Facebook

I remember vividly when email became the latest rage. I was a freshman at JMU and within what seemed like a very short time EVERYONE was emailing. Even my grandparents ended up with an email address in a very short period of time. It revolutionized the way we communicated and brought us closer together with those far away. Facebook is much the same way. No longer am I making coffee dates over email but on facebook. And, it is easier. Facebook takes social networking to a whole new level. And, even my mother is on facebook. So, I just wanted to suggest publically that facebook takes email to a whole new level. I have convinced many friends to join that thought it was just a "fad" or a teen thing. But, how cool is it that i can log on and in a matter of minutes get an update from all my loved ones... And, with in a few seconds update all my loved ones. And, I can add pix and videos and new friends, old friends and family can all be "in the know" and in the same room on a conversation on my pix... Love this feature! Anyways, my public confession of my facebook love and addicition is now complete.

Dinner in 2009

I am on a mission in 2009 to be more prepared in the kitchen. I don't even want to think about all the take out and eating out we do because I am not prepared. So, 1 of my New year's Resolutions is to eat at home more often. And the "SMART" (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reachable, Timeline) way I am doing this breaks down like this.

1. Crock Pot Meal - once a week - eat it twice
2. Cook Double what I need Once - Eat Twice -- BY FREEZING
3. Planning meals at least a week in advance.

I feel such a relief because it is working well so far. I have 2 meals in my Freezer (Chicken Rice Casserole and a Meatloaf) that I have prepared and another one to add this week (chicken pot pie).

And, I used my crockpot for a pork roast last week and used the leftovers in spaghetii -- how cool is that! And, I made an entire chicken last night and tonight I will be using the leftovers in Chicken Pot Pie.

The biggest breakthrough here is about planning. It isn't hard when I lay out the plan. I have meals PLANNED through the rest of January. It is so much less stressful having the plan. I have changed so much. I used to be a fly by the seat of my pants type...

looking back and forward

This picture brings back so many memories. Zachary looks so young. I look so pregnant. I loved my belly in this picture. The neat thing about being pregnant with twins is that your belly shows up much sooner and to me that is the best part of being pregnant is this belly full of a miracle, and in my case 2 miracles. It was a fun summer. A lifelong best friend moved to the area and we would hang out by the pool at the Y and at her apartment, her Zack and me. We came up with the cutest game - story telling. He would pick real or pretend and 1 by 1 we would all tell either a real or pretend story. He still recalls many of the stories we told this summer. It was mostly something for us to do while I could sit down. We would also spend lazy days at the pool and Zack was old enough that he swam well and I soaked the sun up. And, I offically quit Signs By Tomorrow at the beginning of the summer. Best thing I ever did. I don't know why I didn't do it summer. It was hard to quit at something you owned. Even though my husband encouraged me to do so. Would have done it sooner if I realized how much I wasn't "fit" for the job...

But, I do know that too often in life I appreciate life for what it was or will be and not for what it is. So, how do I appreciate the endless crumbs to sleep, the endless grunts, the toilet splashing times two and the general non-stop chaos. I know it is a decision but this "after holiday" routine it feels more difficult to do that! I have joined a moms group that meets each monday and is an in depth bible study and their is childcare. This will help. I am craving some deep spiritual conversation lately. I think this will be a great tank filler.

Date Night

This year Steve and I have bumped up date night from every other Monday to EVERY monday. I don't know how we would survive without date night to reconnect. And, there is such a cool feeling to sneak out of the house with my husband and we are so thankful for a great babysitter and the kids don't even NOTICE when we leave. They all love, Caitlyn our babysitter and immediately perk up when she comes in the door. Zachary even calls her, "the fun factory".

Last night we saw "Yes Man". It was laugh out loud funny. It got me thinking and then Steve and I talking at Chili's where we had our "after date". We love Chili's.. In the Movie Jim Carrey can't stop saying no and then his whole life changes when he says yes to it all... It was intersting because I analyzed BEFORE the twins I was a "yes woman" and in some ways that was good, I experienced so much and learned so much and it has been God using the twins in my life that I have learned to say NO. And, what was interesting is that Steve analyzed he is "no- man". We make an intersting pair :)

Anyways, I highly recommend date nights. I will give up internet before I remove date nights from our budget -- just wanted my bloggers to know how much I heart them :)