It's New Year's Eve...What's your resolution?

It's December 31st. Don't think I've "rung in" the New Year in quite a few years. The last one I can remember is playing games with Matt's parents and their friends the year we got engaged...2002. But here I am watching the Times Square countdown with a bottle of Food Lion's finest sparkling grape juice:) I already had a little nap so I just might make it to midnight this time. I've been reading some bloggers' thoughts on their year and trying to think about 2011. I'm not much for resolutions and can't remember making one since my 2nd grade class was forced to.

Not sure why I don't like them. Maybe because January doesn't seem much like a time for new beginnings to me. Besides just having celebrated Jesus' birth, there isn't much new about January. Still same old cold weather. Still same old schedules. Still same old dark days. Still same old dead plants. See? Nothing new. Except for that changing from 2010 to 2011 thing.

Or maybe I don't like resolutions because it seems like people make these unrealistic vows to do something that they haven't ever been able to do before and their motivational high for a week or two won't see them through this time either. That sounds really pessimistic! I actually do feel that motivation right now, though, because I just read a January Better Homes and Gardens and of course a magazine put out this time of year is going to be full of that "you can do it" inspiration and ideas. But what would I resolve? Let's see...

This year, I will solve America's energy dependence problem!....Too big.

This year, I will solve a crossword puzzle!...Too small.

This year, I will not sin!...Too hard.

This year, I will not smoke!...Too easy.

This year, I will be a better wife/mother/daughter/sister/etc!...Too vague.

This year, I will go on a journey of self discovery!...What does that even mean?

This year, I will...I'm out of ideas. And annoyed. Still just don't like them! But I may have stumbled on the real reason I'm not a resolution fan. Maybe it's because I'm personally afraid to resolve something and then not follow through. So with a reminder that WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, here are a few things I'd like to do better in 2011...

-Pray more and a find regular devotion plans that work for me and the kids. (Restarting a prayer journal is a good action plan for more prayer. I have tons of them from the last 10 years, but haven't used one much this past year. Also, just telling the boys that we're going to read a story from their Bible Storybook should help with my consistency there since they often remember things better than I do.)

-Get and stay a little more organized around the house. (We've added some organizational furniture here and there that has helped and I have some other ideas that I hope to implement when (if) we build the new house. Also continuing the monthly meal planning and cleaning chart, plus teaching the boys a few new "tricks of the trade" so they take over a little more of the work is on my agenda.)

-Deal with stress better. (I think I'm just beginning to get a little perspective on this. Planning ahead helps. Taking things one day at a time is good. Stopping to think before reacting is tough, but key! Listening to my own instructions to the boys and responding with love and kindness is something I can improve on.)

-This one may be the biggest, vaguest of all, but I just want to grow! I hope this next year to grow in faith, wisdom, love, character, etc, etc.

So we don't have a whole lot on the agenda for 2011. No big trips or fun plans. I'm hoping for lots of good family time. Really hoping that our house sells and we get to build the small one near the gym like we've planned. Really hoping that the gym is able to make enough money for us to live on. Really hoping our little family stays healthy. That's about it.

And it's 11 pm and Matt's saying let's go to bed. Might be missing the ball drop again this year after all. Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, Julia!

We had a pretty uneventful day for Julia's first birthday since we already had one family party and have another this weekend. We just played and read books and took a quick trip outside to touch the snow:) She had a cookie at lunch and chewed the chocolate drop for a minute, then gave it back. She got a cup of whole milk for the first time and liked it. Think that covers it!

Crabtree Christmas Vacation- Part Four

We began the 27th with a family walk in the freezing cold! It seemed like a great idea, but some of the group didn't have much fun:) Later in the day we got one last visit from my aunt and cousin and played a quick game with them, then Jeannie and I got busy on Julia's cake. We had a lot of fun with the fondant and definitely want to try it again. Thanks for your help, sister! Soon the Leightons and more family arrived for Julia's party. It was pretty chaotic and Julia had screamed through her afternoon nap so she was totally wiped out, as you can tell from the lack of smiles in the pictures. We had fun though and played even more games. Then everyone left, the kids went to bed, and Jeannie and Hunter and Matt and I played a fun card game and ten had a vicious (not really) jigsaw puzzle competition with the boys' new puzzles. That was about it for our vacation. The rest of the night and next morning were spent packing up and heading home. Now my kids are waking up from super long naps so I better go. Thanks for sticking with me through all these updates!

