It's a new year...

I know, it's actually 24 days into our new year, but I am just getting around to posting my resolutions, one of which I've obviously failed at already.  When I made my resolutions I thought about past years.  I am great at setting goals and even sometimes make the effort for a day or week or month and then it drops off.  Not this year.  This year is a year of "doing" for me.

1. Lose 100 pounds.  That seems like such a HUGE goal for me and one I seem to make every year.  I downloaded an app called Lose It that helps me count my calories.  (I can track my exercise too, but then it adds to the calories I can eat in a day and I am not discipline enough yet to not eat those, so I just don't enter the exercise stuff yet. :D)  I really like it.  It has help me become more aware of the things I am putting into my mouth, how many calories I was actually consuming in a day and how quickly they can add up by drinking calories, picking off the kids plate as I clear the table, snacking with the kids through out the day and things like that.  I really like this way because I don't feel like I am on a diet.  I can still have a treat and not feel guilty about it.  It is going to be a new way of life for our family.  We are eating healthier and smaller portions.  There are several reasons I want/need to do this but the biggest one is for my kids.  I never want them to be embarrassed of me because of my size.  I want to be able to run and play with them without needing to rest and I want to watch them grow and have families of their own.  If I were to die at the same age as my dad, I would have 18 years left.  The way I am right now, I am right on track for that.  I want to be healthy.  I want to be able to shop for clothes without being embarrassed by the size as I go to check out.  I want to feel beautiful again. 

A little funny... Madi is such a good girl to share.  She is very generous and wants you taste everything she has.  She was eating some M&M's she got for Christmas last week and wanted me to have one.  I told her a few times I didn't want one but thanks anyway and after a couple of persistent tries she asked me why.  I said I was trying to lose weight.  With a very concerned voice she said "No, don't lose weight."  Of course she has no idea what that even means but I liked it anyway. :D

 2. Increase my testimony and draw closer to my Savior.  My beautiful children are so precious to me and I feel the weight of all that I need to teach them and how wicked the world is around us.  I feel like I need to set a better example for my kids and be a better teacher for them.  Derrick and I have committed to go to the temple at least once a month and to have a "planned" family home evening every week.  There are so many principles to teach our children and I feel like I am already behind on all the things I need to teach them before I send them into the filthy world we live in.  I want to be more diligent in my scripture study, be more in tune to receive personal revelation and promptings and serve others more.  My mom has set a great example for me of those things and I want to set that example for my kids.

We went to the library the other day and I want to get Madi interested in reading and learning about new things so before I left I told her to think about something she wanted to learn.  While we were sitting at a table after picking a few books, I asked her what she decided.  She said "Jesus.  I want to learn about Jesus."  Good answer my sweet little girl!

3. I want to be a better mom and get on a consistent schedule.  I feel like my life is lacking structure right now, like I have the wrong routine going.  We watch way too many movies and don't get out as much as we should.  Part of this is because your nose hairs freeze when you go outside.  The other day I realized that I hadn't left the house for an entire week!  So, we are going to have a library day each week (both my kids LOVE reading and books) and make sure we have a play date at least once a week.  I will be starting scouts up again which will be nice and hope to get Madi enrolled in swim lessons in the spring and dance in the summer.  I am trying to keep my house a little cleaner (even though my kids seem determined to make this impossible:D) and trying to work on my personal goals too.

4. I want to update my blog at least once a week (See I told you I already failed at one:D).  I want to remember the sweet things my kids do and say and if I don't do it more often, I never remember when I go to blog.  I want to be better about taking pictures of them.  They are growing up so fast.  I don't have a baby anymore.  I have a little girl and a toddler.  Where did the time go?  Madi only has a year and a half and she'll be going to school.  I need to capture every precious moment I possibly can as they grow so I can cherish them forever. 

So there you have it.  My goals for the year.  If you see me not doing one, kindly remind me. :D