New Year's Goals

I'm not generally one for New Year's resolutions, but this year is different. The way I stick to goals is by writing them down on a list. It makes me feel accountable to that little piece of paper. Sometimes I tell people my goals, then I somehow feel accountable to them. So...blogging my resolutions, two birds with one stone. Here goes:

1. I will run three times a week
2. I will work my way back to 15 miles per week by April
3. I will run a 5K every month from May to September (I'm counting on my friend to keep this one with me - she knows who she is).

Considering we bought a new treadmill last night, I think I better stick to this. I get one out - if I have kid number 2. That is NOT an announcement.

I suppose I should have deeper, more spiritual goals on here. But let's be honest, I have to work on those year round.

Christmas Dinner

The Pulley's are always kind enough to open their home to friends for Christmas dinner. We were joined by the Shelton's and her parents the Parry's, the Gregory's, as well as the Storheim's who moved away a few years ago. It was great seeing them again.

The food was so good, the company was great. Thank you, Pulley's! We are blessed to have you in our lives.

Merry Christmas!

The theme this year for the boy was trains!

We got the Boy a train table. So the Man and I spent the late evening on Christmas Eve putting it and a rocking horse (which he loves, Nanny) together. Check out that hair. This kid gets serious bed head. I'll explain his face further down.

He played with his new trains and tracks (thank you Mamie and Papa) most the day.


He realized later in the day that crawling inside the table made it much easier.

Aunt Jo and Guncle also got him a stacking toy in the shape of a train among a list of other things like, music, blocks, and puzzles.


Last year, Grandma and Grandpa Finkle got him this Nativity Set, which I think is adorable. This year they added to it with sheep and shepherds. So cute! He loved his little Mickey Mouse pull over from them also.

Incidentally, the Man got me an iPod shuffle. So now I don't have to hold the giant one when I run. Yay! AND...did you know that you can have your name put on those? He had them put my first and middle name on the back. Love that! He also took me out to the mall last weekend and let me go a little crazy on clothes shopping. He did good, yes?!


I got the Man a monstrous computer monitor. I am currently enjoying the fruits of that gift right now. This thing is big! Ok, now the face...

After all the presents, the Man took the Boy sledding. I was a slightly worried about that only because this is what happened when they went out sledding yesterday. Isn't that sad looking? Like a rabid cat got a hold of half his face? Actually, it was just some bushes. Apprently that did not deter him from wanting to go again and again, though.

We hope your Christmas morning was as nice as ours.

Chistmas Eve Caroling

Christmas Eve we joined the Jensen Family tradition and went caroling with them and a large group of friends.


It wasn't all that cold.


It wasn't snowing...


...and it didn't really start raining until the very last house we visited.


We had a really great time. It is the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve night.

Major Snow

Within a matter of hours on Friday, we went from being able to see the grass to this.


The boy loved playing in the snow with dad. Being the smart lady I am, I stayed indoors and just stepped out onto the porch to snap a few pictures. Roxy was out there with the males...takin' it like a real woman. Traitor.

The Boy giggled so hard when dad would literally toss him into the snow...

...and he would laugh and yell "faster!" when the Man pulled him on the sled (which incidentally was borrowed from a friend over a year ago and I still haven't returned it- thank you, Dorothy).

I'm glad someone enjoys this weather.

Sick Elephant

When I was about seven or eight I got sick with what was probably the flu.  My sister, Jodie, bought me a stuffed elephant which I named Dudely E. Phunt.  I was seven. Give me a break. I kept that stuffed elephant and pulled it out whenever I felt really sick.  

Now the Boy has it. And we do the same thing. He hasn't been feeling so hot the last couple of days - just ask my carpet upstairs and my husband who had to get the shop vac out last night and clean up the mess.  I didn't quite get him over to the hardwoods in time.

On the bright side, the Boy is a very good sick kid. He doesn't know and he barely seems to care that he's sick.  Plus, he sleeps a lot more.  The night before last he slept 14 hours (I had to go wake him up) and then took a 4 hour nap that day.  Not bad. Not bad at all. I think that is the magic of Dudely.

Three Posts in One

I've been meaning to post a few things, but just havent gotten around to it. So, here they are...all in one.

Oreos are goooooood!

Testing out the snow boots for the first time.

New hiding place - right next to the garbage can. Oh joy.

He thinks we can't see him. We won't spoil it.