Yep- that's what I've been- a busy blogging bee. As I'm updating make sure you check back in between posts because I'm posting pretty sporadically. So don't assume that all the new posts will be on top. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for your patience. Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Out with the old, in with the new...
2008 was a crazy year for me and my little family. We started out living in my MIL's house in Mesa then moving to Maricopa in our own rental home and then moving to Wisconsin with my dad and family. A lot has happened and I'm grateful for this year. I've learned a lot about myself and plan on taking what I've learned to become a better Sarah in 2009. So bring it on 2009! Here's my goals for the new year. A lot of them are the same from the previous year and some are new. I love fresh new starts!
*Daily Scripture Study- read at least one chapter of the Book of Mormon every day and follow General Conference and D&C study plan
*Family Scripture Study- read one page a day from BOM stories to Baily and 1 chapter a day of BOM as a family
*Daily personal prayer morning and night
*Daily Family Prayer
*Keep Sabbath Day holy
*Pay a full tithing from now on as well as fast offerings!
*Have a full fast every Fast Sunday
*Have a full fast every Fast Sunday
*NO CAFFEINE SODA!!
*Train and prepare to run a marathon by the end of the year
*Weigh 135 by end of year through successfully completing BFL challenge and marathon training
*Attend Temple once a month
*Weekly FHE
*Weekly date night
*Do monthly budget and stick to it!
*Write letter, send card once a week to mom
*Read Ensign every month and at least one book
*Go back to school in pursuit of RN Degree*
*Have complete year supply and 72 houremergency kit by end of year
Joaquin 1 Year Old December 13, 2008
*Wears size 12 or 18 month clothing and size 3 diapers*Has been walking since he was 10 months old and is trying to learn how to run- he's getting pretty quick!
*Thinks he's invisible when he's walking backwards- he does this when he wants to get into something, like the toilet or dog food, that he knows he's not supposed to
*Has 8 teeth (he got like 5 of them within 2 weeks- not fun!)
*He grunts when he's eating
*Loves to give high fives and says "yeah!" when he does
*Torments his sister and wants to play with her and her stuff ALL.THE.TIME
*Says momma, dadda, gamma & gampa (grandma & grandpa), dog, duh-duh (thank you)
*Can sign more and thank you
*Loves to throw balls- and pretty much anything he's in the mood to throw- he just LOVES all sports balls
*Wants to eat all the time and is always begging food from someone
*Has to have oatmeal for breakfast every morning
*Is not weaned yet but really needs to be- he's definitely a booby baby!
*Got sick for the first time in his life with a cold and the worst diaper rash I've ever seen for a couple of days (must be the whole getting 5 teeth in 2 weeks)
*Loves the dogs here at my dad's house- loves all animals
*Any time he hears music or any sort of beat he's shaking and dancing
*Sleeps in his own crib for naps and night-time and goes down without any crying (most of the time) as soon as you put him in
*He naps at 11 every day for about 1-2 hours and goes to sleep by 7 (sometimes as early as 6) every night and wakes u between 6 and 7 every morning
*He's into anything and everything
*He won't sit still EVER!- he's always on the go
*He loves to eat dog food
*He LOVES bath time
*When he's really tired he loves to snuggle
*He points to things with his little pointer finger all the time
*He loves his Uncle Jensen and Grandpa and Grandma Holwick
*He's mesmerized by his Uncle Eyan
*He's a very naughty boy at church but he gets away with it because he's so stinkin' cute
*He's pretty much happy and smiling about 90% of the time
*He tries to wink but blinks both eyes- the cutest thing you'll ever see
*Has me wrapped around his chubby little finger- I LOVE my son so much it hurst sometimes!!
