HAPPY FRIDAY!

Best Friend's Little Beast, Daisy May

Resolute -adjective 1. firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose

New Year's Resolutions: (yes. I know it's the 28th. I've been busy.)

1. Stop procrastinating.

2. 30 minutes of Cardio EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! (except maybe Sunday, and every other Monday. hmmm.....and maybe Wednesday too cuz by hump day, I'm exhausted.)

3. Speak to my children in a calm, rational and loving manner at all times instead of the shrill, curse word filled tirade that only makes them laugh at me behind my back. (they think I don't know this but I really #%*&ing do.)

4. Go over my budget and see how many of my NEEDS are actually WANTS and cut them from my life, such as Mississippi Mudslides from Main St. Espresso and DVR. (wait...isn't DVR a need? and Mudslides? Yup. Need. ...Crap.)

5. Um...have a budget.

6. Put 10% of my income into a new & shiny account at the bank entitled "Our Australia Fund" and don't touch any of the money unless the spending of it will directly result in us moving to a house by the beach in Brisbane.

Unless it's for camera equipment cuz what's the point in living by the beach if you can't take pics of yourself in said house to send to your friends in Utah.

In the wintertime.

While they are getting snowed on.

(oh and I really need a new washing machine. I'll need something good to wash the sand out of my underwear.)

7. Keep New Year's Resolutions.

Hiber Nation

Sooooooo....been away for awhile. No. I'm not depressed. No. I haven't been any more busy than usual. No. I haven't been out of town or been thrown in jail. No. I haven't run away to a tropical island with no phones or wi fi. The truth is that it is winter on Planet Vernal and it is just damn COLD. The kinda cold that makes you want to do nothing else but run from your car to your house, jump into your bed without taking off your socks, hoodie, gloves and hat, pull the covers up to your chin, turn on the TV and not move until the next day. And only then if you have to get up and go to work. That has been my life for the past couple of months. I'm cold people! FRIGID! FREEZING! BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

View from my front door

We have been living off of ramen noodles, canned beans and body fat as I will not venture out to the grocery store. I don't wanna go to the basketball game or the movies and I absolutely do NOT want to take my kids sledding. That would involve cold toes, cold fingers, hypothermia and my demise in a snowbank somewhere hidden in the cedars.

There have been some happenings in my world since my last post. Thanksgiving was spent with my sister's family. They came out to Planet Vernal and stayed with me. I LOVE having my nephew and nieces stay with me. Nothing energizes a household more than little ones. They make me laugh out loud and my 7 year old nephew and I hugged and cried like we would never see each other again when they left to go home.

Niece Bobbie, LT, Nephew Iaan, Stella

Niece Sami

Christmas was craziness. Superman was working right up to Christmas Eve. Our car broke down halfway into our trip to the city and we limped into Salt Lake desperate for a car shop that was open. $500 later we were able to drive to a mall where we spent the rest of our money on a few presents for the kids. Needless to say, by the time the big day arrived we were exhausted and stressed. None of it added up to buckets of Christmas cheer.

IZ, Niece Shelby and Twin Brother (isn't he cute?)

LT and her new IPOD

We arrived at Grandma's house on the morning of and I was shocked by the force of nostalgia and grief that hit me as I walked through the door and was not greeted by my Grandpa. For a moment I was overwhelmed with sadness. But excited children, hugs and greetings, soon pulled me out of my funk and I was able to enjoy the moment. That was the most peaceful time of our day. The remainder was spent driving from one end of the valley to the other trying to see everyone while we were in town.

Superman's Daddy. (Yum. Lobster)

We capped off the day by taking the kids to see Avatar. It was amazing. The perfect ending to my day and the good feelings carried over into the next until the car broke down again going home. (sigh).

IZ on the right and two of her best friends

Since then, Superman has been working off and on out-of- state and me and the girls have been hibernating. Sometimes we venture out to forage for food and fresh air but for the most part we spend our days cuddled together in my big bed, watching Bones, talking about school and boys and their latest obsessions and confessions. It's really quite nice. It has not been a choice between spending time with my girls or spending time with my blog but I have missed everyone and it's nice to be back.

Stella on the right and her friends. They aren't wearing coats but it was only 10 degrees when I took this. What these girls won't do for fashion. (eyeroll)

It's still cold here. I think we have another 8 weeks or so of single digits and below zeros but I wanted to check in, poke my head out of the cave and feel the sunshine for a moment. Now I am heading back into the dimness and the warmth and maybe, just maybe you won't see me again until spring.

My big girl, Cleo, peeking out the front window.

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