New Year......Bring on the Improvements!

I'm totally stoked its a new year. It's so refreshing to feel like you have been given a do-over and since we only get one a year, I take mine pretty seriously. I have carefully considered  for days what things I would like to do differently in 2012. I know some will be disappointed that I haven't chosen to do over my cynical attitude or my crazy ability to judge everyone I encounter. Sorry folks,I believe in only resolving to change things that are possible, neither of these two are at all a possibility because ,well without them, I just wouldn't be the Stacie you all know and love. In 2012, I will still be the girl u can come to when u want the truth, not the sugar coated version, but the hard core truth. ;)

When I make my resolutions, I think of things that would make not only myself happier,but things that will make my family happier too. With that said, I've decided 2012 will be the year I make myself and my family eat clean. You know what I mean right? Proteins,veggies, fruit, and zero /zilch stuff that comes from a box. It's going to be hard as hell and I'm pretty sure my family, especially my candy loving kids, will hate me for sure so I decided to ease the blow allowing 1 meal/snack a week in which they may have whatever they want. One day they will thank me for this. I have also resolved to be more active as a family. We love the outdoors but haven't been very outdoorsy since moving to Alabama,possibly because 6 months out of the year it's Africa hot.

I'm trying not to sweat the small stuff, this will be my most difficult task. I'm thinking I shall adopt the motto of living for today. I plan to start my day with the saying "live today like its your last". I mean quite frankly we just never know, do we? My luck ,I will die on the day I decided to freak out on my entire family because they're not OCD freaks like me. I just can't have that. It's going to take HUGE amounts of reminding but I CAN do it!

Lastly, I need to make a career resolution. This one hasn't come easy because I am a hot mess when it comes to my career. Everyone thinks my job is so interesting and well it was interesting to me once too, about 10 years ago. Now it's rather monotonous and I'm super bored. I feel as if I have somewhat mastered it. Time to move on. I'm just not so sure what to move on to. I want a career where there is variation. A career where moving up the ladder is a feasible option. So I know what I want overall out of a career just need to decide if i should go back to school and more importantly what for? This year, I plan on doing some serious soul searching and if you all have any career recommendations for me, i will gladly consider them. I'm hoping by next year, I will be able to report a career change.

 I have a really good feeling about this year, better than previous years. I'm hoping my "feelings" are right. :)

Christmas is OVER.. Let the New Year Begin!!!

Christmas was a huge success at the Smith household. Everyone was happy and I was fortunate enough to score an Ipad from my dear hubby, :) While the holiday was perfect, I'm soooo glad its over. We spend a good solid month stressing about what to get people and how much to spend. I for one go over my "set limit" EVERY year. As much as we put into it, it is still over in a matter of 30 minutes. I know you all know what I'm talking about. How do kids tear through all that damn wrapping paper so fast? I cant wait until my kids KNOW I'm the one buying, maybe then my 7 year old will think before she gives me her Christmas list totaling items over 1000.00 bucks. Even if she doesn't, I will be allowed to rebuke "Are you out of your effing mind?" LOL. 

Now its on to the New Year and I am highly enthused about that. The end of December is a time to reflect on all the things that went wrong during the year and what we want to change in the upcoming year.. Ah, resolutions. I for one LOVE resolutions.I took a look back at my 2011 resolution blog. While I didn't exactly list out my resolutions, I did state some changes I would like to make. How did I stack up you ask? Surprisingly, not too bad. Like many of you, I aimed to lose weight in 2011, and I did. That's right, I made the gym a HABIT and watched what I ate MOST of the time. The results yielded a 15 lb weight loss. HOORAY ME! I promised to make more time for me in 2011 and I also did that! I learned this year that I love to write, I love to bake, and I love feeling fit. I love the handful of close friends that I have and have tried to have more one on one time with them. I have also made date nights a priority with Jason and as a result, we have become even closer than before(yes, that's possible). 


Alongside my resolution successes are my resolution failures. My biggest failure this year was career related. If you can remember my 2011 resolution blog, I went on and on about feeling so lucky to have a job, so fortunate that I bluntly stated I would no longer complain about my job. HAHAHA. Really, that resolution lasted at best, 2 months. What can I say? I have career related issues as in .... I don't know what I wanna be when I grow up. :) (This is not where you chime in to tell me that I am grown up;I'm fully aware)


So I'm thinking.... thinking of changes Id like to make in 2012. You'll just have to wait till the next blog to find out what they are. :)

Thankful

Is it just my observation or do the rest of you notice a more profound number of people expressing their thanks this year? I logged onto Facebook today and saw at least 20 posts of people listing things they are thankful for. I guess its not all that uncommon, but this year I feel people really ARE thankful. Their words seem genuine. Maybe Americans are a little humbled this year, I know I for one am definitely humbled. So without further a do, here is my Thankful List.

• I'm incredibly thankful to have found my soul mate and lucky enough to have married him.
• I'm thankful for my daughter, she is vibrant, funny, smart, and most important, healthy.
• I'm thankful for my son, who is a mini me. He has the biggest heart of any child I've ever met.
• I'm an thankful for my parents, without them I would not be who I am today.
•  I'm thankful for my mother's wonderful listening skills and her wise advise. 
• I'm thankful for my siblings who make it easy to be "mom's favorite". LOL
• I'm thankful for my friends. Its nice to have somewhere to turn when your husband and mother are sick of you.
• Although I often complain of its monotony,I'm thankful to have a career that makes it possible to provide for my family and at the same times provides me with an opportunity to help people. 
• I'm thankful to have a relationship with god that is not dictated by any organization.
• I'm thankful for my health. 

