A new year

Happy new year everyone!  I've been gone since mid-November.  Lots of life to live and I put the blog last.  I do enjoy posting here and having a place for memories, so my intention is to get back to posting more often.  

To start off the year, I decided to make a list of things I'd like to work on, and I thought I'd share that with you.  I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't do them all, and in fact some of them might drop off my list as time goes on.  We will see!  

2015

-Reading:  Set a goal, something fun—alphabetical, one fiction/one nonfiction, or other ideas to just read more.  I have shelves full of books that I want to read. 

-Blog:  Get on a regular schedule for posting, even if that is just once a week.

-Kitchen:  Homemade bread, try new recipes, use up pantry items, set a grocery budget

-Declutter:  One in/one out rule

-Household:  Set up a regular cleaning schedule  

-Exercise:  Get back to walking and rotate dogs to take along

-Photography:  Learn to use manual settings

-Humane society:  Promote on social media, work on grants, new adoption ideas

-Use it or lose it:  Cookbooks, electronic gadgets, kitchen items, clothing.

Would anyone else like to share a list of goals or just an item you would like to work on in 2015?  Good luck!  I know even those who say they don't make resolutions or set goals probably still have at least one thing they would like to change about their life.  

New Year's Day was a lazy day for some of us. 

Unfortunately Mom had to go to work. Mr. GV, middle sister, and I just hung around the house for the most part. Eventually Mr. GV and I went to visit his parents. 

Later we had a traditional meal of blackeyed peas, cornbread, and greens.  Notice there are no collards on my plate.  That's my New Year's tradition---refusing to eat the greens!  I did have some okra (green--does that count?) and a riblet. 

New Year's Eve 2011

New Year's Eve we had our second annual game night with Mr. GV's brother and his family. 

Casper and Macy, as you can see, were really into it. 

The cats were similarly enthused.  This makes me think of the Princess...er....the Prince and the Pea. 

Nephew and my mom giving clues with Pictionary.

Nephew and ESIL (Essentially Sister-in-Law) preparing to battle it out.

 The men, going up against the women in "Battle of the Sexes." 

 Mom is just a tad bit competative....this is her "SCORE!" move. 

A fresh slate (if we want it)

Happy New Year!!  I hope you all have a wonderful, satisfying 2012! Even more than that, I hope that you are able to let go of anything in 2011 that disappointed, saddened, or angered you.  It's sometimes hard to do that (believe me--I know!), but the truth is, it only hurts us when we hang on to those things, and not the object of our anger, disappointment, or sadness. 

Here's to a wonderful year for us all!

Out with the old, in with the new

On New Year's Eve, we stayed in and invited a few others over. We had pizza, snacks, and I made some cupcakes.



Before everyone else arrived, J got in some learning/Uncle time.

Unbelievable to think that some day he'll most likely be able to fill out those shoes.

Mom made brownies that we could all eat, and frankly I couldn't keep my hands off them.

J played hard, but...

sacked out in Nana's room watching TV before the evening got very late.

The rest of us played a game, and had the most fun. Here's our nephew waiting for us to get back to the game.

Mr. GV doing his Geordi Laforge impersonation.

Here is our "serious" group picture. Mom, Mr. GV, me, Bil's partner, Bil, and nephew.

And our not-so-serious picture.

We turned up the TV, blew horns, and were plenty loud. And where was J during all the noise and celebration? Where every 2 year old should be.....

...in bed, with hands propped up behind him of course!

Mil and fil were sick and weren't able to make it. We missed having them!