Picturing 2009

Ok, so I TOTALLY stole this posting idea from my bestest friend Rachel, but she loves me so I don't think she'll mind. :) My list of resolutions for the year is, well, just a bit long. I may need to do adjusting & get real on a few things, but I am excited for a new year to start fresh. My ultimate theme this year is.....

BALANCE!
I find myself quite out of it a lot and it is simply NOT ok. I need to refocus my priorities & set limits & go to bed at a decent hour for heaven's sake!

The main areas of focus for me in 2009 are:
My Spirit
My Family
My Body
My Mind
My Home
My Business

And since it would be so boring to list out all my resolutions & since I'm a picture kind of gal...here are a few of my resolutions...in pictures.....

I can do it! I think I can..I think I can...I think I can....

Lukism

Out to dinner at Rosa's....Luke is hacking away at his bean burrito with his knife.

Me: "Do you want me to help you cut your bean burro?"
Luke: "No Mom, I'm a man."
Me: "Nuff said." (snicker)

Remembering...

Today is Grandma Roberts' birthday. We wanted to do something that would help us remember her. So we packed up the kiddies, brought our cleaning supplies & headed down to the cemetery to spruce up Grandma & Grandpa's headstone & add a fresh bouquet of silk flowers. We brought along a picture of Grandma & Grandpa & the whole drive over little B sang, Grandma Rooooooberrts...Grandmaaaa Roooooobeerrrts while clutching that picture. Sigh...so unfair that she doesn't have her fabulous Grandparents in this life....

Everybody was in on the action...and we kept them pretty well contained....generally speaking. We even got a chance to go & visit my Grandma Larsen's gravesite as well. So many people we love & miss so much!! Makes you value each moment.

Ahem, Zoe dressed herself & did her own hair for this event. Gotta love 6 year old fashion.

After completing our clean-up we gathered around & sang "Happy Birthday" to Grandma. We miss you so much Grandma R....happy, happy birthday!!

AND for a little comic relief...if you look VERY closely you will see a boy who simply COULD NOT hold it any longer. He will kill me for this someday....most assuredly. But when Rob & I looked over, I just couldn't resist. ;) Boys have it SO easy.

P.S. Happy Birthday also to Aunt Jessica! We love you too! Smooch!

Putting our best foot foward...

The new year...fresh & full of possibilities....hmmmm...this is beginning to sound familiar. Did I say something like this January 1st of 2008?? Oh it is possible, probable in fact, but none the less quite true. We begin again. I have been sitting here pondering my New Year's Resolutions for 2009...resolutions broken down into these parts: spirit, family, body, home, mind & business. Frankly for me this year it is all going to be about balance, keeping my priorities in check & finding joy in each moment. And so I embark on 2009 filled with hope, purpose & resolve. Let's make it a memorable year my friends!

Ok, so yeah I'm thinking about it....

Bloggin' over here that is.
Another New Year's Resolution per chance?
Hmmm....
Ok, well maybe, perhaps, we'll see... ;)

(but I WILL NOT set myself up for failure & try to blog every day...I'm not THAT crazy...most days.)

Relfections

Ok so I've been tagged & challenged by my bestest friend Rachel & my mama...so I will post a pic of myself for Rach & complete the tag for mom...here goes....

8 favorite TV shows...uhhh well I actually watch almost NO TV...before you think I'm all anti-TV or whatever, know that the bulk of that time is spent with my iMac.
However I do occasionally watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy..ok I ALWAYS watch this one.
...uhh...honestly can't think of anything else I want regularly....
(we don't have TiVo...I know we are totally behind the times)

8 things I did yesterday...
1. Got dressed in my sweats w/o a shower. Good stuff.
2. Watched my girlfriends boys.
3. Emailed a bunch of clients.
4. Finished editing my SIL's family photoshoot.
5. Took my kids to Sonic for slushies & then to the park.
6. Made my bed...a miracle.
7. Took pics of my own kids at the park...another miracle.
8. Chatted w/ mom my while she was over picking out pictures.

8 things I look forward to...
1. Taking pictures of any sort...but especially of my own kids this weekend for our x-mas cards.
2. Thanksgiving...a time to remember my blessings.
3. Black Friday shopping with my sisters...SERIOUSLY one of my favorite days of the year.
4. My kids faces on Christmas morning.
5. A beautifully decorated, scrubbed, immaculate house...(hey I can dream).
6. Actually filling the frames I have on my living room wall with pictures.
7. Brynn to stop crying.
8. LEARNFEST. (a photography workshop I'm going to next year).

8 favorite restaurants (yeah, like I ever go anywhere besides McDonalds....)
1. Carrabas
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. P.F. Changs
4. Texas Roadhouse
5. In & Out Burger...maybe not an official restaurant, but YUMMY!
6. Rosas
7. Crackers
8. Cafe Rio

8 things on my wishlist...
1. All my business debt paid off.
2. 85mm 1.4L, 24-70mm 2.8L, 50mm 1.2, 100mm macro (photography lenses)
3. A clean house.
4. A personal chef.
5. More time.
6. An organized garage, bedroom, closets, etc.
7. A long weekend with my hubby.
8. Wild success in my business.

I tag...whoever is up for this madness!

From the Mouths of Babes

L: "Mom, when will I go to heaven?"
Me: "After you die, probably in a long, long time. Grandma Roberts is in heaven."
L: (pondering) "Is Jesus gonna come down here again?"
Me: "Yes he is, we just don't know when that will be. That is why we have to try our best to do what is right so we can be with him when he comes."
L: "When he comes, I'm gonna give him a big hug."
Me: "Me too, buddy, me too."

(random conversation with L just the other day...unprovoked...just driving in the car...)