New Year's Hopes

"Hope puts one on the path towards a better tomorrow."

I opened my email this morning to find a newsletter from our church-related women's group.  I absolutely LOVE this idea and this is what my family will be doing tonight -- writing out our "HOPES" for the new year and not a list of resolutions that we'll just feel guilty never completing.

A portion of the email reads:

New Year's Hopes

Some of us have hope for a mended broken heart.
Some of us have hope for more capacity in the one we have.
Some of us have hope for the life growing inside us to be born healthy.
Some of us hope for the chance to mother in any way possible -- (ahh - hemm, this will be first on our list!)
Some of us hope for the man of our dreams to come along.
Some of us hope for the strength to support the man of our dreams.
Some of us hope for the will to finally get our bodies in shape.
Some of us hope for one more year with our bodies.
Whatever we hope FOR, those hopes are only possible because of what we hope IN.

As women of God, we hope IN
   • the power of the Savior's atonement to change our hearts
   • the sanctity of eternal families
   • the strength of our covenants
   • the reality of eternal life

So, this year, we invite you to write down your HOPES...what you hope FOR.  Then write how that hope can be a reality because of what you hope IN"

Boy, do I have some high hopes for our family in the next year!

Santa Made it Down our Chimney!

I am sure it was the enticing cookies T-Man made that lured Santa in:

(vanilla wafers he frosted and then sprinkled)

T-Man chose everything; the platter to put them on, the cup, and the Santa straw.

 

or it could have been that T-Man was first on the "NICE" list!

 Family Home Evening in Chicago 12/21/09

Train ride down to Chicago (reflection in the train car window)

Train Station Christmas display

"Elves Baking Cookies"

Bundled up for the cold Chicago wind

Opening Gifts

The Christmas "loot" displayed stratigically around the outside edges of the table.

Christmas snacks for when the cousins came over.

Poppin' the Kettle Corn ...

You can find us in front of the television tonight at 7:00 p.m. watching this on CBS:

"Following the success of the past 10 annual shows, the special continues to tell touching stories about foster care adoption to raise awareness for this important social issue. The inspirational stories of these American families are enhanced by performances from some of today's most popular artists. The musical performances frame several pre-taped story segments which are presented by celebrities who either have their own adoption experiences or are involved with children's issues. The stories highlight many exceptional American children and families involved in this rewarding process."

Frosty No Arms

The weather was comfortable on Sunday night, so we decided to have some family time and build a snowman.  We were unprepared, so Frosty has a "petite carrot" nose, coins for his eyes and mouth, no buttons, and a bubble blower for a right arm.  Sad, but he's our sad :)  T-Man loves him, hugs him, and has not stopped talking about "Cold Frosty" for days.  He kept repeating, "I'm just so excited to build a snowman, I'm just so excited!!"  He did more of this than anything else:

Meet "Frosty No Arms":

Hire ME to Manage Your Money...

This might be one of those, "You had to be there moments", but tonight Eric and I went to dinner for my birthday.  My mother was gracious enough to watch T-Man so we could do this.  One of my many wishes for the day was to invest in the new 2010 calendar pages for my Fra.nklin Planner so I can begin organizing my life for the new year.  We stopped into the Frankl.in Covey store after we ate.

One goal I have for the new year is to save, save, save money.  With the desire for another adoption, we need to accumulate more funds than we have right now for that cause.  The planner style I chose was Jean Ch.atsky's financial planning planner pages.  I noted the price of only $22.95 and knew that this was a good deal (no need for a finacial planner for me -- I gots it all figured out!).  They tend to be more in the $40.00 range.  I go to the checkout and the kind gentleman rings me up and tells me the total is $36.72.  NOW that is some kind of tax!  The man kept looking at me and then back to the planner; back at me, then at the planner.  I have to say it was wigging me out a bit.  My brain registered that $22/$36 was quite a discrepancy, but things didn't really register with me and I didn't really know what to say or why he was looking at me (Not that I am making excuses, but I have been up with a sick child for two days).

He finally said, "These are mismarked.  They are really $36, but I guess I have to give it to you for the marked price of $22."  I kindly said, "Thank you, yes, that was the number I looked at when I decided to make the purchase."

