Happy 2011!

We have been busy in 2011 already with lots of sledding and playing in the snow . . .

We rang in 2011 with plenty of bad for you food and fun games. The kids stayed up late

watching movies . . .

doing make overs

eating food . . .

Ryan and his shrimp finger . . .

And Jilli totally porking down the smoked oysters and muscles (and watermelon) . . .that's my girl :)

but only Raegan and Dalyn made it to the new year.

And at the precise moment we raced out the front door with our pots and spoons and made sure all the neighbors knew exactly what time it was :)

We loaded up our time capsule, and helped the kids set some new year goals

I always appreciate the new year for the fresh start, the chance to reevaluate, it is usually just the kick in the pants I need to get going again.

But it is also a little depressing.

As I reevaluate my life I am hit full force with all the things that didn't go so well or things I am still working on or don't do at all or don't have yet that I thought by now in my life I for sure would, and it is a bit of a downer for me. And the things I am worried about are all pretty trivial like my lack of organization, or sparkling clean house all the time, or my exercise schedule,

As I play the

I wish I did . . . .

If only we . . .

Why can't we . . .

. . .game

I usually try to set goals around all those things I don't do well enough or things I see other people doing that I want in my life, and that's when I start getting bummed . . .

. . .cuz I realize that that is not me, and it is overwhelming.

So why do I do this to myself at new years? I dunno. But I do, and I did it again this year . . . for a little while . . . then I got over it because I realized I have an AWESOME life and I LOVE it!!!

But sometimes . . .

My house looks like a bomb went off in it, and I don't care, and step over the piles ALL DAY LONG

Sometimes I want to home school my kids because I want them home all the time, and sometimes I am searching on the internet for boarding schools

Sometimes my hubby is my favorite person in all creation and sometimes . . . he isn't . . .at all ;)

Sometimes I am awesome a scripture study and personal prayer, and sometimes I'm not

Sometimes we eat popcorn for dinner . . . three nights in a row . . .and I am okay with that

Sometimes I rock the workouts all week and sometimes . . . I don't

Sometimes my kids watch tv A.L.L. D.A.Y. L.O.N.G. . . .and I let them

Sometimes my boys sport the cutest hair spikes and my girls are all in coordinating outfits and hair bows . . . and sometimes they spend the entire day in their pj's with food dried on their faces

Sometimes I am a domestic goddess and my house smells like citrus and a fresh breeze and everything sparkles . . . and sometimes it smells like diapers and wet dog and there are cob webs and hairballs all over the place

Sometimes I stay in my jammies and watch movies all day and accomplish NOTHING

Once upon a time, I would have died first before revealing any of that, but it is a reality and those sometimes moments don't even freak me out . . .

. . .except at new years . . . but not any more!

That has been the best "new start" for me this year. Sure I have set goals, I always do and hopefully I will continue to get better at the things I want to get better at but until then I will no longer beat myself up over my short comings, or think I am somehow less when things aren't perfect.

So here's to a new year and all the new goals . . .

But more important here is to embracing all those sometimes (and maybe a little more then sometimes) moments that make us unique and life awesome!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!