Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Making Christmas, Making Christmas, LA LA LA!

Oh' Christmas Tree!
The Village my Mom has been adding to each year since getting married, I love it!

Some of the ornaments I have were my moms when she was first married, I've just updated them
Grandpa and Grandma Ewell...Miss them both
My little block nativity and Jack with Santa
Our Memory Christmas Tree
All the ornaments from Chris and my childhood
All ready for Santa
Jack loves Christmas
My curious boy

Monday, November 28, 2011

101 in 1001

101 in 1001

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. http://www.dayzeroproject.com/

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

I don't feel like posting my entire list, because some of the things are more personal than I'd like to share here, but here's a snippet:

_______

For me:

1. Lose 50 pounds by (12/30/2012)

2. Finish my pre-requisites for Nursing school; Math 1050, English 1010, Bio & lab, Chem & lab, Human Anatomy & lab, Human physiology & lab

3. Go out with a friend at least once per month.

4. Get my legs waxed at least once.

For my mind:

5. Read 12 novels during 2012

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October

November:

December:

6. Read 12 novels during 2013

January:

February

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October

November:

December:

7. Attend four theater productions

· 1.

· 2.

· 3.

· 4.

For my creativity:

8. Make 15 quilts

9. Learn how to knit

10. Take a pottery class

11. Take a piano course

12. Learn how to read music

13. Take a photography class

For my soul:

12. Read the entire Book of Mormon from cover to cover

13. Tell myself I’m beautiful, strong, & important once a day

14. Read 5 books written by LDS authors

· 1.

· 2.

· 3.

· 4.

· 5.

15. Keep a gratitude journal every day for one month

For my health:

16. Complete five 5k races

17. Complete a 10k

18. Complete a half marathon

19. Practice yoga once per week for six months

20. Lift weights 2 times per week for six months

21. Try a Zumba class

22. Go on a walk everyday for a month

23. Stop drinking soda for one month

24. Take a multivitamin everyday for a month (to develop the habit)

For my marriage:

25. Start and Write in OUR journal everyday for a month (to develop the habit)

26. Take a picture of us together at LEAST once per month (0/33)

27. Go on a real date at LEAST once per month (0/33)

28. Go hiking together six times (0/6)

29. Attend the temple at least 20 times together (0/20)

30. Read four books on marriage/relationships (0/4)

31. Go river rafting together

32. Read an entire book together cover to cover

33. See the lights at Temple Square each Christmas (0/3)

34. Pray together once a day for 30 days to develop the habit (0/30)

35. Leave sweet LOVE notes around the house, at LEAST one a week

For my baby:

41. Use cloth diapers (August to October 2011)

42. Keep a journal/blog of his life (update at least once per month) (1/31)

43. Take a picture of him at LEAST every single week of his life. So far, so good.

44. Have professional photos taken during Jack’s first year (three times in 2011)

45. Read Jack “I’ll Love You Forever” everynight before bed

46. Make Jack sit through sacrament so he can learn it’s importance.

47. Teach Jack sign language to help him less frustrated with communicating and have better manners

48. Write a detailed “birth story” of to remember the experience (April 9th, 2011).

49. Take him to feed the ducks by the canal with Great Grandma Hughes

50. Take him to the Dinosaur museum

For my wallet:

51. Stick to a preset food budget every month (0/33). I'm really bad at this.

52. Research and buy the best quality/least expensive tires for the car

53. Save at least $20 per month in our savings account

54. Convince Chris that life insurance is important and invest in it

55. Find 10 events in SLC/Provo/Park City/Boston that are free and attend them (0/10)

56. Grow a garden in 2012 and 2013

57.Get the car registered

58. Get out of debt by 8.25.2014

59. Have dinner in the space needle restaurant

60. Have thanksgiving dinner at my house

For the blog:

61. Find/create a blog layout/design that I really love

62. Update my blog at LEAST once a week.

For others:

63. Donate my hair to Locks of Love….if I can find the courage!

64. Donate a can of food for every pound of weight I lose to achieve my goal weight

65. Make a birthday cake for someone not in my family

66. Donate $1 for every item completed on this list ($0/$101)

67. Bake a treat for a random neighbor, friend once a month (0/33)

For our house:

68. Organize ALL photographs into albums

69. Continually de-clutter and donate unused items until I’m happy with our home

70. Sweep the floor every single day for a month (to get in the habit)

71. Re-paint and decorate our bedroom

72. Save up for new bedroom furniture

73. Save up for 8 more sets of our china (so I can have the entire Kenner family over for Thanksgiving)

74. Put up a new fence

For the environment:

75: Plant 3 trees.