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Here's a couple of videos for... you guessed it... for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
366 Blessings
The last blessing I blogged about was #301 so here are the remainder of my 366 blessings for 2008 (a blessing a day):
#302- Joaquin sleeping in his own bed
#303- The blanket my mom made for Joaquin
#304- My hubby being off work on Halloween
#305- Lovin' with my hubby;)
#306- A good night's sleep
#307- Enjoying a cheesy potato and Pepsi picnic on the living room floor while watching a chic flic with my baby girl
#308- A warm bed
#309- My dad's breakfasts
#310- Hot showers
#311- My kid's loving living in WI
#312- Decorating for Christmas
#313- My dad's family dog Chester
#314- Popcorn
#315- My step-dad Gerald building an indoor fort and hanging out in it with Baily
#316- Rock Band on the Wii
#317- Watching my brother Alex's amazing directing talent
#318- Looking at pictures
#319- Ensigns
#320- Sweat Shirts
#321- My step-mom Patty's tuna casserole
#322- Fire places
#323- Heaters
#324- Best Western motels
#325- U-Hauls
#326- Cardinals in the snow
#327- Learning lessons of faith first-hand
#328- My Roath side of the family
#329- My YMCA membership
#330- Awesome new Pediatrician for my kids
#331- Warm socks
#332- Awesome new ward
#333- Listening to hymns
#334- My iPod
#335- Elder Wirthlin's last General Conference talk
#336- President Monson's General Conference talk "Finding Joy in the Journey"
#337- The Guatemalan speaker in church that reminded me of my in-law family
#338- German chocolate cake
#339- Hot cocoa
#340- Dipping butter cookies in hot cocoa
#341- Spirit of giving at Christmas time
#342- Free haircuts and highlights
#343- Baily's daredevilness
#344- Sledding with Baily
#345- Beauty of the snow
#346- 4 Wheel Drive
#347- Getting a Job
#348- Joaquin!!!
#349- My Tia Franci
#350- How much my Holwick fam helps me out
#351- A brand new niece
#352- Decorating a gingerbread house with family
#353- 4 awesome years married to my best friend
#354- A much needed new phone
#355- Text messaging
#356- The commandment to have FHE
#357- My brother Eyan
#358- Realizing that absence makes the heart grow fonder
#359- Daddy/Daughter Christmas shopping date with my dad and laughing until we cried
#360- The birth of my Savior Jesus Christ
#361- Shopping with just me and my girl
#362- Awesome new warm winter coat
#363- Going to a family dinner with the nicest people from my new ward
#364- My brother Beau
#365- My Sis-in-law Eben
#366- Board games
It has been so wonderful to take time to think about my blessings each day this year even if it was behind sometimes. Gratitude really does bring peace and happiness. This next year of 2009 I will still be recording my daily blessings but in a little bit of a different way. Even though this past year I know I probably repeated some of the same blessings even though I tried really hard not to, I'm not going to worry about not repeating the same blessings. Also, this new year I will just be recording my daily blessings on my sidebar under the heading My Daily Tender Mercies of the Lord instead of my regular posts. I'm also not limiting my blessings to one each day. I'm so grateful or the principle of gratitude!
November-December Bailyisms
Sadly I haven't been keeping up with these and I know there have been so many cute ones I don't remeber. Oh well... I shall just do better;)
10.31 While we were walking in between houses trick or treating she looked at me and said in the most excited voice you ever did hear "Mom. I LOVE Halloween!" And then she raised her and yelled "YES!!!"
11.1 We were watching Iron Man and I have a big sigh because I was tired and trying to stay awake and Baily says "It's ok mom. It's just a robot." Apparently she thought I was scared. Thanks for the comfort B bug!
11.? A few day before we moved up here to WI we were in Wal-Mart and every time we stopped in the store she would say to the closest person standing nearby "Hey. We're moving to Wisconsin where it's coooold." People were laughing and commenting on how cute she is. It was hilarious.
12.? When I went to pick her and Joaquin up at the tot spot at the YMCA where I work out she was excited to see me and knocked over a little girl while she was running on accident. The whole way home she kept saying "Mom I knocked that girl over and now she hates me. I can't ever go back there mom. I'm just so sorry." Oh boy... I can't wait until her teenage years!
11.1 We were watching Iron Man and I have a big sigh because I was tired and trying to stay awake and Baily says "It's ok mom. It's just a robot." Apparently she thought I was scared. Thanks for the comfort B bug!
11.? A few day before we moved up here to WI we were in Wal-Mart and every time we stopped in the store she would say to the closest person standing nearby "Hey. We're moving to Wisconsin where it's coooold." People were laughing and commenting on how cute she is. It was hilarious.
