2016 Resolutions

Yikes, I did not do well on my resolutions for 2015. My three for 2015 were to drink more water, comment more on blogs, and do better at meal planning. I think I'm going to recycle two of those resolutions and then add another for 2016.
1. Drink more water
2. MEAL PLAN
3. Read more and less computer/phone screen time
I remember a few summers ago I read like crazy. I probably went through two to three books a week. Of course I wasn't teaching then, but there's no reason why I can't finish one book in a month now. So one book (or more) a month is my goal. I already started and finished one yesterday...so I've got a good start!
Aaron's big resolution for this year is to finish the basement and put new flooring in our living room/hallway/entry upstairs. If that happens, he can put up the trim and completely finish the upstairs. Yay!
Happy New Year all! We'll be heading to my in-laws on New Years Eve for the weekend. In the mean time, I'm cleaning (I cannot believe how much hair Ruger is shedding! German Shepherds sure are generous with their hair.), making steak for supper tonight, and washing clothes. This is my last full day off of school for Christmas break here at home so I'm enjoying it!

Christmas 2015

"Oh there's no Christmas, like a home Christmas," was a song Elizabeth had playing on Christmas day as mom was prepping Christmas dinner. I currently have it on repeat now, already missing time at the lake.

We arrived home about 45 minutes ago. We unpacked our vehicle, unpacked our suitcases, fed and watered Ruger, opened a few Christmas cards, opened some bills, and now I'm sitting on the couch drinking hot chocolate and looking back at the moments I documented through the camera. I find myself smiling broadly as I think about the time Elizabeth, mom, and myself took the dogs for a walk on the lake and decided to cut up to the road by climbing/slipping/crawling up a steep embankment. I chuckle as I think about us playing Monopoly and Balderdash. My mouth waters as I think about the gingerbread cookies, the "salads", the mashed potatoes, the fudge, the ice cream dessert, and ooh so much more. My mouth quits watering, though, once I think about Aaron and I feeding each other a piece of our wedding cake. Mom found our wedding cake in the freezer and we decided to give it a try! A little dry, and a little tasteless...but it brought back memories! And lastly, my heart warms as I think about the people that we spent the holidays with. Although a little chunk of my heart would be a little warmer if my eldest sister and her family could have made it and spent a few days at the lake, too, but hopefully next year! We missed you Kristin! 

 

Merry Christmas 2015

Ruger Antics

Our life must have been kind of boring before we got Ruger! This week he has been the reason for lots of laughs in our house. Yesterday he hid his bone here...

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Also this week he decided to use Aaron's hat as his new chew toy. "Still wearable!" I tell my husband. I don't think Aaron was impressed. (Good thing the hat was a freebie and he has lots others in the closet!)

1st snowfall of 2015-2016

We had our first true snowfall yesterday and oh, our boy! I'd kick the snow and he'd run and try to jump on it. When I walked, he would pounce at my feet and then jump back and cock his head. What a strange sound the snow makes under my boots! I chased him around the yard until I was fully out of breath and my mouth was watering. It felt wonderful!
That evening, I gave Rue a pig ear to chew on as Aaron and I started a Christmas movie. He loves to bury his "goods" in the couch cushions and behind chairs but last night he buried it under something new - Aaron's leg. We got a good laugh from that as he dug under Aaron's leg, pushed the pig ear underneath, and then made the motions with his head of pushing dirt or whatever he was imagining back over it.