Crabtree Christmas Vacation- Part Three

As we went to bed Christmas night, we watched the snow beginning to fall and awoke to quite a snowy day on the 26th! I hadn't planned well for that, but we managed to dig up enough warm clothes and the boys had fun outside with Matt and GrandGene for a little while. Mimi and Julia ventured out briefly. I was still trying to recover from the night before:) Later on, Matt, Joshua, and I had a leisurely trip to Target and then Matt, Jeannie, Hunter, and I got to go out to eat that night without kids (thanks Mimi and GrandGene!). All the adults then stayed up late playing one of my favorite games, Encore. So much fun! I think the games were my favorite part of the visit!

These are from Christmas Eve. Took a little while to edit out the red eyes!

Crabtree Christmas Vacation Part 2

Christmas Day at the Roper house was fun, aside from one major issue. We woke up not too early and the boys didn't even really get that they would be opening presents that day. We fixed a nice big breakfast and gradually everyone got up and ate and then we did gifts and stockings. Late morning, the Leightons came over and joined in our constant food grazing and we exchanged a couple more gifts and just hung out. Later on, my aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandmother came by and we fixed a big supper and ate some more! We ended the day playing a fun game and went to bed late, where Julia proceeded to scream half the night unless I held her and I woke up feeling like a zombie the next day! But the big incident was Joshua's allergies. He woke Christmas morning wheezing (Mind you, we have had stomach virus, croup, or wheezing on at least half of the last 8 Thanksgiving/Christmases, so this wasn't a huge shock!) and it got worse to the point that he was crying at naptime because he couldn't breathe. It was pretty scary, but the family came to our aid and sent the three dogs to the Leightons that had been in the house that day and cleaned the house thoroughly. He improved gradually and then after putting on a special air purifier Mama has, which got all the dog hair out of the air, he got totally better. No ER trip on Christmas Day, which was a relief! Still to come: Pictures from the rest of our trip and Julia's birthday party!

Gray got a dinosaur, a puzzle, and 2 things to share with Joshua- a football and bulldozer.

Joshua got a dinosaur and game, plus the two things to share with Gray. Wanted them to have 3 things each for the 3 wise men gifts but after forgetting one of the gifts at home, ended up with some being shared.

Julia adores her Mimi!

The boys had a great time playing with GrandGene!

Sawyer is cute!

Julia's warming up to GrandGene and letting him hold her some, though she really likes him best at a distance:)

Sawyer is cute!

Julia got a riding toy from Mimi and GrandGene.
Hunter and Matt enjoyed playing a new game with Joshua.
The boys got a batcave from Mimi and GrandGene. Lots of fun pretend play ahead!
We loved seeing the Leightons and getting some cousin time.

Silly Leightons.

I love Julia.

Cutie. The outfit continued to wow the crowds:)

We got lots of great Moore time, which just leaves us wanting more. Pun intended.

Lots and lots of storytime during our visit!!

Gray LOVES LOVES LOVES Sawyer!

Can't get enough of these cuties!

Julia enjoyed practicing her climbing skills!

Crabtree Christmas Vacation Post 1

Hello from Fort Mill! It's been definitely an adventure so far on our trip to visit my family for Christmas. I have tons of pictures so I'll just share a little at a time so not to overwhelm you!

We arrived Christmas Eve and I got out our Christmas presents to wrap, only to find that I had left one of Joshua's gifts at home. Since we only do 3 gifts for the wise men gifts, I couldn't just not give him anything for the 3rd one, so Daddy and I headed out to Walmart for a replacement. After having all our gifts bought so far in advance, I never would have thought I'd have to go out on Christmas Eve to shop! But it wasn't too crowded and it all worked out. That night, we all headed over to my grandmother's for dinner and a Chinese Auction. It was great to see almost the whole extended family and we all had a great time. Abby and Rick reading The Night Before Christmas in the traditional way plus in Gullah was quite entertaining and the Chinese Auction was fun. Funniest gift goes to Jeannie and Hunter, who gave a vase with a gift certificate inside for a free rectal exam to be redeemed with the future Dr Hunter Moore in 2013:) Another memorable moment was when Grandmama was given a Snuggie and asked if the man on the box came with it! Anyway, lots of laughs and fun as usual and then my little family headed home for bed while the rest stayed and played games. That's it for this installment. More later!

Grandmama and the Snuggie.

Jeannie got her vase back.

Abby loved being the gift hander outer.

Matt got some State earmuffs.

Matt and Hunter exchange a special look...don't know what about.

Julia did great, despite the noise and crowd. She like Aunt Cheryl's lap!

Abby and Rick read to us.

Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Gray's famous smile.

Carly and Gray struggling to finish supper.

Jackson loved playing with his boy cousins!

Abby prays a sweet blessing.

Jackson shows his boogie.

Julia loves the beads!