{Resolved}

Those of you who follow my blog (or read it when I post sporadically), know that I'm not super big on New Year's resolutions, but that I do view the start of the new year as a fresh start to kick myself in the behind to do things that I know I should do anyway.  January is also my birthday month, and as I get older, it's a good reminder to myself that I should make the most of the time that I have... That number of how old I am just keeps getting bigger.  So, while I don't always make New Year's resolutions, I do often give myself a jumpstart, and sometimes even set a few goals.  I have some goals for the coming year, and here they are:

I'd really like to run at least a 5K race every month.
I'm planning to run Bloomsday again.
I'm thinking about the Missoula Half, but we will see.  It will depend on if the date conflicts with anything.
I want to try to make one recipe off my Pinterest recipe board each week.
I want to read more and TV less.
I want to write more and read less (gasp).
I want to be a more welcoming friend.
I want to use technology more in my teaching and help others learn how to do it too.
I want to OULA more.  (I have a new addiction, and it's name is OULA!!!)
I want to be more open and less judging.
I want to travel, but I also want to stay home. 
I want to focus less on the scale and more on how I feel.
I want to remember that confidence and happiness are the best accessories a woman can have.

There is more, so much more, but I think this is where I will stop for now.  If I say too much, I get overwhelmed and then I just quit before I start.  But I really think these goals are things I can accomplish this year.  At least, I hope so.  Here's to a new start and a happy, healthy 2014!!!

Things are busy...

...so I think it's time for a little catch up post.  I can't believe that I haven't even been able to keep up with posting my menus.  Although, I haven't been able to actually stick to my menus anyway, so I don't really think it matters.

Cross Country is officially over for Gabe, it ended mid-October.  He is still training, though and is planning to run in a community run during the Nike Cross Nationals event in Portland on December 1.  He's really looking forward to it.

Bethany's XC season is also over, and she is enjoying not being involved in anything outside of school right now.  What this means for her is more than enough time to get her homework done and still have time to hang out with her neighborhood friends.  They are all becoming as thick as thieves.

Michaela is still dancing away, and is currently working on a Christmas dance recital, although I haven't been told what the date is, so this mama's a little confused.  She's also doing ASB, which is like student government for elementary students.  So proud of my little leader!

We had a fun Halloween, a great 3 day weekend for Veteran's Day (I had my very first assembly as a music teacher for Veteran's Day...It was a success!!), and now I can't believe that we are on Thanksgiving week already.  We are headed back to Montana for the holiday, which will be great to see family and friends, eat familiar food and see familiar sights.  I'm a little sad that we won't spend much of the weekend with downtime here at home, though.  It will be a weekend of travel, which is fun, but can be tiring.  Still, I'm looking forward to it.

I'll leave you tonight with a couple of pics from Halloween...Then I'll have to be posting family Thanksgiving pics right around the corner, and thinking about a Christmas card...  Oy.  No promises on more frequent blogging until I get my current "Big Bang Theory" obsession under control. 

Red Riding Hood, Mad Scientist, and, well, Gabe.

Mad Scientist and Red Riding Hood (yeah, they used red MARKER to make their lips that red)

Took this one after the All-City XC meet for high school.  We are all so proud of Gabe's accomplishments this season!

A new look...

Well, I'm finally getting around to vamping up this blog a little bit. Jon will probably think it is too girly to be our family blog, but hey, I'm the one who updates it, so I'm the one who gets to pick. :) I've been trying to get a playlist gadget on here, but am having some difficulties making it work, so if anyone has any brilliant tricks for that, please let me know!!