Goals

I feel I have been in a baby haze for the past 5 years. You know the one, where you are pregnant, have a baby and just when you feel you are getting back to normal do it all again. Granted Sweet Pea is 19 months old so this haze has lasted a long time. It really needs to end. With Bud going to kindergarten I am feeling the beginnings of new energy to get my life back in order. To do that, I need some goals and I need to be accountable which is why I am writing them down. I am going to make a chart of the below goals and hang it somewhere (like at my computer) and make sure I am accomplishing them. They are not anything big or drastic b/c obviously I don't want to overwhelm myself. Anyway, here they are:
1) Send a card to a different friend every month (plus actually send birthday cards). Who doesn't love getting real mail? I know I do and it can be such a blessing when someone sends one unexpectedly.
2)Make one new recipe a month. I have a huge folder of recipes that I have cut out of magazines and I don't even know if they are good. So my goal is to try them, if they are good write them on a recipe card and file them away, if they are bad toss them.
3)Bake something with the kids helping at least once a month. I am having to bake more now with Bud's peanut allergy and what kid doesn't love to pour ingredients and stir things. It is so much easier, quicker and less messy without them:-) But it is good for them to help. If anyone has any great baking ideas that doesn't include chocolate chips (cocoa is okay) or peanut butter, let me know. I could use some fresh ideas.
4) Create a chore schedule for Bud and Princess and keep them on track. I really have been wanting to do this for a long time. They occasionally help set the table and put groceries away but I want them to learn responsibilty with helping around the house before it is time to start allowances.
5) Journal 2 times a week. In college, I journaled almost every day. It really helped me process things and get them out of my head to keep me from stressing about things too much.
6) Read the Bible 4 days a week. I know that I should do it daily. When I did my 21 day challenge, I was doing pretty good with it. But at this time, if I make the goal too high, I won't follow through. 4 days seems more reasonable for me and it is certainly better than what I am doing now.
7) Go on at least 1 date a month with husband. This summer has been bad for this. I cannot remember the last time we actually went out just the 2 of us to a movie or dinner. Maybe it was our anniversary in May. Not good.
8) Have at least one night or weekend date with a friend without kids to go shopping or even just have coffee or lunch. I definitely don't do enough just girl time. Playdates don't count b/c we are too distracted with the kids.
9) Make my kids go outside more. I am so bad at this. Simply b/c I don't always want to be out there too. And Sweet Pea isn't old enough to go in the back yard by herself. I know winter is coming but I am going to buy some raingear and get them out there stomping puddles. They definitely don't get enough fresh air.
10) Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables at least 5 days a week. Okay, so I am not bad with veggies believe it or not. But I have a hard time with fruit. I love fruit, I just tend to eat carbs when I am hungry and don't make it a priority unless it is super easy. I need to set a better example for my kids. I am not going to say every day though, again I don't want to set myself up for just giving up b/c it is too overwhelming.
That's a good start.

Some long term goals:
1) Take a cake decorating class. My grandma was great at decorating cakes and I have such great memories of them. If I am going to keep up with the pirate, princess and other kinds of cakes, I might need some other skills.
2) Organize pictures and put them in albums. This includes ordering pictures that are stored on the computer but that I have no hard copies for.

I am sure there are other big things I want to get done but those are the only 2 I can think of at this time.
Now I need to go make a chart! Wish me luck.