65 Years of Memories

Hard to believe, but my mom turned 65 this last week. My sister and I wanted to do something special for her. For her 60th, we took her to a special dinner just the three of us. This time, Kristin found the perfect idea. So here it is broken down into five phases.

Phase 1- Break into my mom's house (which wasn't hard since I still have a house key) and raid her addresses folder.

Phase 2 - Send a letter to all of my mom's family and friends. We asked them to send the stamped return addressed envelop to me filled with a memory of my mom, with the goal of filling 65 different envelopes.

Phase 3 - Anxiously await the mailman each day to see if more memories come in. Read each memory as they come in. I laughed out loud at some (like the one from my uncle when they were kids and he asked my mom to ride her bike over him....and she did!). I also cried. My mom is wonderful and selfless.

Phase 4 - Fill 66 envelopes with wonderful, funny, touching memories of my mom. Why 66 envelopes? Well, because we had too many good memories to limit it. So I guess we gave her one to grow on!

Phase 5- Wrap the gift and watch my mom be touched beyond measure at this gift. It was AWESOME! She told me she stayed up late to read all 66 envelopes.

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for everything, and here's to many more years of memories!

Out with the old, in with the new!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Why? Because it consisted of family, food, games, toys (for kids and parents), food, a little sleep, movies, food, games and family. More than most years, I just loved all the time I spent with those I love. Christmas really is about family. I loved being with my mom, cousins, aunt and uncle, sister and her family, and of course my three loves! The kids went to bed exhausted each night, as did their parents.

Christmas morning was our first just the four of us. It was relaxing and the kids could play with their gifts as they opened them. Although, they mostly just wanted to open another one! I need to remember that they are just as happy with cheap little toys as they are with expensive ones. I could have only gotten them stocking stuff and they would have been thrilled!

As for the New Year, I have some resolutions. I am a goal person. I know a lot of people aren't, but I like to have something to work towards. So this year, here are a few of my goals for 2012:

1. Try at least three new recipes a month.

2. Run a mile in under 8 minutes, once accomplished, set a new time goal.

3. Only eat one dessert/sweet a month....this might kill me.

4. Use a cash budget...envelopes and all.

I challenge each of you to come up with one thing you can do to actively make 2012 a great year!