Life Goals - a Wishlist

I recently came across someone's wish/bucket list for life and decided to come up with a list of my own.    I often try to set goals for myself, and recently have been setting weekly goals to accomplish.  It certainly helps to me to work harder towards achieving them when the list is written down, a sort of checklist.  

So, I came up with 40 things that I would like to attempt, try or at least think about doing in my life.  I chose 40, because that is the next "big" birthday, but this is certainly not a list I intend to fulfill before that time!  But, here's to giving it a try!  

1. Experience Disney with my kids

2. Go on a cruise with my hubby 

3. See Luke Bryan (again), Miranda Lambert and maybe Garth Brooks in concert

4. Learn to golf

5. Try downhill skiing again (maybe just once)

6. Climb Mt. Katahdin

7. Take a photography class - just for fun

8. Go back to school - maybe a certificate in literacy (We'll see - told Mike to remind me of specific moments during my graduate program if I ever thought about going back to school again)!!!!

9. Find a volunteer opportunity that I am passionate about

10.  Learn to crochet or knit

11. Fit back into my wedding dress for my 10 year anniversary (possibly do a trash the dress photo session)

12. Hot air balloon ride (terrifying thought)

13. Go on many family camping trips

14. Plant a vegetable garden (aka learn to garden)

15. Zipline (also terrifying)

16. Go on a cross country road trip

17. Go to a Patriots Game (only NE team haven't seen in person)

18. Watch sunrise & sunset in the same day

19. Run a 5K, 10K, half marathon

1st time running whole thing 5/13/12

20. Watch the stars with my children

21. Host/participate in a murder mystery dinner

22. Donate my hair (again)

23. Create a tradition of getting together with girlfriends (girls weekend/trip)

24. Visit Alaska, Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, PEI just to name a few places (aka travel)

25. Complete 365 photo challenge (maybe after a photography course)

26. Dance with my sons on their wedding days

27. Participate in a flash mob 

28. Stomp on grapes in a vineyard

29. Visit a castle

30. Go ice skating in Rockefeller Center

31. Drive around in a convertible with the top down

32. Go snorkeling and/or swim with dolphins

33. Kiss under a waterfall

34. Take a painting class

35. Teach in public school again (preferably 4th-6th grade)

36. Have another baby

37. Participate in a color or obstacle type run

38. Go horseback riding

39. Winter weekend getaway in a log cabin or bed & breakfast

40. See a broadway show (again)

Thirty Two Months

A little summary of the month:
* First ride on an airplane - travelled to Georgia to visit family

* Met cousin Riley for the first time!

* Starting to recognize more numbers as we continue to do the daily calendar
* Went with the preschool kids & teachers at Eva's school for about 30 minutes on his own

* Can now open the back sliding door, so will let Sage in and out through out the day

* Chosen for the Pull-ups Potty play date (House Party)

* Says "ooze" for use
* Mixed up some bath paints & used them for the first time

* Met the twin babies for the first time: Sam & Claire

* Visited Chuck E Cheese for the first time for a birthday party (Georgia)

* Attended Eva & Riley's baptism (Mommy & Daddy - Godparents)

* Attended our 3rd friends Valentine play date (first one was when he was 7 months old)
* Finally comfortable riding around on Buzz Lightyear four wheeler 

Thirty Months

A little summary of the month:

* Happy Half Birthday Braden - celebrated on the 5th with a little banana raisin bread & blowing out a candle.
* Started saying "I want, I want…" singing a little song.  Working on saying "may I have…please"
* Starting to interchange using I and Braden when speaking about himself
* Talks a lot about what he hears, "I heard it"
* He likes to be helpful "Braden pick it up for you!"
* If I say please or thank you Braden will resound "mommy say thank you Braden"
* Went for a ride on an elevator, on the way back out he asked if we would ride the alligator again!
* "Gettin' busy in here" as he is spinning around - meaning dizzy.
* Loves having books in his crib (the pile is getting higher and higher). 
* Went ice skating for the first time and has his own rollerblades for around the house

* Christmas this year he was very interested in his nativity and the Christmas story.  Recognizing Mary, Joseph and Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus.  He was scared of Santa "Braden no like Santa".  He really enjoyed opening presents and helping others open.  He loved opening a Christmas book each night and reading it before bed.  We also had a Christmas countdown, which involved acts of kindness (separate blog post coming soon - hopefully)!

* Loved the train display at the mall and riding the escalator 

* Current favorite phrase - "look what MY found"
* Visited the LLBean light show with family

* Attempted potty training and decided B is not quite ready yet!

9th Day of Christmas

2013 Scrapbook

This particular craft I have actually been working on all year.  I decided at the beginning of January to start using Project Life for scrapbooking.  It actually worked out really well, and I was able to keep up. My hope is that I will be able to continue this and it will be a memorable Christmas gift for the family every year.  

Here are a few of the highlights from this years album!

Braden's 2nd Birthday

Before I could post about Braden's 2nd birthday I had to first write one all about his 1st Birthday.  So, here it is: Braden's First Birthday.

For Braden's 2nd birthday I couldn't quite decide between a construction/trucks or a farm theme.  In the end I went with the farm, because I thought the chances were pretty high that he would decide on a truck theme for himself someday.  Once again I found so many great ideas on Pinterest!  But before I get to the actual birthday party - there were plenty of other birthday festivities earlier in the week!

Grampy Ireland came for a quick visit to give Braden his birthday present.  We had planned for a beach day, but the weather wasn't cooperating.  So we went to Portland Headlight instead and then to Flatbread for lunch with Uncle Jon. 

Still afraid of the Buzz car and will not ride it - YET!

Foggy morning

He loved dropping the rocks & splashing

On his actual birthday we headed to Poland to spend the Fourth of July with the Oslin family!

Then on Sunday morning we packed up and headed home to get ready for his "farm" birthday party that afternoon.  This year I decided to just do a family party and tried to incorporate it into the 4th of July weekend, so that the Oslin's did not have to come back the following weekend.  

We even had some cowgirls among us!

Family & friends, hanging out, visiting and opening presents:

"Horse" rides

Cake time - Braden was a little shy while everyone was singing, but he knew just what to do at the end!    And he REALLY enjoyed that cupcake!

He was so hungry after playing outside.

Couldn't eat fast enough

Braden's new table & chairs from Mommy & Daddy!

Happy Birthday Braden - now stop growing up so fast.  Time needs to slow down!