Evanisms

A couple of weeks ago while playing Just Dance 2...

Evan: Can you pause it for a minute?

Mom: Why?

Evan: I need to take my shirt off.

Mom: Why? Are you hot?

Evan: No, this is a 'dude' song.

Another Just Dance 2 incident...

Mom: Where are you going?

Evan: This song is pooping me.

Mom: Well, just sit down and rest for a minute.

Evan: No. This song is pooping me. I really gotta poop.

Evan explaining the food pyramid to me...

Evan: There's the milk one.

Mom: Well, it's dairy. There are other things in that group too like yogurt and cheese.

Evan: And glue.

Mom: What?

Evan: Glue comes from cows.

Mom: Huh?

Evan: They blend the milk up with sticky stuff and make it into glue.

Mom: Glue is white like milk, but there isn't

any milk in it.

Evan: Then WHY is there a COW on the bottle?

Mom: I can see how that might be confusing.

Progress

A week ago I made a list of things I want to accomplish over the course of the year. Some are things that will take some time or will have to wait for warmer weather. Some are monthly goals, and it's too soon to evaluate my progress.

But there is one thing on the list that we have been doing faithfully each day... turning off all electronics for one hour each night (in addition to the time we spend at the dinner table). You wouldn't think one hour is such a long time. You wouldn't think electronics are that big a part of our lives. But? You would be wrong. It's wild how virtually none of these things (cell phones, ipods, laptops, handheld gaming systems, etc.) existed in the average home 10 years ago, yet now we can hardly imagine life without them.

The kids fought me a bit on this one. "Why?", they wondered (particularly Riley, clutching his brand new ipod touch). Because we need to spend more time with each other, rather than just in the same room. Because we need to talk to each other more. Because we need to read and play with each other more.

I'm not gonna lie, it has been louder, but it's the sound of Evan reading Henry and Mudge to me at the same time Shayna is reading The Three Bears to Quinn. It has been crazier, but that's because Riley is chasing Quinn around the house tickling him. It has been messier, but that's because Owen and Evan have the legos dumped out in their room, and are busily building spaceships.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the benefits of technology. I love my computer. I love the convenience of texting. I love skyping with far away family. I love my ipod... but I also love the simple things... snuggling by the fire with my husband while I listen to my children play around us.

Things To Do in 2011

In my last post I mentioned my reluctance to make New Year's resolutions. They just tend seem so BIG and intimidating.

1. Spend more time alone with my husband

2. Better manage my stress and anxiety

How will I make sure Zack and I spend more time together. What will I do to manage my stress? A little while back when I started reading Jennie's blog, I noticed this great yearly 'To Do List' that she had in her sidebar. Then yesterday, Marie Green posted a similar list. I really love this idea because it's so much more specific, and in my mind, that makes it more doable. So the 'resolutions' above might look more like this in a 'To do List' style:

1. Plan a once a month date night with my husband

2. Say no to more activities that will make our evenings crazier

I think that a 'To Do List" will help me to feel some immediate success. You cross each item off as you accomplish it. Also, you can take one resolution and make it into several items on a 'to do list'. Spend more time alone with my husband, might encompass the following: 1) Go snowshoeing alone with Zack at least twice this winter. 2) Watch a Netflix movie alone with Zack (we don't even have to leave the house for that one) at least twice a month. 3) Go out to dinner alone at least one a month. When I consider 'spending more time alone', I might have great intentions, but when it comes to putting it into action, I'll probably fall short. When I consider the more specific items though, I know these are things I can make happen. Also, the items might not be quite resolution worthy, but are still things that could make my life richer and more fun.

So here goes. The things I want to do in 2011:

1. Run another half marathon
2. Teach Shayna to make at least three of her favorite meals all by herself
3. Climb another 14er with Zack
4. Say no to more activities that will make our evenings crazier
5. Go camping somewhere we've never been before
6. Go out to dinner with Zack once a month
7. Become debt free (other than the house payment)
8. Run a full marathon
9. Spend at least one night alone with Zack
10. Make a new recipe twice a month
11. Potty train Quinn
12. Make a habit of getting up 15 minutes earlier
13. Maintain my weight between 135-140
14. Plant something new in the vegetable garden
15. Run at least three times a week
16. Go out for dinner and/or drinks with girlfriends once a month
17. Take the family to Yellowstone
18. Take the kids to swim in Meeker at least twice this winter
19. Tell each of the children I love them everyday
20. Try a new dish at 3 of my favorite restaurants
21. Take a class for fun
22. Move Quinn from his crib to a 'big boy' bed
23. Hang photo arrangements of all five children in our bedroom and in the living room
24. Paint Shayna's room
25. Find a place that I would like to volunteer some time
26. Work on my scrapbooks two mornings a month
27. Try a trail run
28. Spend time alone with each child
29. Use my reusable grocery bags more often
30. Read 3 novels aloud to the children (I read picture books with the younger children and listen to them read to me, but I would like to read some of my favorite YA novels aloud to them)
31. Send a thank you note EVERY SINGLE TIME I receive a gift (and make the kids do the same)
32. Make a habit of taking turns at the dinner table sharing something that happened that day (we have done this many times, but not everyday, and sometimes it's hard for some of us to get a word in with all the chatter at the table)
33. Go snowshoeing alone with Zack twice this winter
34. Make tortillas from scratch at least once
35. Turn off ALL electronics for AT LEAST one hour every evening (TVs, ipods, cell phones, computers, video games, etc)
36. Run a half marathon with Kara
37. Smile more... especially at strangers
38. Have a coffee date with friend/friends once a month
39. Move the claw foot tub to the backyard and plant flowers in it
40. Read at least one book a month. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I am spread pretty thin, folks.
41. Start a 'kitchen remodel' savings account
42. Walk away for a few minutes when I feel like I might shout at one of the children.
43. Go for more family bike rides
44. Learn to make at least one Indian dish (Indian food is a favorite of ours... not the kids, just the grown ups. The kids pretty much just eat the naan.)
45. Avoid drinking soda for the entire year (I fear this may lead to more wine consumption, however :)
46. Have a family game night once a month
47. Drink more water
48. Take more initiative when it comes to friendships
49. Work toward repairing some broken relationships
50. Feed the children healthier breakfasts (the one meal where I feel like we fall short

Well, it's a good start anyway, and I hope to add some things as the year progresses. I feel oddly energized for someone who has just made a to-do list bigger than any she has ever made before. Wish me luck!