12.? When I went to pick her and Joaquin up at the tot spot at the YMCA where I work out she was excited to see me and knocked over a little girl while she was running on accident. The whole way home she kept saying "Mom I knocked that girl over and now she hates me. I can't ever go back there mom. I'm just so sorry." Oh boy... I can't wait until her teenage years!
12.? She was tired and confused after she talked to Santa and threw a fit when the gift he gave her right then wasn't what she asked for. A few minutes later she said " Mom. I'm sorry for being a brat (I may have called her that...). I'm thank Santa. I'm happy now."
12.? She got mad at her Uncle Jensen and yelled at him. Later on she went and apologized to him and ran up to me with a huge smile on her face and said "Mom I feel so warm all over. That make Jesus happy huh?" My heart melted. Maybe I am doing an ok job
12.? She got mad at her Uncle Jensen and yelled at him. Later on she went and apologized to him and ran up to me with a huge smile on her face and said "Mom I feel so warm all over. That make Jesus happy huh?" My heart melted. Maybe I am doing an ok job
12.24 On Christmas Eve when I told her she had to get to bed because Santa was coming and if she was awake he would leave she ran to her bed. It's never been so easy to put her to sleep! As I was lying there with her she whispered to me "Shh. Hear dat mom? I think I hear the reindeer. I better go to sleep. Good night!"
12.31- We were in the truck driving and Joaquin was pretty fussy. Baily gives a big sigh and says "Seriously Joaquin." She sounded exactly like how I say that. Sooo funny!
12.31- We were in the truck driving and Joaquin was pretty fussy. Baily gives a big sigh and says "Seriously Joaquin." She sounded exactly like how I say that. Sooo funny!
A Few Things of Note
Here's just a few things I want to remember about the happenings of my slacker blogger life these past couple of months (in no particular order), that I unfortunately don't havfe pictures to go with:
*The next door neighbor here at my dad's house have a 3 year old little girl with Amber. Baily had her first play date with her a few days ago and she was so excited. She had never met her before but as soon as I told her the morning of her playdate that she was going to be playing with her new friend Amber she couldn't wait and all day kept saying "I'm going to play with my friend Amber mom and I be nice and share all my toys." Baily was a little shy at first when Amber came over but she was sweet and loving toward Amber and after they played a while here she went over to Amber's house for about an hour and she had a blast. My baby's growing up way too fast! It's cool that she has a friend now that is right next door that's the same age as her. There's actually a few kids in the neighborhood around the same age that she'll be starting Pre-K with this fall so that's pretty awesome.
*I don't know why I thought that as soon I got here I'd have a job within a week. It took more like a month and a week. I forgot how annoying it is looking for a job. But I'm glad (in a bittersweet sort of a way but that's for a different post) to say that I recently got hired at a 4 diamond resort here in town called The Grand Geneva Resort as a banquet server. I'll be working in the afternoons. I've only done orientation and the paperwork mumbo jumbo so far. My first real day of working/training will be this Sunday afternoon (not excited about that but we have to make a living...) before we fly to AZ. It's only supposed to be part-time since it's their off-season and they are pretty slow so they say but when I talked to my manager/scheduler it seems like there are a lot of hours available which is good. I really hope my hubby will be able to land a great job soon after he gets here but until then I'm grateful to have found a pretty good job to help support the needs of our family- especially in such a struggling economy at the moment.
*Robert's sister had a sweet new baby girl named Alexis Marjorie on December 16th- the only girl with 4 brothers. I'm so excited for the family and I can't wait to squish on her when we go to AZ next week!
*Church news doesn't travel very fast here out in WI when there's no Internet access and when whether conditions keep you from going to church every single Sunday so I was so sad to hear like a week or 2 later that Elder Wirthlin died. I guess sad's not the right word- more like happy for him but sad because I'll miss his sweetest little smile and his amazing talks. I had just finished studying his last General Conference talk, Come What May and Love It, and I really feel like that was one of my favorites of the session and one of Elder Wirthlin's best talks. I'll sure miss him!
*Baily and I got to go sledding out in the front yard with Eyan and Patty and it was so. much. fun!! Baily is such a daredevil- a girl after my own heart, and I love that. We look forward to lots more sledding adventures living in this here Wisconsin;)
*7 weeks is WAY too long to be away from my hubby. Oh how I miss him and CANNOT wait to kiss those scrumptious lips! And I know I NEVER want to be a single mom. I'm one tired momma!
