New Year Resolutions For 2012

I typically don't make New Year's resolutions. For whatever reason, I feel like if I make it a point to "resolve" to do something, I am just setting myself up for failure. I would rather just think of goals that I would like to have accieved by this time next year...

1. Love more freely and easy. 2011 really changed our lives...we had a lot weigh us down and I feel a little out of touch with how much I used to love and how freely I used to do it...I want that back!

2. Have a better connection with my daughters. I want us to have that close Mother Daughter relationship. They are growing up so fast and I want to live in every moment!

3. I need to choose happiness again and not let all thats going on drag me down as much as it has this year.

4. Im not proud of it but, Ive gained 30 pounds back of the 65 that I lost. I'm a stress eater and although I've really tried to manage it 2011 beat me up! January 2nd I will be back at it!

5. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier...Ive always been a night owl. But Im almost 30...time to grow up I guess ;)

6. Take that trip to Disney World we have had on hold. WE NEED IT!!!

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Goodbye 2011! Id like to say its been fun...but well...it really hasn't! So hello 2012 lets make things happen GOOD THINGS :)

The Christmas Eve I Went All Mama Bear

We had a great Christmas Eve spent with my family... despite what happend at Church. This was the Christmas Eve I would go Mama Bear! Ive had it...taking crap from people. We have taken enough crap this year and I refused to do it on Christmas.

All I wanted to do was go to Church and recharge my batteries...what I got on the other had was a bitch on a power trip. (I know thats not very Christmas of me but really...Ive had enough of this women (my whole life) and Im gonna tell the story cause I wanna!

We arrive at Church a half and hour early (because the girls were to sing in the choir and because Mapleton really should have built a bigger Catholic church way back when...theres never any seating) anyway the girls go up to the choir loft to sing. Daniel and I stood down stairs in the entrance for almost a half an hour and then I remember...there are pew's in the choir loft! So I aprouch and usher and ask...is it possible for us to sit upstair?! She says...let me go check! She comes back down and says yes, room for 8. So myself, Daniel and one of my Mom's old friends and her family all go up.

Before we can even get to the pew's Mrs." My Shit dont stink" sticks her long nose out and says "oh no, no, no you are not sitting up here" Confused, I say "why not?"..".well because you can just take those chair's downstairs and sit in them"

At this point I want to cry (cause thats just me and I have no stress level left after everything this year) but Im not going to. Last I checked I was in a church... arnt you suppose to be welcomed? So I calmly say "No the usher came up here to see if there was room and she told us to come up" She stands in our way again! "No,  Chiars!!!" she says. Ok, we are not dogs nor is she the Pope! Had she asked nicley or or once not walked around with her nose in the air, I may have handled this better. However, now is not the time to be a bitch directly to me...I will not take it...just so everyone knows.

I go to walk past her (after all Im a Mom who has 2 children up there, Im not a weirdo and there is plenty of room not anywhere near were they are) she stops me again.

No... Nope... I'm not going to stand for this! So, I refrain from just taking out the whole year of 2011 on her, only because we are in a church. I go back to Daniel and say we are taking the girls and we are leaving. This time I walk past her and take my girls to the side. I explain to them that we will be going to Danbury to church (which was fine with them because they didnt want to sing anyway and generally thats were we go) and we leave. On my way out I mention to the usher that maybe they need to find a chior director for the children who is not a huge rip. She shakes her head as if to agree and says to me "please dont leave because of her" and I say "I have to...I just need to go cry"

And I did.

I cried out of frustraition after all...I just wanted to go to Chruch. This was the last thing I needed.

But, in a way I'm happy it happened. After I stopped and reflected after along Chat with my Aunt Cindy I realize that this town is a click. I big fat clickey I'm better then you town and Im sick of it. Im happy it happened because I had been debating on wether or not to join Mapleton or Danbury even though it was always a no brainer....Danbury!

Im over this town...Im over the people who think they are better. I CAN NOT WAIT to move out to the country and just be US!!! Im ready to no longer have a Mapleton address! If a F3 tornado with no deaths and all the other freak accident deaths that happen in this town cant open peoples snoody eyes then Im not sure anything ever will...sad but true.

Ok enough of that now on to Christmas! :)

The girls were completely spoiled by grandma and grandpa AGAIN! :) Ethan had his first Christmas and Santa even stopped by. It really was a great time! But the best part is that we are all my Dad was still here and doing well after his heart attack following the tornado!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas eve free of snooty people and with all of their loved ones :)

Its A Boy!!!

Isn't he cute! :) I decided its now or never  and we brought home Buddy! :) I think his name has a little to do with the movie Santa Buddies and The movie Elf staring Buddy the elf. He's a very smart puppy and Im hoping we pick up "potty training" fast!

Where Have All The Christmas Cards Gone?!

I remember as a child how much I loved write Christmas cards out for our family each year. Then I would wait with anticipation for cards to arrive in the mail. I especially loved the ones that included a family photo, and I would lovingly tape them all up to display for the whole Christmas season.

I've continued that tradition of sending cards. Now it's my own set of family and friends--friends old and new... aunts and uncles and cousins who live close by and across the country.

Before kids, I always sent out the kind of cards you can buy in a store; after the kids were born Ive been more inspired always sending out something more creative. :)
This year I sent out 72 cards. I've tried to keep them personal! I really did try to write on the back of each one (if your card was missing this I'm sorry the kids helped with some) I send them out in hand written envelopes just because it makes it feel more personal to receive something someone actually took time to write.

Then we wait...and, just like when I was a little, I cant wait to get out to the mailbox, even in the snow and cold  just to find envelopes from people I haven't heard from in a year. It used to be we would get 2 or 3 or more a day starting right after Thanksgiving.

Except that this year, its December 9th, I've received only FOUR cards. FOUR.
I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to receive many cards this year. Are they a thing of the past? Is it the economy and the fact that postage is crazy? Do people think that since we are all on facebook and twitter that Christmas Cards are out of date?!

I hope not. Its one of my most favorite Christmas traditions and I would be very sad to see it fade into something of the past. So get to it people...its easy and its fun...go to the store grab some cards (pay for them though ;)that's important too ) then go home make some hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas tunes and write a short note in a pretty card to those you love and appreciate. I promise you it counts!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!