Easing in..

We're slowly easing into the new year over here.

After traveling for a week and a half it feels good to be in our own beds and routine.

Littlest boy has been sleeping in until eight since we've been home.
While he's still snoozing the big two have been curling up in my bed to watch movies.

Lazy mornings at their finest.

It's been fun unwrapping Christmas presents brought home from our travels.
Kind of like Christmas all over again!
My sister made me these etched mugs.

I love them!

They need to be filled with hot cocoa and whipped cream pronto!

This piece wasn't a Christmas present.
It's actually on loan from my mother.
It was sitting in their garage.
And now it's hanging on my wall until she see's this picture and remembers how cute it is.
Close yours eyes mom :)

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been doing alot of thinking and praying over the new year.
This past year was wonderful but overwhelming at times.

A new baby plus a new job/move thrown in a month later was alot.

I feel like I did alot of surviving this past year.

Getting by with the minimum.

Which in my book is just fine considering the circumstances :)

This year I want to thrive instead of just survive with three little ones.

I desperately want to be more meaningful in the time that is spent with them.

Which brings me to some of my goals for this upcoming year!

One of my goals is to work with the big kids on "school" three days a week.

An hour or so in the mornings when Cade is napping.

In addition to working on the basics (numbers, alphabet, colors, etc)

I want to work on scripture memory with them.

This Christmas they memorized the first nine verses of Luke 2.
I was so surprised at how quickly and easily it was for them!
I'm so excited to pick out new passages for them to hide in their hearts!

On to the next goal.
Health.

*sigh*

For the past four years I have been pregnant or nursing the majority of the time.
When I'm pregnant or nursing I ate whatever and whenever I wanted.

Which was probably why I gained 40+ pounds with each pregnancy;)

Needless to say it's time to change my mindset of eating.
Because I am no longer pregnant or nursing.
Just a normal human not growing or feeding anyone.

Funny to think about.

:)
I also want our family to begin eating "heart healthy" as well.
Heart disease runs in my husband's side of the family.
I want to start being preventative in our diet so that my guy will continue to have a healthy heart:)

One of the bad habits I'm working on kicking this week is my love for Dr. Pepper.
Just typing it makes my mouth salivate.
Not really.
Well..kind of.

Anyways.
I'm on day 3 of no Dr. Pepper.
Only water.
LOTS and LOTS of water.
I feel like I might start floating away if I drink any more!
I purchased this "fancy" water from the gas station on our way home from Missouri.
I thought it makes drinking water not look so boring ;)

Anyways, this bottle is a liter.
Yesterday I drank 5 liters of water.
That is alot of water for someone who barely drank 2 cups of water a day before.
Like I said...floating away.

I'll share one more goal with you (I have a few more..but they can wait).
House cleaning.
another *sigh*

I'm currently working on a cleaning schedule.
One where I tackle one deep cleaning project a week.
On the list this week... the ceiling fans.
Do you have a cleaning schedule that you stick to?
This past year I flitted my way around the house cleaning here and there.
It worked ok.
Just not the best.
I am wanting my house to sparkle this year.

:)

So anyways, do share if you have a great cleaning regime that works for you!

________________________________________________________

On to a few bits of business.

If you won a giveaway on the blog this past year and have still not received your prize,

would you e-mail me?
I want to make sure everyone received what was won!

And if you have asked a question in the past while that was never answered,

would you mind asking it again?
And leaving your e-mail with your question?

I'll get back to you pronto! :)

Along the left side of the blog are a few new sponsors.
I love each one of these girls blogs.
I highly encourage you to click on their buttons!

Last but not least.
I'm sure you've noticed the craziness of the blog's design.
I had an itch to change it up.
I tore everything down and put up a temporary fix.
Temporary because I OBVIOUSLY am not a graphic designer.

;)

I am working with Jessi from Naptime Diaries in cleaning and sprucing the blog back up.

If anything head over to her blog.
She will bless your socks off!
So anyways, hang with me.
We're working on cleaning up and organizing my little corner of the internet.

__________________________________________________________

If you have a little guy in your life that is in need of a tie onesie

Sewn With Love is having a great deal on them tomorrow only!
Head on over to veryjane.com to get yours!

________________________________________________________

Whew!
I think that's it?!

Time to crawl into bed.
Hope your Tuesday was great:)