Miscellaneous:

76. Complete this list before January 1, 2012

77. Go to Maryland

78. Learn to change a car tire

79. Have wills drawn up for both Chris and me

80. Renew my driver’s license

81. Go to the Grand Canyon

82. Carve pumpkins for Halloween (2011)

83. Say “yes” to something big that I would normally say “no” to

84. Mail out Christmas cards in 2011,2012, & 2013

85. Start a new family tradition with Jack ( A new Christmas ornament every year, Nov 28,2011)

Other:

86: Do the Dirty Dash with Chris

87: Give 20 unsolicited, random compliments.

88. Find a stylist and get a haircut that I love (

89.

_______

Occasionally I might post things about my progress or success in achieving the things on my list. My start date is November 28, 2011, and my end date is August 25, 2012. (Fingers crossed) of this ambitious list.

I'm open to changing/altering/adding to my list, so if you have any suggestions (especially in the "for others" section -- I have more than I posted here, but I still feel like that section may be a little lacking) please feel free to say so in the comments.

Would any of you ever consider doing something like this, too?

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Jack's Christmas Pictures

My boy is such a ham! He has the sweetest smile and we got really good pictures taken for Christmas! Check them out HERE!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Ewell Family Pictures













This is the first time in YEARS that we have gotten professional pictures taken! I LOVE them, especially the ones of Jack and his cousing Wesley and the ones of me and the girls :)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Which one is cutest?

Shutterfly is having an awesome deal that ends today, PLUS I have a $20 coupon, help me out. Which one is cutest?
Snowflakes Ribbon Christmas Card
Make unique Christmas cards this year at Shutterfly.com.
View the entire collection of cards.

Wishing You Merry Christmas Card
Find unique and Personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.
View the entire collection of cards.
This one also has 3 cute pictures on the back as well.
With Love Christmas Card
Turn your favorite photos into personalized Christmas cards.
View the entire collection of cards.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Good News!


Chris was officially accepted into the University of Utah for Spring 2012!!! Hooray, we will finally be starting the next step on our journey...gosh it feels good! I am SO proud of him! He graduates from SLCC in just a month in a half! Go Utes!

*UPDATE* Chris just signed up for orientation and academic advising for the U next monday!!! THIS IS REAL!!! OH GOODNESS!!!

Jack: 7 months old

I can't believe Jack used to be this tiny....
(Just 1 day old, check out this music video)

AND NOW!
Chug, chug, chug, chug!

Crazy grandpa!
He will KILL me one day for this picture!
Grandma Ewell took Jack Jack to get his shots, he is such a trooper!
The First snow!
Look at that drool!
Out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Ewell
Matching ties from Auntie Heather and Mommy
Great-Grandma Hughes and Grandma Ewell's Birthday party
He just thinks his Holman cousins are the greatest!
Gosh he loves his Grandpa Ewell!
Daddy's boy!
Jack really does think Kyle is THE coolest person ever!
Cutest picture! All the Kenner Grand-babies together, they have the best Grandma and Papa around!
Cute cousins
Jack's new favorite food, Gerber cheese puffs!
snacking on cheese puffs again!
(yes he's always eating...)

Jack now weighs 20.5 pounds (87th percentile) and is 27 inches long (85th percentile) he LOVES to eat. He will eat anything, nothing is yucky to him, he is the most scrumptious boy around, we love him to pieces. He can now sit up on his own, and can roll from one side of the room to the next (kind of like rolling around in a barrel). He LOVES bath time, and thinks his daddy is THE coolest person ever. Jack can SCREAM, he's known about his voice for sometime now but besides babbling he WILL tell you how he feels with screams and blowing bubbles. He already has a very infectious personality. We love hime to the moon and back. Our mush is THE mushiest. Right now he has a bit of a cold, so he has been super cuddly, but despite not feeling well he is still a sweetheart.

Jack Loves
  • As mentioned before, FOOD.
  • To jump and jump and jump in his jumper
  • To listen to me read stories at bedtime, (he's started falling asleep right before the last page.)
  • His bed, he giggle and laughs AS SOON as we place him in there at bedtime (not so much at nap time.)
  • All his grandma's and grandpa's, I don't have ANY pictures of grandma and grandpa Kenner with him this month :( I know papa Kenner does, so I will have to get some from him ASAP!
  • His puppy Henry, he belly laughs at his presence
  • Jesus, he's still so close to heaven! He will find a picture at church, in our home, or a family members home of Jesus and he just LOCKS his eyes onto him. I know he knows him still, I bet they were best friends in heaven.
Jack now can:
  • Sit up on his own.
  • Feed himself puffs.
  • Roll around like a ball on the floor.
  • Stand up with little help.
  • Reach for the person who he desires attention from.
  • Pat his hands together.
  • "Give high fives."
  • Melt strangers hearts...(not that he couldn't before!)