Joyschool Day 1

Cedric started Joyschool today (a preschool curriculum based more on values than academics).

Today they had sharing time and Cedric wanted to share his train James

He got his train and said "This is James he is black and red and is the number 5 engine.  He says choo choo"

He has always like trains and cars but lately he has become obsessed. He doesn't even want to go outside to play, all he wants to do is play with his cars and trains.

A day in Roseville

We took a trip to Roseville a whole 20 minutes away and checked out the HomeTrends store (love)
Ate at the Squeeze Inn using our Groupon
Played at the park. The reason there are not many pictures of Cedric is because he was off running around with his new friends.
It was a wonderful warm day to spend with family.

But before we got out of the house this happened









Cedric tripped in the bathroom and flew right into the door. We got him an ice pack and gave him some Tylenol.

After the trauma

This afternoon we took the in-laws to a Tepanyaki style restaurant (where they cook your food right in front of you). Both Neal and I thought Cedric would love this. He loves fireworks and he loves cooking. We all sat down and I explained to Cedric what would happen and I pushed his chair back, the chef put the oil down on the grill and started the fire. I was covering Lila's eyes because I knew it would scare her, then I looked over at Cedric and he was so scared. As soon as it was out he sat on Neal's lap for awhile hiding his face and then he got down on the ground and hid under his highchair. When I asked if he wanted to come out he said "No I want to hid" As long as he was on the ground he was perfectly happy. We eventually got him to sit in his highchair but I had to hold my hands over his eyes and feed him. He loved the food, rice and calamari. He soon let us put our hand down and was doing good until he saw fire a few tables away. This did not scare him as bad but he still wanted to cover his eyes. After Grandma was done with her meal she held him and read him a book we had brought in. My favorite things Cedric said there were

Neal: Cedric is our chef good?
Cedric: No he is a "bad guy" (he is into good guys and bad guys right now)

Alanna: Cedric, please come sit in your chair and eat this yummy rice.
Cedric: No thank you Mommy, I go home and eat

He also has become quite good with chopsticks. He is able to pick up cheerios and eat them (they do have the kid helpers on top)

So after our adventure out we come home took naps and made sugar cookies.
A very low stress activity.

Our Christmas thank you

I know we are really late but never late than never.

This is what we will be sending out as soon as I get it printed to say thanks for the wonderful Christmas gifts we got this year. We were really spoiled

Happy Belated Valentines Day

Jesus says what?

 As we were getting ready to go to playgroup today I explained to Cedric that we were going to a Three Kings Day party. I told him we were celebrating when the wise men came to Jesus. To which he responded “Jesus says 'Ho Ho Merry Christmas'!” “No” I say “Jesus says 'Love everyone'” “No” says Cedric with a devious smile “Jesus says 'Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas'” At least he has connected Christ with Chrismas right? Right? Okay we'll work on in.

2011 Here I Come

My New Year goals for 2011


Some/many of the goals will remain the same. It seems that it takes me longer to make a habit than most.

1. Post on my blog at least once a week

I really want to be better at this. I really like looking back and seeing what we have done during the year. It is nice to know that we actually do stuff as a family since I often feel like a failure in this area.

2. Take a picture every day.

Yes again I am going to try this. I got a Canon Powershot S95 for Christmas (awesome point and shoot) and I am loving the pictures. I am on day 3 and I am going strong :)

3. Plan more activities for my family.

When Neal is home after work or on the weekends (which has not happened often this year) I feel like we do a lot of lazing around and watching TV. I know Neal wants some down time after working but Cedric and I enjoy getting out and we both be stir crazy when we stay home for so long. I will try to find some good activities for at home. Cedric is getting old enough to play a few games and he is crazy good at puzzles.

4. Start doing Preschool with Cedric

I just purchased the ABC fun 123 curriculum and I think it will be good. I will want to add a few things I am sure but it is a good start.


5. Dinner on the table at 6:00pm

Last year it was to cook 3 meals a week and that didn't work. So this year dinner at 6:00 whether it is homemade or not :) Lets keep these realistic now.

I did purchase a book called “The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner” I am hoping with will help.

I also plan to make 8 weeks worth of menus with shopping lists so I can pull one out of the file if I do not have time to plan for the week

I also really want to start the freezer meal group.

6. Read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Between Christmas and Easter.

I know this is not real original but I have been wanting to do this for the last several years and never get it done.

7. Lose 25lbs.

I have 2.5 months to lose 10 lbs. This will get me down to my pre-pregnancy weight by the time Lila is 9 months (9 months on 9 months off) I had lost a decent amount of weight after Cedric but during our move to CA I put on 10 lbs so the extra 15 is really doable with a bit of work. I would also like to do a triathlon but every time I say I am going to do one I get pregnant so I am not going to put it as a goal.

8. Read 25 books from the BBC book list

I am sure you have all seem the BBC book list http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml and they believe most people have only read 6 of the books. I have read 20 of them. I do feel that they have copped out on some of the list like “Complete work of Shakespeare” counts as one.

9. Take at least one community education class

The Photoshop class starts in March.

10. Earn my Young Woman medallion.

As YW Pres I get the chance to earn my medallion again and I really want to do it. However we will most likely be moving this year which means I need to pick up the pace to get it done. If you have not looked at the new program you should. It is wonderful, and the awards are much more frequent and pretty. (I also think it is easier than it was when I was in YW. Does that make me sound old?)

11. Finish our three month security fund

Also known as a freedom fund or many other names. We have been following Dave Ramsey's money makeover. We became debt free this year, we have our little emergency fund and we are now working on our three months supply. It is not going as fast as I want it to go. I will be much stricter with our money and we will get this done!

12. Be more attentive during meals

I find myself using Breakfast and Lunch as a time to keep kids occupied while I do other things, sometimes it is cleaning, sometimes it is checking my emails but whether they are good things or not I need to take time to sit down and visit with the kiddos.  I think I could read scriptures in the morning to them as they eat and then visit during lunch.  Cedric is becoming very interesting and it is so fun to have conversations with.  He says the funniest things.

On a side note

I took down my Christmas decorations yesterday (tree still in corner until green waste day). Most years I am sad to take it down and the house feel so empty. This year I was so anxious to get them put away and I am loving the empty house. What do you suppose this means?