Goals 2012

I love making lists and having goals. So today I spent some time figuring out what I want to do/improve on for 2012. I know I am missing all my Christmas posts. We had a great holiday season and I will post those soon!

1. Do one major cleaning project a month. My 1st three are planned out. Re organize and clean all my kitchen cabinets, organize both kids closets, and paint all my outside doors. I should be able to tackle one of these a month while the kids are at school.

2.Run 1250 miles

3. teach myself to use my sewing machine better and maybe even invest in a class

4. Eat healthier and less sweets

5. Spend at least one night away from the kids with Nolan. In 3.5 years we only have had one night without our kids together ( our 10th anniversary)

6. Don't use the Internet on my phone or computer when I am with the kids. Technology is great but it can kind of be too much!

7. Increase my Pampered Chef business by 50%. I have been doing for 3 years and it is fun to get out of the house and contribute to my family. My website is: http://www.pamperedchef.biz/laurabrunnworth

8. Get a new TV for my bedroom. Our bedroom TV is an old box TV and it does not work well. It is always fuzzy!

9. Use my candy thermometer and try to make candy for the first time

10. Run 3 half marathons

11. Go to church at least twice a month. I know this sounds bad. But, we are both religious we have just been really bad about attending church. Seems so hard to get up and get the family going on the weekend.

12. Once a month do something with Nolan. Even if it is just something in the house after the kids go to bed. Like watch a movie or enjoy a special meal. We lost our trusted babysitter to college this year. And I haven't really tried to find someone else. As I really liked her and not sure I can find someone that I like that much.

13. Have 3 weeks out of the year where we spend no money. We saw this online and thought it seemed like a good idea. Of course I will still have to use gas to get the kids to and from school. But, I want to not buy groceries and use up the stuff we have, no extra activities, or eating out. That money that I would of spent on activities ( that cost) and groceries can be put into the the kids college fun. Both kids already have college plans and we put money in it every month. But, let's face it college is going to be expensive and the more the better.

Hope everyone has a great new year.

Lazy Day!

On Sunday we had the laziest day. I still left the house for my long run in the morning and to run to a store. But, if anyone knows us we are generaly always on the go.so the kids never even got dressed. So that is why they look kind of messy in the pictures. But, the weather was bad so we stayed in and the kids made and ate their gingerbread men. The kids had fun just being at home. And Baron is now really into Christmas shows. I think we have them all scheduled to tape. But, for being a kid that was never really into TV he loves. These are the same kids I used last year. But, for some reason the icing was really hard to get out of the package. So that kind of limited them in their decorationg skills!

Painting Pottery

On Saturday the kids went to paint pottery. They both love this activity. They pick out some special things for Christmas gifts!

Breakfest With Santa

On Saturday the kids school had Breakfest with Santa. It was amazing and we are so thankful to the kids great teachers putting on such an event. Kids got breakfest, got to see Santa, made crafts, and had a cake walk. I am so impressed with the school district we are in. Amelia was real shy to Santa and did not want to look at him. Baron was fine and all he asked for was a flashlight and headlamp.

I was also able to get pictures of the kids with there teachers. Amelia's teacher is Miss Carolyn and Baron's teacher is Miss Susan. Both kids love and do great in school thanks to the teachers!

Rams Game

Baron and Nolan got to go to the Rams game on Sunday. Baron has never been to a NFL game before. He had a blast. He was able to sit in a suite, have the best food, and got to go on the field before the game. Wow! Who could ask for a better experience. Too bad the Rams suck!

Christmas Tree

We went and cut down our own Christmas tree again. It took us a long time of walking to find the perfect one. We like BIG. We have our biggest ever this year. Such a fun outing with the kiddos! Isnt't it funny what Amelia picked out to wear to cut a tree down? She was kind of overdressed!

Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving it was just us. We stayed around the house and Nolan smoked a turkey and I made some sides. My parents were not able to make it. there puppy Milo had a fluke accident and was run over by a truck the day before they were to leave. Dad had him on a leash and the leash broke and he ran out in front a of a truck. Who would of thought a 20 something pound dog would break a leash. He ended up losing some toes that and had to have surgery. He was lucky to be alive. But, my parents could not travel with him.