I can only imagine the conversation going on inside that man's head.  Boy lady, you really do need this financial planner, duh!  The price is $22, but you'll let me charge you $36??  Are you really that clueless?  Did you think you were getting a good deal?

I think he kept starring at me to give me the opportunity to prove my monetary intelligence to him and show him that I did notice the error.  Come on girl, watch me, I rang this up at $22 and the total is $36, are you sure you don't want to say something to me?

He probably really want to charge me the true price just to prove the point, that yes, you really do need to purchase our product -- you are in serious need of help and I'm not sure these planning pages will do it for you!  But thankfully he was honest about the issue and kind enough to point it out to the financial challenged woman looking at planners on a Friday night at 8:00 p.m. Thanks Nate, you saved me $10.00 -- I mean, $14.

I think I need to invest in a smartcard.

Thanks Mom for the night out!  And speaking of money -- Thank you Mom and Dad for the precious metal!

This Puts Things into Perspective

National Adoption Awareness Month

I had the unique opportunity to attend the National Families Supporting Adoption Conference in Utah this summer -- AMAZING experience and I'm excited to go next year!!  While there, I met this great couple from Texas.  They are spotlighting families hoping to adopt each Monday for the entire month of November in celebration of National Adoption Awareness Month on their blog.  We are fortunate enough to be spotlighted this week!

Thanks Liz!! --  You can see it HERE

Be sure to congratulate them, two times, and read about their exciting news!

Sundance - Day 9

These lovelies decorated all of the walls in our lodge. T-Man didn't really know what exactly to make of them. For the first two days, he continuously pointed them out and told us what each one was doing. "This one is dancing, this one is playing an instrument, this one is waiving 'Hi' with both hands." He eventually got over them until the last day when he pointed them out again, and again, and again, and again :)

We walked around Sund.ance for the last and final time and then poor Eric had to load all the bags into the car. Usually not an issue, but he had 50 steps to go down in rain, sleet, icy snow "stuff".

We think he might be healed by now!

Saying Goodbye

Thankfully, it was another successful flight home.  Litt.le Eins.teins saved the day again! 

We came home to find all was in order.  The car was still in the parking lot and started, the home was still standing right where we left it, the dog survived her stay at her doggy lodge.

Unfortunately, the cleaning fairy forgot to stop by - the dust bunnies were right where we left them.

Sundance - Day 8

 
We decided to drive the "Alpi.ne Lo.op" off of the mountain today.  BEAUTIFUL trees, leaves and ambiance - we were able to listen to General Conference on the radio.  Fun, Fun experience.  We tried to explain to Tyler which General Authorities were speaking and he somewhat understood.

Once on the other side of the mountain we detoured off to "Thanksgi.ving Poin.t".  It's a little shopping, gardens, movies, kiddie farm, artisian shops, etc.

Pony ride/walk

We took a tractor ride around the farm, visited with the animals and T-Man walked through "the old west" and found the jail to be a very intriguing building - yikes!

His favorite was the garden room.  He got to plant toy seeds, harvest them, drive them to the market, sell them and cook with them -- very cute.

We decided to venture back to Sund.ance for nap time and then went on another adventure to find Ma.rie Calenda.rs for dinner.  We were successful and enjoyed some yummy home-style cookin'.

Dreading tomorrow -- back home and back to reality

to be continued....

Sundance - Day 7

We ventured out for another drive. This one took us to Bridal Veil Falls Park and then later that night to Dairy Ke.en (yes, that's the real restaurant name)

As a side note: The rental car had no DVD player (I know, unheard of!) so we had the opportunity to sing show tunes together and talk to each other the whole time with no "Little Einsteins" interruptions. It was on this vacation where T-Man learned the capitals. He would ask us, we'd tell him, he'd ask again, we'd tell him again, rinse/repeat until by the end of the plane ride home he could tell us close to 40 of the 50 state capitals.

Deciding he'd rather sit on the ground, rather than hold someone's hand while we walked.

T-Man + H20 = Danger.

He'll walk right into the middle of a lake (and has tried to, twice)

Sounds of Bridal Veil Falls

Dairy Keen -- Yummy food, a model train riding around the restaurant,and one happenin' place on a Friday night!

to be continued...