I'm sure I'm thankful for more, but these are some of the top things weighing on my mind lately. Its unfortunate people use one day out of the year to say their thanks out loud. We should all be expressing our thanks through words and actions on a daily basis. I hope all of you have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

My Gramp!

Its funny how a smell, a saying, or even a look, can make you remember someone who has passed. Today, I had a patient who reminded me of my grandfather. I started to travel down memory lane, something I haven't done in a long long time and I realized its been 10 years since he passed. He died when I was living in North Carolina and I was about 4 months pregnant with my first child. His last years were miserable! He was in and out of nursing homes, hospitals, and his final stop.. hospice.

I visited him every night when he was in the nursing home. I hated to see him struggle to breathe, I hated the in and out admissions to the hospitals,and when he passed I found great comfort in knowing he would no longer suffer. I spent a lot of time with him when he became ill, we became closer than we ever had been.  I can still remember his smile, his laugh,and his smart ass remarks. I remember him telling me over and over again... "those eyes". He loved my eyes and always made a big deal about them. When I was fretting over something, he always reassured me it would work itself out and I shouldn't sweat the small stuff. I am just now getting better at taking that advice.

He was a  funny guy who called women broads, loved his Sanka coffee, and often rolled his eyes at his wife when she was bitching, which she routinely did. He always made me feel special, especially in his last years; years he was struggling. He wasn't a perfect man, but he was a great man. Damn, I miss him!!

Jacob's 10th Birthday!!!

I cant believe my baby boy turned 10! Seriously, where does the time go? This year he didn't want a REAL party. He said he just wanted to have a couple friends over, maybe hit a movie,and then have a sleepover. Oh and absolutely NO GAMES. He is too old for games. Hmph, what fun is any of that?

I did convince him to have a "campout party". Then Jason suggested we could do a little scavenger hunt for the boys. Sounded like a great idea to me. We had 7 boys total. Jason was patient enough to take them all to see Planet of the Apes. Then we came back and had some pizza, went on a scavenger hunt, and made some smores. Jake told me at one point during the night, that this was the best birthday party he has ever had. Mission Accomplished!!!

The cutest cake, Ive ever seen

 Fun in the pool with friends

 Even a pool doesn't keep kids from wanting to play in the sprinkler. :)

 

 Pizza Time!!!!

 The Campout Crew!!!!

 Scavenger hunting!!!

 Whats in this bag???

 Gift time!! Thanks Everyone!!

 Ending the night with a little Smore action.

Gaining Control!

Saying August was a busy month seems like a drastic understatement! I feel like my head has been spinning in so many different directions. We had two birthdays in the Smith family this month, kids started back to school, and 4 days a week you can find us at the soccer field. I am happy to report that things have started to settle down. (YAY!!!!!!!!) They have settled down enough for me to sit down and blog about the months happening. I do apologize if these blogs seem a bit mediocre, I'm so much better  blogging in the present. Blogging about the past rarely does the blog justice, but I shall try. ......

Jason turned 35 last month and I decided to throw him a birthday get together at the house. You know the drill, "its just going to be a small get together". I don't do small, I don't know why I continue to convince myself I do. So instead of a small get together we had a Mexican Fiesta Bash, Complete with Margaritas,enchiladas,pinata bashing, and pin the tail on the Jackass (aka Jason). I would be lying if I said I didn't stress over this party, but in the end Jason was happy and we had a great great time.

The Birthday Boy

Mocktail Margaritas for the kiddies.

 Me spinning Jason for pin the tail on the jackass... I couldn't stop laughing. I will have you know ALL adults were subject to playing. More pics on FB.

He would pin it there!!! I think maybe he could see....

 

Pinata Time... The adults never got a turn......

  Sombrero Toss anyone????

 The awesome,yummy, delicious, cake!!!

I'm alive, Im alive.

I have been a true slacker lately. Not just a blog slacker, but an overall slacker. My only excuse which I know all of you are quite familiar with, Ive been busy!!! Too busy to read, blog, cook,workout,eat right,clean my closet,etc, etc. I think you probably get the point. So this blog is intended for me to regain control of my busy life and update you on the last month or so.....

I would be wrong not to blog about our vacation to Cape San Blas. If you haven't been to Cape San Blas, I recommend you go very soon.At the end of July, the family and I loaded up in the car and drove about 3 hours to our destination, a beach house on Cape San Blas. I have always wanted to stay in a beach house and the experience did not disappoint me. Sun, fun, and family...what more can one ask for? Here are some of my favorite pics.

The whole family hanging out in Apalachicola. Checking out the shops and grabbing some lunch.

 Time for some night time fishing. This was interrupted by the hatching of sea turtles. Super cool experience for the kids to see. Would have taken some pics but NO LIGHTS allowed, it scares the turtles.

 I love first times. This is me testing out the mushy water that I would  be scalloping in. I had never been scalloping. It was a little gross but fun. :)

 One of many perfect sunsets,we got to see while we were there.