year! It backfired!  It was some cheesy Christmas decals and place mats. Our gifts we gave were a cake stand and an ugly wall plaque of a deer hoof, bent up, like a hook.  Weird.  It was a hit, though, and even got stolen, so the woman who got was very relieved she had another chance. 

We had a Christmas party for the kids at our house. 
My high schoolers went shopping for poor kids, and helped put together gift bags with our home study program.
We went ice skating and Christmas caroling at a couple of nursing homes.
We made cookies with Grandma  and Grammy.
We went to the local zoo to see the Zoolights.  Millions of lights in the shapes of animals and all kinds of things.  It was fabulous!
We saw the little Christmas scene at a local tire company's shop window.  Very old fashioned and a family tradition.
We saw hundreds of Nutcrackers and Nativity scenes from around the world at a shop in town.
We read the Christmas Story about our Savior's birth. 
We picked out a big Christmas tree at a lot instead of the store.  We decorated it and my oldest son put up a lot of lights out front.
We went shopping and wrapped presents and watched  a LOT of Christmas shows and movies.
We had a wonderful time.

Happy New Year 2011!

I have decided to try and blog more often.  I started this blog at Blogger over 2 years ago, but never used it.  I am officially using this blog account.  I was at homeschoolblogger for several years and will stop in now and then to keep it active so I don't lose my posts. Would love to transfer it over here, but that will take too much time, I am sure.

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions, but I am this year. 

I am going to read through my Bible in a year, along with my 3 oldest kids.  I'm off to a great start, I read it this morning. :)

I never, ever diet, not since High School have I tried to lose weight!  But at age 48, the pounds are piling up!  So I am going to attempt this so-called easy diet:  The  No S Diet .  No snacks, no sweets, no seconds.  Except on weekends and special days.  I will start on Monday :) 

I must, must start exercising!  Even if it just walking the neighborhood with the kids and dog.  That is my first step.

I want to learn guitar, again.  I got a Takamine guitar in high school from my Uncle Mike.  I took a year class and didn't learn how to play!  My fault, I'm sure.  I tried, but wasn't consistent in practicing.  But I kept that guitar for my future husband. Maybe he will want to play it.  Well, guess what?  He did!  I didn't get married until 12 years after I graduated high school, but I kept that guitar, even storing while I lived in Hawaii and Thailand.  That new husband of mine picked up my old bent guitar and learned to play all by himself, with a few helpful tips from our wonderful friend, Joycie.  It served it's purpose well, and is no longer with us.  E bought a 12 string several years ago, but that is too hard for me. We also have some kid guitars, one that is pretty decent, so I will attempt to practice on that.  Man, I don't even have a picture of that old Takamine.

So here's to a new year and a new blog and new goals!