New Year. 2013.

2013. This year has started out interesting. Emma got the flu on the day we were supposed to go back to school. I had inservice on Wednesday, and on Thursday morning at 2:30, she got up with a high temperature and vomiting. She spent Thursday with David and then when I got off work, we went off to the doctors. Flu. So she was feeling better by Saturday and today she was good. Me, not so much. Dave, nada. By Friday night, we both started the flu medicine. We slept most of the afternoon today, following church and lunch. So far, no one else has got it. Tripp will probably be next. He catches the flu easily. So we are back off to school tomorrow. Here's hoping for a healthy week.

A New Year.

2012.

Time is flying by. This is my fourth year blogging. I love looking back, seeing how the kids have grown, how I have progressed.

There are lots I hope to accomplish in the future. Some of those things include:

• Work on myself - I want to exercise more. I am pretty comfortable in my skin. But I need the emotional benefits of exercise. And the time by myself is pretty nice, too. I also want to (and need to) figure out some things that I am still working on from 2011. I hate to bring it in to the new year, but alot of it is still on my head. And since I am working on myself, it will be part of my personal work.



• Making time for myself. I always thought that if I took time here and there for ME, then I was not a good mother. And I have figured out that an hour here and there makes me even better.



• Read more to my kids. I am so tired in the evenings, all the time, really, that I don't read alot out loud. Face it, when you talk to kids all day, the last thing you want to do at home is read to your children.



• Be a better wife. I hope that I become more organized and better at this working full time/cleaning the house/cooking dinner thing. I am just not that good at planning meals and balancing everything. Dinner is important to Dave. I am not that impressed with it. Also, he likes to watch that goofy moonshine making show and ice road truckers. Maybe I can stay awake to watch it with him.

These things, by no means, are Resolutions. These are things just for me that I hope to improve on. Here we go.

First Day of the New Year!

We got back from a cute little getaway with my mother in law... it was good to see Dave and Eli!
Dave arrived home a few hours before I did - and he cleaned the house! Even the toilets! What a wonderful way to start a new year!

At midnight last night, we were standing on the streets of downtown Gatlinburg, listening to music and watching people dance and toot horns, while wearing crazy hats. I am glad that Dave enjoyed going to his football game in Atlanta, but boy, did I miss kissing him at midnight.

Now, less than 24 hours later, my little kids are in bed, and we are thinking about Bible Bowl 2010 that starts tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m.

There are lots of exciting things that I am anticipating this year... while I know that I am not in control, I am anticipating great growth for my family.

Here are some things that are happening:

• I start school *my ninth semester* in less than two weeks.
• Dave's store is really doing well.
• Eli will begin high school later this year.
• Emma will start 1st grade.
• Tripp will begin kindergarten.
• We are all insured as of today :)
• My house is coming together. slowly.

I am really not making resolutions, yet I am going to try my hardest to do better on all levels of my life. Here is to a new start!