*It's REALLY, REALLY cold here (a couple days got down to like -40 with the windchill factor), but I honestly and truthfully love it. I used to hate the cold but it must be my Eskimo blood kicking in because I really don't mind it at all. I love the idea of experiencing all 4 seasons in all their glory.
*We are now members of the Elkhorn Ward in the Southern Milwaukee Stake and I love it! You couldn't ask for friendlier people. Last Sunday the Bishop's wife invited me over to her sister's house for their weekly big family dinner and it was great. Their parents are in the ward as well and are getting ready to go on a mission to Russia. They are the nicest, sweetest, most welcoming people. I was so grateful for their invitation. My kids had a blast with all the kids and I enjoyed some nice adult, LDS conversation. I soaked up the warm Spirit that was so strong. Everyone else in the ward seem just as friendly and I'm so excited to be part of the humble, sweet little Elkhorn ward. How blessed are we to have lived in the 3 best wards of the church?!
The Big One! (Post that is.)
I really don't believe anyone will read all of this but I want to document all this for reading sake. I can't believe how far I've gotten behind on blogging so there's a LOT to catch up on. Let's get started!
This is just my sweet kids hanging out outside on a beautiful October day in AZ. Good times.
My goofy girl decided that Joaquin's little jammy pocket must be filled with goldfishys. Why didn't I think of that?!
I finally buckled down and let Joaquin "cry it out" and learn how to fall asleep in his crib. It was a rough first couple of nights but it worked and now as soon as I put him in his crib at his naptime and bedtime he's out. Bliss I tell you! Why didn't I do that earlier?! 
We love snow!!
She's such a goof- just like her daddy! 
I finally got a much needed new phone and I looove it! Texting is so much easier now and I can actually hear people now and they can hear me. Well- when there's a signal at least but that's a whole new issue...
The family dog Chester has taken it upon himself to be the ultimate protector of my children and they sure do love him. He's such a great dog!
My brother Eyan loves to dress up and it's awesome.
My kids can always count on Grandpa H. for a snack!
My sleeping angels!
Why does my girl love ice cream and popsicles in the winter?!
Man I love my son!
This was just a fun day we had being outside and enjoying the VERY chilly weather. As you can see, my kids are not a bit phased by the cold- they LOVE it!
We had so much fun helping the fam decorate for Christmas. My dad and Patty's Christmas decorations can put anyone's to shame. It was so fun and Baily really got into this year.
Just J!
The snow and birds are oh so beautiful!!
My little Wisconsinites.
Of course we had to take advantage when we moved her of my dad's fine hairstyling skills (he's been a hairstylist most of his life). Baily got her haircut but surprise, surprise she was in one of her moods so needless to say there's no pictures of that fun event. Then Joaquin got his first haircut from my dad (not his first ever... just from my dad) and he was so good. He loved it. Then I got my hair colored (my favorite color job I've ever had! My dad rocks!!) and cut. I always say I'm going to grow it out but I just can't stand it. I really am going to this next year though;)
We got to go to my step-mom Patty's Christmas work party at the Firestation (she works as a Dispatcher for the Police Department). They had tons of great food and Santa came with some pretty great gifts for the kids. It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad we got to tag along. Baily was excited all day about seeing Santa and telling him that she wanted a talking house for Christmas but as soon as she came she wanted nothing to do with him. She managed to hold back the tears though and was able to get out her request. He then gave her a gift. When we sat down to open it (she was EXTREMELY tired by then) she was pretty confused at why he didn't give her the gift she asked for. I was pretty upset with her for being so ungrateful but I honestly think she was just very confused and so very tired. After a while of being fussy though she told me "Mom. I'm sorry for being a brat (I may have called her that...). I'm thank Santa. I'm happy now." And she was the rest of the night. It was a pretty great day.
For a FHE one night in December Eyan, Baily and I put together a gingerbread house. It was so fun and it turned out just precious. Good Christmas times!
