Happy New Year!

I know it is not January 1, but close enough!! We had a very nice New Year's Eve-Addison went to bed about 7:30 and Jack and I watched a movie. We were in bed before midnight, but did wake up because everyone on our street was putting off fireworks. On New Year's Day we went to Aunt JuJu's for our traditional dinner of pork and sauerkraut along with spaghetti bake. It was so yummy! I was lucky enough to be off work on Friday and got a lot of housework done.

Saturday I went back to Centerville to have my hair cut-it's short!! I will try to have Jack take some pictures in the next couple of days to post. We also went to our neighbor's house on Saturday evening so that Addison could play with Carson. He got a John Deer tractor for Christmas so they played on that and danced. Both of them cried when we had to leave.

Addison was 19 months old yesterday!! Now she's even closer to 2 years old. I can't believe I just typed that. Time flies by so quickly. She repeats EVERYTHING anyone says. She likes to do dishes and vacuum. Boy, they sure learn by example!!

I'm probably going to jinx myself with my long resolution list. I forgot to add that I'm not going to associate myself with people who are fake and surround my family with people who are genuine and honestly care about friendship. It is more than important to me to put Addison first and a lot of people without children do not understand that (JackieD understands though)! I want 2009 to be the year of family, friendship, and fun! Fun meaning I'm finally going to get out and do stuff like the zoo, museum, camping, Lake Erie, boating/jet skiing, gardening, and maybe taking Zippy Angel to learn some agility tricks. I would love her to learn how to do flips and jumps like the dogs on TV! Hehe!

Jack and I are also working on our home this year. Before Addison is 5 (which is only in 3 years!) we need to move to a different school district, so we are going to start doing some upgrades. Eventhough we bought our house new, the builder used all contractor grade stuff and it sucks! We have started with buying matching furniture for the living room (our bedroom is next). We have NEVER had any furniture that has matched, let alone really had anything new (it was all hand me downs). We are also switching Addison's room with the den so that it is quieter in her room. I found the most amazing color of paint for her room at Home Depot this week on their $5 "OOPS" rack! I now I have to find a neutral color to cover the pepto pink in her current room, which will be the new guest room. Jack is building a headboard for the bed and I'm thinking about sewing some new curtains...

We are hoping to paint/move rooms next weekend, which is the long Martin Luther King holiday. We have to take apart the desk and Addion's crib, which will be a pain, but worth it in the end. I love to paint! I will take before and afters. Jack's bathroom is next...I also cleaned "my" garage last weekend ("my" garage is the one attached to the house, "Jack's" garage is the detached one he built). I took a before pic, but haven't totally finished, so when I do, I will take an "after" and post it.

Let's see, what else? I'm back to work and love the routine. I got a new police scanner in my office and it is hilarious to listen to the dispatch. People call the police for the stupidest stuff! Yesterday someone poured water on another person's Playstation so they called the police and had them dispatched!!

Sorry no pictures today...maybe later tonight.

Happy New Year's Eve

Times sure have changed--I guess when you are 29 and 30 with an 18 month old, no one wants to hang out with you on New Year's Eve! Just kidding--we were invited to Katie's in Columbus but decided it would be too hard with Addison. Hope you guys all have fun up there!! Addison is sick again, came home from daycare yesterday with a 100 degree fever. She also has a horrible cough. Last night I remembered the vick's vapor rub trick and slathered it on her feet and put thick socks on. I think she might have coughed once. It really works!! Jack is with her today so hopefully she feels better for him.

I unfortunately had to work this week, but only until 3:00 today. Monday I decided to go back to the weight lifting class I had been doing the year prior to surgery. It's amazing how much muscle you lose in such a short time (maybe 3 months). My back felt fine--I was only using 5 pound weights and I abstained from the jumping jacks and moves like that. I could hardly walk for a day after that because I was so sore, but it is a good feeling. I'm going back on Friday morning.

Working out makes me think of New Year's Resolutions, although I'm not putting "working out" on my list because that is a given and everyone should do that anyway. I love making lists, I guess that's the organizer in me. So I guess that brings me to my list of goals for 2009. I'll first start of with a quote I found in a motivational quote book I got for Christmas.

"Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else"

-Judy Garland

That is the preface of 2009--being an original person. I'm tired of imitations and people trying to "out do" each other with what they have, etc. I can not say I was never that person because everyone wants stuff they can't have/can't afford!! With the economy the way it is, I'm happy both Jack and I have good jobs and Addison is at a wonderful daycare part time. So here's my list:

1. Learn how to knit

2. Quit drinking pop (that does not include Red Bull or Monster!). And as I sit here writing this, I'm drinking my last Coke Zero

3. Be a better listener. If only Jack read my blog--he would say this should be at the top because he says I'm a horrible listener. And I am--I only hear maybe half of what he says!

4. Learn how to really use my camera. I'm lucky enough to have an awesome camera, I should really learn how to use the "artistic" side of it!

5. Find a Lutheran church similar to the one I grew up in. I tried Catholic, and it's just not the same!! I would like to baptize Addison.

6. Spend more quality time with Addison and take her to fun places on days off and weekends (Cinti Museum Center, Zoo, Aquarium, etc)

7. Budget to drop my hours from 40 to 35 at work (I'd work 7-2 M-F or 6:30-1:30). The timeframe for that is May 1.

8. And with less hours, I can cook dinner every night (healthy)

9. Find a "style" that works for me-hair and clothes. I feel I'm mismatched! I need a personal shopper! LOL! A lot of my clothes are from years ago (college) and I need something new for 2009--and not an imitation of somebody else!

So there are my 9 goals for 2009. I guess I should print that and put it in a visible place!

We will be spending time as a family tonight, I'm so excited! Hope I can stay up until midnight! We wish everyone happiness and health in 2009!!