2012 update

I was looking back at my post from the beginning of the year and the goals I put down for this year and some have happened some have been forgotten and some have changed. Lots has changed since that post.

In February we took in two 4 month old foster babies. They were related and wanted them placed together. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, or we were just in denial. One of the babies was had extreme attachment disorder the other was over sensitive to any and all stimulation which was not a fit in our house in which there is always some sort of stimulation. Needless to say the stress level in our house was at an all time high. In April the sensitive baby was placed back with mom to every ones relief. We still have the other little one in our house and he is doing amazing, you would never know that he had attachment issues 6 months ago but getting here was a long, rough process trying to get a baby to attach like a newborn when they are supposed to developmentally be starting to detach with learning to crawl and be more independent. It was hard to watch the conflict go on in his little mind.

3 weeks ago Nathan's company went though major layoffs and let most of their upper management go which included him. But It has turned out to be a major blessing.  We have started our own appraisal company which in just 2.5 weeks has grown by leaps and bounds and we are expecting within 6 months to have an office out of the house and employees. This has always been Nathan's dream job but after having the false stability of a corporate job we were (OK I was) reluctant to give it up and try on our own. The layoff was just the push I we needed to try.

Goals I wrote down at the beginning of the year

*Cook a healthy dinner for my family every weeknight (weekends will still have to fend for themselves) I have tried but I am a horrible meal planner and Nathan is a bad influence so between those two things we find it easier to jut "go grab something" but I am getting better.
* Once a month family outing Not exactly once a month but now that Nathan is not on call 24/7 this will be so much easier.
* Go on one date night with each of my kiddos there is still 5 months left....it will happen
*Go camping as a family for the first time ever. (as I write this Jim Gaffagin is in my head..."my parents never took me camping, "BECAUSE THEY LOVED ME" ) we had to cancel any plans because of forest fires or fire bans...that's my story and I'm sticking to it
* Buy a 12 passenger van...yes most people dread those words but we a strangely excited about the possibility. we ended up with an 8 passenger...that we hate. Next car will be an suv. no more vans
*Visit Nashville to see my nephew Liam...oh and his parents Get to do this in October!!!!
*Stop at Silver Dollar City and Lamberts on our way home from Nashville.  Not this year but plans for next year in the works.
*Get my last 13 years of pictures organized I have them organized on a external hard drive and thanks to mixbooks.com I have one of my 7 years worth of pictures put into a book.
*Spend less time pinning (pinterest) and more time making what I pin. I don't think I have spent less time pinning but I have actually made some of the things I have pinned!
*Paint the kids bedrooms still have 5 months...it will get done...maybe
*Start saving for a trip to South Africa in 2014 This trip has now turned into a 2015 trip to Ireland with family to go see the World Cup Rugby!!!!
*More date nights, late night talks, laughing and enjoying the love of my life.  Of course this can always be better and have more. If anyone has any ideas about cheap date night I am always looking :)