For Joaquin's first birthday party we combined it with my brother Eyan's whose birthday was later on the 21st. We had over a bunch of family for lots of good food, cakes, presents and games. We weren't sure if everyone would make it but they did and it was an awesome party. Joaquin made out pretty well as did Eyan and everyone had a blast hanging out and enjoying each other's company. It was the first time most of the Roath (my step-mom's side of the family) had been together in a very long time. It was mentioned by quite a few of the family that they could feel Grandma and Grandpa there. (They both passed away not too very long ago). It was such a great day and I'm so grateful for the reason to be able to celebrate two very special boys' birthdays. How blessed we are!!
All GQ for church. Love this kid!
Love this kid!
Cheesehead!
Hot chocolate is my new best friend!!
My silly girl LOVES her blocs!
My brother Eyan loves to dress up and it's awesome.My kids can always count on Grandpa H. for a snack!My sleeping angels!Why does my girl love ice cream and popsicles in the winter?!Man I love my son! Just J!
The snow and birds are oh so beautiful!!
My little Wisconsinites. All GQ for church. Love this kid!Love this kid!
Cheesehead!Hot chocolate is my new best friend!!
My silly girl LOVES her blocs! Wisconsin definitely has not disappointed us in the snow department. We've gotten so much so snow and we LOVE it. It feels so much more Christmasy and festive. It's so beautiful! And Baily just cannot get enough of it. Grandma Holwick bought her a complete snow outfit when we got here and Baily is making sure to get full use out of it. She loves the snow and it loves her! Yay for real winters!!
Christmas Eve was a whirlwind day for me! Due to us not having our Christmas spending money until Christmas Eve I got to go shopping with my dad and all the other males in the world. So Joaquin, my dad and I ventured out Christmas Eve morning for our daddy/daughter Christmas shopping date. We had to fuel up first of course (anyone who knows my dad understands this) so we ate first at Perkin's and it was delish. Then we hit up Shopko, Kohl's and 2 different Wal-Marts. It was a long day of shopping. As soon as I got home I had to give my daughter the mom attention quota for the day, make Christmas cookies for Santa and write him a note, wrap presents, open the tradtional one gift for Christmas Eve, get my kids to sleep and then "help" Mrs. Clause put together a dollhouse with a bajillion stickers, fill the stockings and leave notes for the kids. Man did Mrs. Clause miss her Mr. Clause! I have to mention how cute it was that Baily was so excited for Santa to come. When I told her she had to get to bed because Santa was coming and if she was awake he would leave she ran to her bed. It's never been so easy to put her to sleep! As I was lying there with her she whispered to me "Shh. Hear dat mom? I think I hear the reindeer. I better go to sleep. Good night!" That's what it's all about folks!
Christmas was so nice and Santa didn't disappoint that's for sure. It was a great Christmas but just not the same without my hunny here. Other than that though I am so grateful for such a wonderful Christmas. Baily really got into Christmas and the excitement of Santa this year. She loves Santa... as long as it's from a distance. Ever since October when she started seeing the commercials for the "talking house" (the Mrs. Higbees Caring Corners talking playdoll house) she's been asking for it. So that's what was on the top of her wishlist this year from Santa. As soon as she woke up she looked at me excitedly and said "Mom! Let's go see if Santa came!" So we went to the dining room where the tree and gifts were and guess what?! He brought her exactly what she wanted! Wahoo! And Joaquin was so excited with his little gadget light toy and basketball hoop. It was so precious. When the rest of the family was up (which most of them were and they were waiting) we opened the rest of the bajillion gifts. Baily and Joaquin made out like bandits. Some of the things Baily got were a Leapfrog Clickstart which she LOVES, a ballerina princess outfit, snowboots, art stuff, games, clothes and lots of other fun stuff. Joaquin got snow clothes, bath toys, clothes and all kinds of fun toys. He took quite a while to open his gifts though... in fact- maybe someone had to help him and open them up for him;) I got an awesome winter coat and boots and hat and gloves (I guess you could say we weren't quite prepared to move up here...). Anyway, I was so excited! We really are so spoiled. Ater that the kids had a blast playing with their new toys and dad and I and Patty after she woke up, made a scrumptious Christmas dinner with ham, twiced baked potatoes, home-made rolls and all the fixin's. We missed our Robert so badly but other than that it was a great Christmas and how grateful I am for my Savior... the real Reason for the Season!!
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