built it himself
helping dad make all the leaves fit
spent the week organizing, cleaning up, playing and planning. any time there is a break of some kind, i like to get a fresh perspective on our school routine and how i can make it more functional and rewarding. and less work too.
i love to make lists and new years resolutions are a big deal in our family.
every year the kids make personal goals and we make a list for our family that we post on the wall somewhere. last year we accomplished 9 out of 10. pretty impressive!
this year dad's big idea was 'keep the cars clean' and 'get another dog'. the kids thought a hiking adventure needed to be on the list. and mine, fix up the backyard. i love watching them ponder after we have a little lesson about the importance of goal setting and the areas to focus on (physical, mental, spiritual, financial). some of my favorites this year are: 'eat broccoli'. 'run faster'. 'do math lesson in 15 minutes'. 'give 8 hugs a day'.
on the wall in back you can faintly see the many goal lists hanging
we had a special family over last night for our new years party. growing up, my parents always stayed in with us, playing board games and eating snacks (we loved the bugles!). now we do it with our kids and it is one of my favorite traditions. we always make special snacks like caramel popcorn and deviled eggs. this year we had a rootbeer taste test. mug was the clear loser. i found that if my eyes are covered, my taste buds suffer. or maybe it was the dr pepper that the litigator put into my cup (ugh, i hate it and its pruny smell).
sparklers and christmas lights
to honor the new year and a fresh start i have been choosing a word to encapsulate what i want. last year it was enrich. the year before, joy. i haven't settled on my new word yet, but there is something exciting and stimulating in visualizing what you want your life to become.
I dwell in Possibility --
A fairer House than Prose--
More numerous of Windows--
Superior--for Doors--
Of Chambers as the Cedars--
Impregnable of Eye--
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky--
Of Visitors--the fairest--
For Occupation--This--
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise--
Emily Dickinson
