Where to begin?

It's a brand new year & we had wonderful holidays, but honestly I still feel like my mind is somewhere back, oh, mid-September...how has all this time elapsed so quickly?? I get tired of hearing myself say how behind I am on blogging, so I know you all must be sick of it...but it's true, I am behind, waaaaay behind. And I know that I don't have to blog, nor do I have a schedule that I must adhere to, but I enjoy blogging & it is my way of capturing for posterity just a little bit of what our life is like now. I think I know I will want to remember these days, both special holidays & plain-jane days...so I do like to keep up with everything here & that is why I am often having to catch-up. And right now, I am not sure where to start...there is still Jack's birthday party post from the start of December waiting to be finished...and the annual ladies Christmas Tea, assorted Christmas parties, programs, parades, concerts & more, my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange, Christmas outings, oh, and Christmas itself with multiple family gatherings & much joy! December truly was a fantastic, fun & faith-filled month!
But for now, I will start with today, January 1, 2012. a new year, a fresh start! And I promise (myself) that I will get to all of those other posts very soon! (And also update the blog header!) I look forward to sharing all those special events with you & reliving them as I look at the photos & write about the memories. And I am not generally one to make a lot of New Year's resolutions, but this year I do have a few...(definitely not listed in order of importance!)
-I would like to blog at least twice a week, every week...but extend myself grace when I don't.
-I would like to spend more time playing games & reading books with my kids.
-I would like to be more intentional in my time with God...reading more of His word & spending more time in prayer listening.
-I would like to start planning our dinner menu weekly...or at the very least have a plan for dinner each night before 5:00pm!
-I would like to entertain friends in our home more often...and invite new friends over who we would like to get to know better...and release myself from the pressure of having to do things "big"...just simple get-togethers, low-key & fun!
-I would like to exercise purposefully 2-3 times a week...just doing something...walking (definitely not running!), jumping on the trampoline, squats, lunges, crunches...I'm being super honest here, but anything would be more than I have been doing (unless you count, chasing kids, carrying kids, going up & down stairs, & squatting to pick up toys all day long!)
-I would like to be more available to help others when they need something & to be used where God wants me to serve.
-I would like to be more disciplined in when I go to bed (I'm saying this at 1:45 am) & when I get up.
-I would like to live my life so that others can see where my priorities lie...God first, then husband, kids, church/family/friends.

Well, I guess that is a lot of things! Hmmmm, maybe this is why I generally do not do resolutions...oh well, let's see how things go!

And since I said I would start with today...here are some family photos we took today. My brother, Pete, generally only visits once a year for a couple of weeks at Christmastime. The kids spend the whole year looking forward to his time here, and this year was no exception. They have enjoyed every minute spent with Uncle Pete! My parents & Pete came over this afternoon so that we could attempt to get a family photo for the first time in many years...The kids were actually fairly cooperative, but out of 100 photos, these are the best...and still there is generally someone moving, not looking or making a funny face in each one...but that is life & that's what I want to remember!

 Darcy all sweet & snuggly on our new couch (thanks to a little Christmas $$) 

 Jeff (the most awesome husband!!) spent most of Friday & all day Saturday purchasing, loading, unloading & assembling the new couch & entertainment console. We love IKEA furniture, but it did involve 1,037 boxes & a whole lot of parts!

 But we have wanted a couch in our living room for so long & already it is a loved, much used space! We look forward to much snuggling by the fire the winter!

Lucy's new favorite person! 

 Uncle Pete adores his newest niece...

 ...and the feeling...

 ...is most definitely mutual!

 Sophie being a ham in Grandpa's hat

 Yaya doesn't let Uncle Pete have all the time with Lucy!

 Horsing around

 Piggy back rides for everyone! (Between that & jumping on the trampoline, Uncle Pete's going to need a back adjustment when he goes home!)

 We had to wake Drew up from his nap while we still had light outside for pictures...

 "You woke me up for what??""

Lucy's always ready to smile!

 Getting the area set for pictures

 I don't have a tripod, but our ice bucket & stand worked great...just had to get the height just right...too low...

 Still not quite right

 Better, but now Jack pinched Darcy

Okay peeps, smile!

Lucy looks right...

 and Lucy looks left...

 Now Drew looks to the sky!

Everyone almost looking!

 Even closer!

Hey, everyone looking!! Smiles, optional!

Everyone looking & smiling, even Sophie...but you can't tell since her head is behind Lucy!

 You know we kept trying different poses to keep things fun!

 Yaya & Grandpa with the grandkids!

Things are starting to get a little silly...

 Jack is tickling Drew's ear...and

Yippeee! Drew is SO excited that we are done & he can go play ball!!
Wishing you all a very Happy & Blessed New Year!