2010 Goals and review of 2009 goals

So last year I posted some goals that I wanted to achieve for 2009. So I thought I would revisit those goals and tell you how we/I did on them.

• To be healthier
• To make Caelyn's food
• To work on our debt
• Get Chloe potty trained

To Be Healthier: I believe we achieved this. I pretty much cut out soda. We don't keep it in the house and if I have one it is because we are out at a restaurant. I have lost 35 lbs, but still have some to go. Dave and I started going to the gym, I even got a trainer to help motivate me. For Christmas we got a Wii Fit and have been using it everyday (which, yes we know that won't do it all for us). I was (until the holidays) sticking to a 1350 calorie diet and starting today went back on that. Chloe started Gymnastics which she loves, I am hoping to start Caelyn when she turns 2.

To make Caelyn's food: I did achieve this. It was so easy and so nice on our wallet. Whatever I was cooking for dinner, I would just make for Caelyn as well and blend it up. I wouldn't put too many spices in it at first for her. I also would once a week do a cooking day and make about 100 cubes of food for her.

To work on our debt: This we did do. We paid off our one credit card and my car. While we had rough times this fall when Dave's work started cutting back on alot of things, we were able to survive with the support of my parents and Aunt Cindy. We appreciate the love and support you gave us and we know we have learned from it and have taken some great steps in getting on track, like having a savings account for the "oh craps" that happen.

Get Chloe potty trained: This was alot harder than I expected. She had no interest in doing it so we had to just make her. If she would have become potty trained she could not have gone back to school this year. She also was not able to start gymnastics until she was potty trained. I think she missed the first 2 weeks because of it. We stayed home for one week and didn't leave. The first day or so she ran around naked, then we tried underwear. It is a progress as right now we have issues of her getting involved in playing and sometimes "tinkling" before she makes it to the potty but we are there.

So what should we set as goals this year. I believe you have to set them where they are attainable or you will get discouraged and quit.

• To be Healthy
• To work on our debt
• See our friends more
• Make time for Dave and I

Picture Review of 2009

Chrismas with the Parkins

The evening of Christmas is always spent at my Grandma & Grandpa Parkin's house. There all dad's siblings and their family's get together to celebrate Christmas (we also celebrate Easter together as well). Each year the number of people grow because the grand kids are getting older and having their own kids. This year the newest addition is Andrew Ryan, he is my cousin Pam's youngest. Meagan is in her 3 year at college and Drew (the baby of the grand kids) is in his senior year. I can't believe he is going to start culinary school at Kendall College in July. It is so crazy to think we are all getting older and having kids of our own.

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas from the Wasem Family!!

Since I was little we always did Christmas morning with my Grandma & Grandpa Walker and my aunts. So I knew when I had kids, I wanted to keep that tradition. So Christmas was celebrated with my parents and my Aunt Cindy. It was alot of fun. Having my family there on Christmas morning means alot to me and I am glad I am able to do it with my girls. This year was full of surprises though, not just for the girls, but for my parents and Dave and I as well.

Christmas Eve

Each year on Christmas Eve we celebrate with the Walker/Howell side of the family (which is my mom's side). I get to see cousin's that I normally don't see because of everyday life getting in the way, but I also get to see my Grandpa Parkin's sister, my Aunt Betty and of course the wonderful Weidner family. Really Christmas eve is an open house for friends and family to stop by and visit.

When we get home from the Christmas Eve festivites, the "elf" work begins. This year Dave had to put Caelyn's bike together (darn Santa, I think it should be mandantory for him to drop off everythign assembled don't you?). We were smart and put the Mustang Chleo received together the begining of Christmas to make sure it was going to work. While Dave did that I cleaned up the ouse alittle to prepare for everyone to come out and stuffed the stockings.

Don't think the girls get this much from Santa. Their Santa gifts are the ones unwrapped. My dad brought hout the presents for the girls from him and my mom early so the tree looks packed. We also recieved the package from Aunt Lisa and Jen because this year was a year they were staying home for Christmas. Cindy was probably wrapping gifts until midnight, like she has in the past, and brought her gifts out in the morning. There were alot of packages under our tree on Christmas morning.

"Santa" relaxing after putting everything together.

St. Louis Wild Nights at the Zoo

We went to the U.S B.ank's Wild Nights at the Zoo this year. It was a chilly night, but we had a lot of fun. Just listening to the girls Ooh and Aah over the lights warmed Dave and I up. Of course we can't go tot he Zoo without a ride on the carousel. Caelyn is starting to enjoy the ride as much as Chloe. The last time we took her on a carousel ride, she wasn't too found of the horse moving up and down.

While most of the attractions were the lights they Zoo puts up, we did get to see the penguins and a bear. Yes that is 1 bear. The rest were inside but the brown bear was outside sleeping peacefully under his heat lamp. I think he is alittle crazy saying I am sure he has a nice warm bed inside but he was outside in the cold. I personally love the middle penguin picture.

Just like at the Boo at the Zoo, there were crafts to do as well. Chloe made Grandpa a snow flake ornament (you can see below) and I helped her cut out a yellow finch and she turned it into an ornament for Grandma. All the activities were in the Lakeside Cafe which also hosted the SLU High School choir. It was a nice little touch to listen to the students sing Christmas songs while Chloe was making her ornaments. Caelyn and Dave sat in a chair just soaking everything in, oh and Caelyn said the word monkey. No she has yet to say Mama (or at least where I can hear it).

We love our zoo and love all the things it has to offer. This is a tradition we are glad we made and will keep going to through the years.

Giraffe Room Holiday Party

Chloe had her holiday party on the last day of school for 2009. I was the the Committee Captain once again. I do love doing it. =) We had ice cream cupcakes for snack then we had 2 crafts, a picture ornament and a sun catcher, then the kids were able to toss "snow balls" through Frosty's belly and play musical chairs. It was alot of fun and I always look forward to spending time with Chloe in her class.