Year of the Zoo

With money we received for Christmas from various relatives, we decided to buy a membership to the local zoo. I've never been a big fan of the zoo. I just...don't really like animals. Wait, that may have come out wrong. It's not that I don't like animals, it's just that I don't like to be NEAR animals. They smell, they're dirty, I just...don't want them touching me. Do not even get me started on the petting zoo... Anyway, suffice it to say that I hated trips to the zoo as a kid. It smelled, it was usually hot, and I remember the Phoenix Zoo being pretty ghetto.

But kids are supposed to love animals right?! And what kind of mom would I be if I didn't encourage that? So we went ahead and made the commitment, and bought a membership. We will be going to the zoo A LOT this year to make sure we get our money's worth. And let me just say, the Phoenix Zoo has made some big improvements! It is no longer the gross, smelly, dirty, ghetto place I remember. I've decided that as an adult, I like the zoo! I like seeing the animals from afar. And I entered the petting zoo with my boys (I did not touch anything) and even entered the monkey exhibit where monkeys are actually swinging around you, NOT in a cage. I was so brave. The things we do for our children right?

We've already been twice since buying the membership, the last trip I won't talk about because T had the MOTHER of all meltdowns and I spent most of the time in the van with him kicking/screaming. But the first trip was pretty fun and we got some cute pictures! Here's to 2010, the year of the zoo.

One year older and wiser too!

My birthday was about a week ago. I turned 31, which means I am officially in my 30's now. There is no going back.

I have to say, in spite of the realization that my grey hairs and wrinkles aren't going anywhere, this was one of the best birthdays I've ever had! A few years ago I read a post about a woman who had her family drop her off at a hotel and leave her there alone for Mother's Day. That's what she wanted, a night/day to herself! The idea of doing that on Mother's Day isn't something I personally would want, but a day/night to myself? YES PLEASE! And what better day to do that than your birthday! So J and I have decided to start a new tradition. On our birthdays, the other spouse will take over the kids, cooking, cleaning, etc., and allow the birthday girl/boy to do whatever they want! What more could a person want?

Let me just say, it was the best present this tired mom has ever received. I laid in bed most of the morning reading. (The Time Traveler's Wife, I highly recommend it.) Josh made me an awesome breakfast which I decided to come out and enjoy with my family. Then afterward, right back in my room to read! I took a nice long shower, watched some TV, read some more, came out to be with my kids, then when things started getting crazy again, I escaped right back in my room to let J deal with it!

It was the best birthday ever.

Thanks J, for making my birthday a relaxing one! Is it weird to say I can't wait until I turn 32 next year?

My Daily Timewasters

As though my addiction to reading blogs (currently numbering 65 on Google Reader) and getting on Facebook a million times a day weren't enough, I also have my list of bookmarked pages that I check pretty much on a daily basis. You know, because it's not like I have children, or housework, or cooking, or my job to keep up on.

In case you too need some daily timewasters, here are my favorites in no particular order:

http://notalwaysright.com/

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

http://www.youdrivewhat.com/

http://www.fmylife.com/

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/ (this one is a blog but still so hilarious I had to list it)

Kicks

I'm already off to a good start, I'm blogging for this week!

So far, so good on the NYR's. I've run 15.5 miles so far, lost 3 lbs. (for some reason I think my scale is lying), and now I'm blogging!

I forgot to update on my Christmas wish list. I DID get that awesome red stool, and my Bosch cookie paddles! Which, by the way, are AMAZING. How did I live without those cookie paddles before? I'll never know. I also got some new slippers, a BYU sweatshirt that J made, and some new shoes. I love these shoes, but a part of me wonders: Am I too old to be wearing these?
I mean let's face it, I am going to be 31 in 6 days. Oh well.

In other news, T has started soccer. If there was any question before, I can now say with certainty that it has NEVER been more obvious that this kid has ADHD. He has his first practice Friday, and first game Saturday. The poor guy is really in his own little world out there. The coach (who by the way, is not a very patient man) has to yell his name multiple times to get his attention. All the other kids will be running around playing the game, and T will be standing there staring off into space, or picking a stick up off the ground. At one point during the game he actually did go after the ball to kick it, but the ball went out of bounds. T ended up kicking that ball past another soccer field, and just kept going! Everyone was screaming his name but he was so focused on that ball he didn't even realize it. The entire game was at a standstill for about 5 minutes while they chased after him. The important thing is that he is excited to be playing soccer and had fun!
Luckily because of his personality and his age, he doesn't notice right now that he's different than the other kids his age. We have taken him to the Dr. and will probably end up medicating him to make sure he is able to experience all the things that "normal" kids do, and isn't limited by his ADHD. I'm grateful we have good insurance so that we can stay on top of all this.

Well, time to wrap this up. I wish I could do this the rest of the day:
Because who DOESN'T want to watch TV while sitting on a dinosaur? Oh to be 2 again...

NYR Time

It's that time of year again, oh yes, you know it...New Year's Resolution time! If you remember back in January '09, I did a blog on this. I'm sorry to report that I did not accomplish much of anything in '09. I gained 10 lbs. and pretty much stopped working out completely in November/December, started an online journal but only wrote twice, read 2 classics (Emma and Persuasion), didn't enjoy my boys enough, and probably went on MAYBE 4 dates all year with Josh.

Hmmm...I need some help this year huh? And what better way to kick off a new decade than new goals! This year, I'm going to set definitive goals that can be measured instead of general goals like, "workout more", or "read the classics", etc.

(If you want to stop reading now, I won't be offended. This is boring.)

1. I will run 500 miles this year. (total...not in a day. haha..oh I crack myself up sometimes) And in doing this, I will also lose 10 lbs.

2. I will read all of Jane Austen's works.

3. I will read the Book of Mormon this year. I may not read every day, which would be ideal, but again, definitive goals!

4. Write in blog once a week. I know I know, you can hardly contain your excitement on this one right?

5. Write in online journal 50 times.

6. FOOD STORAGE/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS! I will work on having a 3 month supply of everything my family may need in case of an emergency, job loss, etc.

7. Take 15 minutes a day and play with my kids without worrying about dishes/laundry/cleaning/work/cooking, or anything else. Even if this means getting off Facebook, I will do it!!

If you're still here after reading all this, what are some of your New Year's resolutions?