Decision Making

Why is it that I feel that I am the only one in my family that ever makes a decision? Where do we want to eat supper out at? What is going to be fixed for a supper at home? When does the house gets cleaned? When do the kids do their chores? When does the yard get mowed? When does the cat get fed and watered? When does the recycle go out? When do we take the garbage out? When does the furniture get vacuumed? When do clean clothes get put away? When does something we borrowed from somewhere get returned? When do our sheets get washed? When does the sidewalk get shoveled? When does a barking dog that is outside come in? When does the papers that are brought home from school get put away? The answers to all those questions in this house is when the mom says so or when the mom loses what is left of her mind and goes psycho on her family. For one day of my life I would like it if I didn't have to make ONE decision in regards to any one but myself--preferably something like "what color should I paint my toenails?" Is that asking too much?

One Little Word

I was reading Ali Edwards blog today and she talked about how she chooses one word every year to focus on throughout the year. I've been thinking a lot about my goals and dreams for this year and really want to try to do the One Little Word this year. I was driving my kids to my parents today when the word hit me. SIMPLIFY. That's my word. I often think I want/need/have too much and I would love to work on that aspect of my life. Less is more. So not only will that have to do with physical things, but also with my time and food. I want to lose weight this year before we head off to vacation at the end of May or the first of June.

For the first time this year we had planned well enough that the whole week of Christmas was spent mostly at home relaxing and not running around with our heads cut off trying to get everything done at the last minute. So that is another goal of mine--to plan well and carry those plans out--and to ask others to help me carry out plans. For example this year I enlisted my kids to help wrap presents. One kid would wrap one day and the other the next. This kept them out of each other's hair. Also I am going to plan into the budget money for each person to buy the other 3 people in the family a gift--previously we (Doug and I) have bought stuff and then had each person pick something from those things to give to the other, but I have decided that next year each person will be responsible for choosing and buying something for all the others. That way they will experience all that goes into gift giving. It will not be mom and dad doing all the work.

I want to appreciate all that I have, my time and be healthier in 2010. So keeping with my one little word for 2010: SIMPLIFY--I want to buy less, be stingy (or more constructive) with my time and eat less/exercise more this year.

I'm dreading it

Going back into the church office today after lunch. I've got to get the Hawk Hangout papers submitted for November so that they get their money reimbursed. I'm praying that he's not there while I am but I have a feeling he might be since I just emailed him to let him know I was planning on being there. He'll probably be there to make sure I am not doing anything fishy. He's the fishy one, but...My stomach is in knots. I wish I could just tell him what a big jerk he is to his face and save myself the stomach issues, but I cannot do that.

Tonight I am going out with some credit union friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. I am missing one of Zach's games to go, but you know, sometimes friendship is worth it. I checked with Zach first and he said he didn't mind. I'm looking forward to some laughter and fun.

I am still struggling with staying home. Last night I finished up my laundry in anticipation of spending the morning upstairs messing in my scrap area and so far all I have accomplished is a shower and 1 1/2 hours on the computer. I didn't set my 30 minute timer I know. I am going to finish up this post and go dry my hair and then go straight upstairs. I don't have any plans to make pages but I do want to straighten and rearrange up there. Here I go...

It's snowing

And it is the big beautiful fluffy ones. Nothing is sticking, but oh, is it beautiful! It makes my heart happy.

Crick in the neck

Why is it that you can sleep the same way you sleep every night and one day wake up with a crick? Now I look like a dork turning my whole body sideways to look at something. It was not very fun to drive to the store and back this morning.

It's the first day of December

And I don't even have half of my Christmas shopping done. I always have the majority of my shopping done before Thanksgiving. The whole work thing threw me off balance this year. Who'd have thought that when I gave my notice at the beginning of October that they still wouldn't have someone and now it is December. I kept working until I finally couldn't stand him anymore. He was getting even more hateful acting the last two weeks. I picked up my last paycheck today--well, actually it isn't my last one--I agreed to come back and do one of the reports that I do every month for a grant until they hire someone and I can train them on it. The director really wants me to continue to do it indefinitely but the committee doesn't want that. They want the secretary to do it. So...until someone is hired I will continue to get around a check for around a $100 a month. Good thing--I want a new coat.

Tomorrow I am heading to the grocery store by myself in the morning as soon as the kids get off to school. I haven't been able to do this since I left DECU--a whole year. I really miss it. When Doug goes with me we always spend more than our budget. Since we are down to one paycheck it will be good it I can keep it under or on budget.

Next week will be my week to shop. I need to get at least all the neices and nephews and brothers and sisters done. Then that will just leave the parents and the rest of my immediate family. I need to start a list. Another one. I want to be done before the 15th. And I still need to take a picture and write a letter for Christmas cards. Yikes. Where is the time going????