New Year, New Experiences!

Wow! One whole decade down. I remember when 2011 would've sounded so futuristic. I looked back over my New Year blog entry from last year. I am sad to say that I didn't do so great in the resolution part. I heard on the radio that females break New Year resolutions after 4 days. Only 4 days! I am going to give it my all to last at least 5! Men seem to only last 24 hours. Hmmm, interesting.

Some of my focus this year will include, exercising more often, eating healthier, being more createful and being less worrisome. This year I have decided to make some jewelry. I have always wanted to do this. The older I become the more often I am saying, "why not!" In the past some of my great ideas never seem to materialize because I have talked myself out of it by saying things like, "I don't have the time, the money or the exact know how." Or maybe because I grasshopper around trying to find the perfect thing for me. This year I am going to try the approach that I will not stop myself before I have even started.

I have been doing a ton of research on certain jewelry making techniques, tools and supplies needed and even how to set up a website. Of course it is still in the planning phase. Hopefully, I will start something before too long! I do recognize that since I seem to enjoy so many different things and want to try everything, that in itself might be what keeps me from acccomplishing any one thing! Oh well. I will keep on experiencing I suppose. The perfect thing for me is bound to show up at some time!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

This was our 3rd Annual Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Party. I can't believe when we first started doing this Denton was 4, Makenzie, Landon and Abi were 2. Can you imagine decorating cookies with 3 two year olds?! This year we added the one year olds, Grant and Caden. They did really great! It was fun to see how much better the other kid's cookie decorating skill has become. We even managed to sing 2 Christmas songs before the sprinkles started to fly. I love having these little people over and spending time with them. This year we decided to shorten the activity time and reduce the amount of cookies to decorate. That was the ticket!! I think they all had a great time...they mostly just like being with each other. I am so grateful they all enjoy each other's company! These type of activities make my Christmas!!! Happy Holidays!

Happy Harvest!

Fall is my very favorite time of year. I love the colors, the smells, the crisp coolness, not so much the increased rain, though. This year the months flew by because we were so busy around this place. I felt like all the plans for the fall I had in mind never materialized. I feel somewhat cheated. Here it is the first part of December and I am trying to recapture Autumn. Let me mention what was on my wish list of things to experience during the fall that when unexperienced.

• A canoe ride around the lake
• A drive over to Leavenworth to see the many colors of leaves
• Rototilling the leaves in after they have fallen
• A fire out at the firepit and roasting something
• Cooking recipes with squash in them
• Making applebutter

Not all of Autumn was wasted on the mundane. I made banana bread with chocolate chips. We went to the Puyallup Fair. we decorated with pumpkins on the porch. I bought a new Autumn sented candle. I may have not been able to do everything that I would've liked, but I still hold this time of the year as my favorite. How ironic...I love the slower pace Autumn has to offer, I was just too busy to notice.