Who would of thought?

Baron is in a rap video on YouTube. We had no idea and did not know about. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7lfcz1I35U

Baron is in it and also our friend Scott and his boy Josh. They were all at the game together. Pretty funny!

Professional Fall Photos

In October I got more photos taken for the kids. I used the same person I used in the spring ( as she is amazing). I could not talk Nolan into full family photos after just 6 months. He said the kids don't change that much anymore. So I just got a mini session of the kids. I know we have too many pictures. But, they make me happy to look at. And I will love looking back at when I am older. Hope you enjoy

Baron's 5 year checkup

Baron had his 5 year checkup this week. Just like Amelia he made it a year with no doctor visits! What a blessing. Well at the start of this year I was kind of bummed the Baron missed the cutoff for school. And all his friends went! Well I have loved having him home and it has turned out to be a blessing. When we went to the doctor went on and on how much being the older kid is such an advantage. Our doctor actually gave him a written test. I was worried as it looked hard. Baron completed all of it. And told me only the first 3 are kindergarden skills. The last things he did he said only half of 7 year olds can do. This is on track for what we were told at his parent teacher conference. He already is doing most of the stuff required in kindergarden. We just think this is going to set him up to me a good student and be confindent at school.

Baron was 45.5 inches tall ( 91%)
Baron was 45 LBS ( 75%)

It's going to be close if he is 48 inches by the summer to do the big slide at the pool!

He gained 3 lbs and 3 inches in the year. The doctor said most kids gain about 5 a year. But, he has really thinned out and is a lot of muscle. Weird for a little kid. But, he loves exercising and does about 30 pushups most nights!

We are just thankful for a healthly kid.

And this made me so proud. Baron had to get 4 shots. Last year he had to be held down. This year he told us he will just take it and be tough. Oh my gosh he was! He did not even flich! The nurse said "Wow this made my job easy". At one point he said "it's not bad I'm ready for more". What a tough little boy.

Mizzou VS Semo Basketball game

On Friday night we made a quick trip to Columbia for the Mizzou VS Semo baskeball game. Boy, the new Mizzou arena was awesome. I did not get a lot of pictures. But, the kids loved meeting a new friend, staying in a hotel, and going out to eat at 10 pm at night after the game! Since there was a Semo alumni event before the game. I met up with a friend from college. What a blast from the past. We had a great time catching up during the game. And we both have little girls and they loved talking too. Amelia loved showing Keelee all the stuff she had packed in her purse!

No trip down I-70 is not complete without a trip to Ozarkland. Baron had his own money and picked out a cedar box. he loved it and put on his dresser to hold his treasures. It was neat watching him pay and do everything by himself at the checkout. Amelia picked out a princess ring. Not the kind of thing you would expect at Ozarkland. But, was pretty fitting for her.

cartwheel

Poor Baron he keeps wanting to do gymnastics. We have nto put him in it. He already plays a ton of sports, it is very expenisive, and I doubt he will have much chance to do when he is older. But, anyways he has been watching older kids (at Amelia's practice) do cartwheels. And once he wants to learn something he just works long and hard on it till he teaches himselve. One night he went in a did cartwheels for over and hour. Thsi was at the end of his session. As he can see he got it!

Heidi's Birthday party

When Baron was camping Amelia got invited to Heidi's birthday party. she is a little girl that lives down the street. They get along well. amelia even went to her house (by herself) for a hour last week to play barbies. She loved it! They had a pool party and Amelia had a ton of fun

Big Piney trip

The first weekend of November Nolan took Baron on a 15 mile kayak trip. They went on the Big Piney river. They paddled for 3 days and stayed the night on the river 2 nights. Baron had a blast as he loves the outdoors. Many people have asked me why they like doing these int he cold weather. Reason number one for them.....No people around and unspoiled nature. See the picture of the bald eagle. They saw two!!! Baron did awesome. Never complained. Nolan caught a big fish and Baron took the picture of him with his fish. We laugh as it was pretty good. Guess all his practing with the real camera his Opa gave him. I was so happy they had such a fun time.