Happy New Year!

I know that a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon for taking a photo a day or doing a Project Life album.  I am going to be doing the Project Life.  I came across a great list of photo ideas for the new year.  Just in case you don't think that you have anything to take a photo of.

                                      

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Also - I know that I have been off the radar pretty much the entire month of December.  I do still plan on blogging the highlights.  And I am determined to get my December Daily finished and those photos up also.

Have a GREAT New Years and see you next year!

We Have Lots of Plans!

That's right.  I have plans.  Don't laugh.  I am making resolutions out the, well, you know.  I know that I have to be realistic in that most of them will not make it to 2013, maybe not even to March, but by gosh, I am going to give it a try.  I even plan on doing a little update once a quarter to see what kind of progress I am making and what needs more work.  You can read about all the goals here.  I am sure that I will be adding a few things as January comes and goes.

First off - I will be doing Project Life this year and can't wait.  I have stalked admired other people's creativity with this project for way too long to not give in.  Plus - I think that it is a better way for me to document what we do on a daily basis.  A nice way to add all those little things that Taft says and does, instead of waiting to make a full 12x12 scrapbook page out of it.  It does not mean that I will not be doing "real" or "traditional" scrapbooking anymore.  I will.  Getting caught up is one of my goals too.  And I hope that I can do that while doing some sketch challenges.

I am also planning on doing One Little Word.  You can read more about that project here.  My word for the year is Grow and I plan to use it in every sense of the word.  More to come of that later.

A big challenge for me is to cook more.  We have a terrible habit of eating out or picking up pizza more than a couple times a week.  Not only is it expensive, it is not very good for us.  I am working on planning meals ahead and making things in advance.  I want to try at least 52 new recipes this year.  One per week, on average, is not that unattainable.  I would love to cook 5 out of 7 days.  Left overs will count.  And so will frozen meals.  ;0

I also want to read.  I REALLY want to read.  I love how being interested in a book makes me feel.  I love to picture the characters and places in my mind (it always seems better than the movie version).  It is hard to have time to read with Taft.  I am not a person that stays up hours after he goes to bed.  In fact, we go to bed together almost always.  But - it is on my list.  I am going for a goal of 12 books for the year.  Maybe I can make it.  Taft is 3 1/2 and old enough to start going to the library for the children's programs and to understand that he can check out books.  He loves books and it is something that we can do together.  We got a library card and we will both start enjoying free books.

Pinterest is killing me.  I "pin" so many things and never get around to making them.  I have so many great holiday pins and never made any of them.  It kinda makes you feel like a failure.  Like those people are just better than you are.  But - they're not.  I am sure that they have housekeepers, nannies, and stay at home.  Otherwise - they would never have the time.  At least that is what I am telling myself and I am sticking with it until I get to make some of these things.  Honestly - I plan on making as many as possible.  Recipes and crafts.  I know that I can't make all of them each season and have to save a few for the next year.

New Year's Weekend/Gran Visit

 For New Year's weekend, Gran came to visit.  She flew in on Thursday night and arrived after Taft and I went to bed.  Taft quickly found out the Gran was here and which room she was staying in.  he would knock on her door and try to break in.  We heard, "Gan, dum ear!" a lot.  He wanted to make sure that she knew everything that was going on in his life.  She showed him all his new toys and gave him a tour of his room multiple times.
We mostly stayed in and rested.  We cooked big meals each night and had leftovers for lunch.  In fact, Taft, Gran, and Shane did a lot of sleeping over the weekend.  With the exception of myself going to buy groceries on Friday and Taft and I going to a playdate on Sunday, no one even left the house.
Taft loved telling Gran about his friend, CJ, and making sure that she was with him 24/7.  Gran left on Monday, and Taft was looking for her.  He wanted to go in "Gan's room" and look for her.  He told me that it was "Gan's bed" and "Gan's anket".  And last night when it was time to go to sleep, he wanted to lay on the sofa with "Gan".  I think that it is easy to see that he enjoyed her visit and I am sure that she enjoyed time with him just as much.  We did too.

 Taft and Gran enjoying a mid-morning nap.

 Trevor even joined the sleeping crew every chance he got.

 Taft enjoyed fixing Gran's hair with his little beauty shop set. 

Hello 2011



It just seems like yesterday that we were beginning 2010.  When I was a child, older people would say that years go by faster as you get older.  I believe that is true the older that I get.  It seems like only 5 years since I was in high school and last month that Taft was born.  In reality, I graduated high school in 1995 and I am a mother to a two and a half year old little boy.
Every year I make resolutions.  Every year, I fail to reach them.  This year is going to be different.  I have all the normal resolutions that everyone makes.  Loss weight, be more organized, etc.  But I have other goals too.  I have goals on how many books I want to read.  Please leave me any "must reads" in the comments.  I want current and classics that I have never read or read the Cliff's Notes to in high school.  It is time to read the real book not just know enough to pass the test.  I have photography goals, scrapbooking goals, church goals, family goals, personal goals, cooking goals, and blogging goals. 
Some of the most important are goals that pertain to Taft.  I want to devote more time to him and his life.  He may be two but he has a little life that he is developing outside of his home.  He has friends that are important to him and I want to show him that they are important to me too.  In fact, we have the first play date with his best friend tomorrow.  I can't wait.  I told him tonight and he jumped, clapped his hands, and said "Yay!!  CJ!!".
I also want to make an effort to do one big, important, thing with him each month.  It can be as simple as going to a new park or play place, or going to the zoo, museum, or Disney.  Disney is planned for his 3rd birthday. Anything is ok as long as it is something new.  Once again, please leave suggestions in the comments.
I want to read him more books.  Watch more movies with him.  Enjoy little moments with him.  He deserves it.
I am working on taking a photo a again but not stressing out over doing it.  If a day is without a photo, it is OK.
I have also been inspired again by Ali Edwards and her One Little Word 2011 post.  My word is remember, and you can read more about choosing words here.  I look forward to trying to work with my word throughout the year.
Now - I just have to write all the resolutions down, get a new calendar/planner, and start working!

Happy New Year!!

We want to wish everyone a wonderful new year! 2008 was a great year for us with the birth of our son in June. The last 6 months have been more than we could have imagined. He is our life at the moment and we of course think that he should be. I believe that Shane stayed up to ring in the new year but Taft was out cold by 7:30 pm. I have to admit that I was in bed by 9 myself.

We look forward to spending this next year watching him learn to crawl, walk, and talk. It's going to be a lot of fun and a lot of work! At this point, we have made no real plans for the year as far as vacations or events. I (Kyetra) have decided to do a Project 365 this year with taking a photo a day and journaling about each. It should be a change to remember to take a photo everyday. Also - I am excited about Easter falling on my birthday once again. I love Easter and I love my birthday. Shane is working on his business and I know his golf game. =) We have also played with the idea of moving back to Alabama. Of course that is if we can sell our house in Florida. Maybe we can be back in Alabama by the time Taft starts Kindergarten. Other than that I think that we are going to take it as the year unfolds before us.

I do want to congratulate my dad on his first deer of the season. He shot him yesterday and we took the opportunity to let Taft wear his new camo for a picture with Pawpaw.