Who keeps New Years resolutions anyway?

I tried to keep my 2011 resolutions, but like everyone every year, I didn't manage to do it. I gave it a good try though and for that, I feel pretty good about it.  Shoot, I'm happy for remembering that I made resolutions and where I wrote them down!  That in itself is an accomplishment to be proud of.

How I ended 2011:

 1. Read 12 books this year.
I read ten and a half! I was doing great until our household went from 4 to 7 in a matter of a few weeks. Suddenly, I was a lot busier and my reading time was greatly reduced. Yeah, I'll blame the kids.


2.  Do more sewing and get my serger fixed (or me, one of us isn't doing it right).  I'd like to end 2011 with my current PHDs (projects half done) all finished! 
Well, I had problems with my serger and my two sewing machines off and on all year long. It was a struggle to keep them running. I actually managed to get quite a bit of sewing done for the little bit of time that I have  had to spend doing it.  I sewed Halloween costumes and I sewed a couple of Christmas gifts and new stockings. Plus, I altered a dress for the neighbor and for my daughter. I made baby blankets for my second grandson and for a baby of a friend. I am happy to report that I made a huge quilt top out of the baby clothes! All in all, I think I had a good sewing  year. PHDs are just going to always be a part of my life, I resolve to embrace the unending projects!

3. Get my kids to school on time (most of the time).
We're doing better!  This is not easy. I think there is a time warp in my driveway. We step out the front door and by the time I turn the key in the van, 10 minutes has gone by. Where does it go?

4. Potty train and wean Libby, yes, folks, I promise to quit breastfeeding after nearly 5 years.
 Almost potty trained the kid. She has a weak bladder when she sleeps so she is still wearing a pull-up at night, but she doesn't want to. I have to sneak it on her after she falls asleep. She wakes up mad and yanks it off, but it is usually soaked. Occasionally, she wakes up dry. I think she just needs to grow and then her body will figure it out. I quit breastfeeding in May.  Done!  Went a little over the 5 year mark so it took some adjusting to get back to normal for me. Libby had no problem weaning, but she did have to learn to eat more real food and how to fall asleep and console herself. These were harder for her, but she's doing just fine. I'm not sure I would be a good cheerleader for extended nursing, it just sort of happened.

5. Get my money's worth out of our Disneyland and Zoo passes (meaning lots of fun!).  Might even get a SeaWorld pass this year!
Oh yeah!  We are stretching our dollars spent on our entertainment passes. Fenna purchased passes too, and she's getting the most out of hers as well. We bought Sea World passes and used them three times. I wish we would have used them more, but we did our best. We used the zoo passes a handful of times. Mostly, we spent our outing days at Disneyland. We were blocked out in July and most of August, but we had a few days that we were allowed in August,  but it was too hot. When it is over 100 degrees, it's hard for an outdoor all day outing. We opted not to go in August. We went in Sept, Oct, and three times in November. Plus the first five trips of the year in Jan-May. I think we did well using our passes. Gracie's pass expired in December and it costs $199 to renew.  If I renew her pass, I'll want to renew mine when it expires in March, and now that Libby is three I'll have to get her a pass as soon as she looks like a three year old or opens her mouth and gives her real age away. Another $199. And $99 for a parking pass. $700 for our family! I decided to explore other amusement parks instead. As much as we love Disneyland, I prefer not to go broke getting in the gate. We went to Disneyland 11 times in 2011. Loved every trip!


6. Send my 2011 Christmas cards out before Christmas.
 Didn't happen.

7. Do something with all of my photos and videos.  Print them, back them up, put them on dvd, make photo books, I don't know, but something!
Nope. Didn't happen.

8. Keep blogging.  I would like to archive my Momathon blog since I kept it up for three years, and I'll have to keep this one alive. Often times, I just blog mentally and never get around to actually posting.
Well, here's a blog post! I might try to do more family updates since we killed Schuworld.com this year. It is being redirected to my blog now.

9. I will try not to destroy or lose any of my electronic devices.  You heard that right!  Cell phone, bluetooth, camera, laptop.... I wish you all the best of health and happiness in the new year. And may you all stay out of the crevices of the furniture and survive the year! Good Luck. 
My poor electronics. This year I lost my bluetooth, destroyed my camera, wore out my laptop and replaced all of those. I didn't replace the bluetooth, I just use my phone on speaker and set it on my shoulder or I hand it to one of my passengers. My phone is still in good shape! One electronic device survived the year! Not bad.