10 in 10 Update for 2013

I start off every New Year with my 10 in 10 list. 5 years ago I was inspired by the movie The Bucket List to make a list of things I hoped to do, see, accomplish in my life time. The whole idea behind 10 in 10 is that a bucket list can seem a little overwhelming. Especially as you get older and realize you are STILL not crossing anything off it. So the 10 in 10 was a way for me to narrow down my list. I choose 10-20 of the things I think I can REASONABLY accomplish in the next 10 years and then see how many I can cross off.

Just making the list makes you motivated to cross the stuff off. Almost like once you touch the pen to paper or type the letters on the keypad, these tasks, trips, and goals don't seem just like an idea anymore. They seem like a calling. They take on a life of their own. At least for me. So I've actually been crossing more than one off a year and hope to keep doing so. Especially since my bucket list is pretty long. :)

PS: the list changes every year as I cross things off and as I am inspired to add new things to it. :) Here are my newest 10 in 10 for 2012 followed by the items I have crossed off my bucket list in the last couple years...

1. Learn to sew
2. Take Ryen to Disney for her 5th Birthday
3. Try rollerblading for the first time
4. Picnic/horse and carriage ride in Central Park
5. Take my girls to Fenway Park
6. Sky Dive
7. Work on a house for Habitat for Humanity
8. Snorkeling in Australia
9. Go back to Hawaii
10. Visit Chicago
11. Visit Seattle
12. Go to Atlantis in the Bahamas
13. Ride a tandem bike with my hubby
14. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
15. Go ice skating again
16. Renew my vows in Italy
17. Take some cooking classes
18. Go to Europe
19. A tropical vacation
20. Volunteer at a Hospital
21. Get involved in a local Church
22. Help spread the word about skin cancer prevention
23. Become a substitute teacher for Chandler Unified School System

Crossed off the list:
Have another Baby (2008)
Become a Brunette (2009)
Complete a Triathlon (2009)
Start a side-Business from home (2009)
Renew my Wedding Vows (2009)
Get really into fitness (2009/2010)
Go Skiing for the FIRST time (2010)
Get on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry (2010)
Become a runner (2010)
Run a Half Marathon (2010)
Take a photography workshop (2010)
Donate my hair to patients with cancer (2010)
Take my children to Disney (2011)
Take my kids to Polar Express (2011)
Buy a bike (2011)
Swan boat ride and duck tour in Boston (2012)
Volunteer in my community (2012)

Happy New Years Eve!

One thing I do every year on New Years Eve is walk outside at midnight. No matter what I am doing, I walk out of my house, close my eyes, take a deep breath, let it out, and turn and walk back in. I got the idea from someone years ago, but can't remember who. The idea behind it is that you are walking out on the previous year, letting go of everything bad you may be holding on to, and turning to face the New Year with a clean slate and a clean heart and mind.

This year my girls and I did something new, we took a bubble bath tonight. We washed away all the bad things we said and did this year. All the time outs, all the times I yelled, all the times we got hurt and all the times we weren't kind to each other. We let it all go and forgave so we can start the year with a clean slate :)



We also got a message from our Elf on the Shelf who is missing us but happy to be home with Santa!



"A brand new year! A clean slate on which to write our hopes and dreams. This year: Less time and energy on things; More time and energy on PEOPLE. All of life’s best rewards, deepest and finest feelings, greatest satisfactions, come from PEOPLE--
people like you... HAPPY NEW YEAR!" -Joanna Fuchs

Who knew he was so handsome AND wise! :)

25 Days of Christmas - Home Alone

So my girls and I had a laid back Christmas activity tonight so that we could save our energy for the next two days of CRAZY Christmas fun! We watched Home Alone for the first time ever.



And this was their favorite part! The aftershave... they giggled and laughed out loud both times! ha ha



They loved it! 2 days to go...

25 Days of Christmas - The Nutcracker

My favorite time of the Christmas season is when I take my beauties to The Nutcracker. Every year we see the Kimberly Lewis Nutcracker because all the dancers are 21 or younger and because they always have a surprise visit by Santa during the 2pm showing.



The girls and I always get dressed up for it and it is a very fancy night for us all. :)



It's always great to get fancy with friends too!



Showtime!!





My kids really love that everyone gets up and dances in the aisles during intermission!



At the end of the show, the dance company performs a cute Grinch skit.



Then Santa was brought on stage!



My girls are always mesmerized when the snow falls from the ceiling. They love it!



I think the best part however is that the girls get to take pictures with their favorite cast members!



Another wonderful Mother Daughter moment with the best dates in town! ;) 3 Days to go!

25 Days of Christmas - Baby Kellan and Winter Break!

This morning we discovered the seeds that we planted in sugar the night before had sprouted into Christmas Tree cookies! So it was a very exciting start to the day ha ha.



Later that day the girls had a fun first day of Winter break by playing Just Dance on XBOX :)



Then Aunties Kim and Gerry came over to visit with Baby Kellan. And we got to exchange presents. It was great!



And when we ate our cookies they turned our tongues funny colors.



The girls treated us to a little dance and gymnastics performance!




Baby Kellan is such a love...



I loved my snuggle time with him and Ella :)


We ended the day by heading over to our friend's house to celebrate the start of Winter break!



4 Days to go...