Project 52: The 2011 Finale, Part 1

I had intended on doing a single post on all my goals. However, Karen's last post made me realize that it would be more manageable to actually divide it up (just like she did.)

I can not believe that the year is ending. All the things that in January I resolved to do, it's already time to take account on how I've done. It has been a whirlwind of a year. And I'm actually grateful for Project 52, because there are so many things that I would never have done had I not made this list. I may not have done everything. But I pushed myself, and enjoyed all 52 weeks!

The List: #1-26

1. Organize my closets: Umm.. I sure thought about this a lot. But I never actually got around to doing it. Although we did actually get closet doors on Hubster's closet, so that was an improvement.

2. Complete 3 home improvement projects. Done: Closet doors, hand rails for the stairs, and painting all the the back door.

3. Get my passport. No. I filled out all the paperwork, but then found out how expensive it was. However, I'm interested in doing an international trip with my work next year, so this one has to happen next year.

4. Plan an awesome 10 year wedding anniversary celebration. If by awesome, you mean Omaha, Nebraska, then YES! Actually, Hubster and I had a fabulous dinner, then a weekend touring the bridges of Madison County and a trip to Omaha. It was quite fabulous.

5. Find 3 unfinished projects and finish them. I may have actually made negative ground on this goal, by starting even more projects and not finishing those. I have a problem.

6. Visit 3 new restaurants. Done by leaps and bounds. Thanks to good friends, I have visited more new restaurants this year than the last 5 year (probably the last 5 years combined, even.)

7. Plan monthly menus. This has been my biggest accomplishment. It has become a huge part of our family. From planning out the schedules, to the new chalkboard menu in the kitchen, where the boys watch me each Sunday write out the menu for the week. It's been amazing. The other amazing part has been people who tell me they have been inspired by this.

8. Meet my girlfriends for brunch one a month. It definitely wasn't once a month. But, with trying to coordinate the schedules of a group of residents, it happened as frequently as it could.

9. Send birthday cards to all my siblings and be on time this year. Yes! I don't think I missed one.

10. Paint at least once. I painted trim, but that wasn't what I meant. So no. My art supplies are still tucked away, gathering dust.

11. Go visit at least one new church. Yes.

12. Visit the Herbet Hoover Historic Site. No. I kept trying to, but the weather never cooperated.

13. Go camping four times. We went three times, not four. But close enough that I'm saying we are done with this.

14. Find 3 ways to be green. Done. Not that we are a carbon neutral family, but from riding our bikes to work when the weather permits, to getting mulch from the city yard waste program, to washing our clothes in cold water, to getting more active in recycling, we have made big strides. We also have plans for more things to do that we are excited about.

15. Use my crock pot once a month. At the beginning of the year, I felt I was never going to get this done. Now, with my monthly menu, I use my crock pot nearly once a week. So I'm saying this one is done.

16. Catch up on my book reviews. I have not done this. But I still have plans to get this done before the end of the year.

17. Set up electronic bill paying. We have not done this yet. This is another one I plan on doing before the year is over.

18. Start saving some money, no matter how little. I have set up monthly transfer from my checking account to my "high interest" saving account. It's not much, but it's something.

19. Register Monkey for kindergarten. Not only is he registered, but he's halfway done with kindergarten. This deserves it's own post.

20. Grow herbs. Done. Although I should have said "plant herbs" because not everything I planted grew.

21. Visit Wisconsin. We didn't make it north this year, but we have plans to visit Wisconsin this coming spring.

22. Walk 5 times a week on weeks the temperature is not freezing. I didn't pay that much attention, but we did walk every chance we could.

23. Go to the doctor and get my hand looked at. Done. I even made a follow up appointment and then an appointment for another referral to a different specialist. I also have a diagnosis. Maybe I'll do a post about this at some point.

24. Introduce my children to musicals. We watched "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Court Jester," and "King and I." There are so many more to watch, but it was definitely an introduction. The only person who didn't like it was Hubster.

25. Have a Harry Potter marathon. I had a Harry Potter book marathon. I would have a Harry Potter movie marathon, but there is no way I would stay awake.

26. Donate blood. I had planned on it, but then being on call during our department blood drive. Maybe next year.

17/26, with 2 more to be done in the next 10 years. I'm quite proud of myself. It's amazing how much you can get done in a year with a list and a plan.

The Things I Want to Remember: For Bug

Dear Bug,

Sometimes it takes me noticing the gap between the bottom of your pants and your shoes, where your socks are showing plainly, for me to realize how fast you are growing. I could swear those pants fit you just last week.

There is going to be a time, coming much too quickly judging by your rapidly shrinking clothes, that you are going to want more time to yourself, more time with friends, and less time with me. So I'm going to try to remember everything I can from this time now.

I want to remember you reading. You lay on your back on the couch, the book held above your head, reading Calvin and Hobbes, giggling loudly to yourself.

I want to remember our conversations. For example, doing spelling practice this week:
Me: Bug, how did you do on your pre-test?
Bug: I missed one.
Me: Great job!
Bug: What?! I said I missed one.
Me: But they were all new words. Only missing one is good. It's not like you missed 12 out of 14.
Bug: Yeah. That would be the end of the world.
Me: No. No it wouldn't. The end of the world is worse, like when someone you love dies.
Bug: No. Actually, the end of the world is when a huge comet hits the planet.

The entire time we are talking, I can't believe we are having this conversation. How did it get to the point we can have conversations like this, and you make witty remarks?


I want to remember even the slightly painful things: like the fact you won't hug me in front of your friends anymore.

I want to remember how you still sleep with your stuffed tiger, Stripey. Because you are my very own, much better behaved, Calvin and Hobbes. Because a boy still needs his tiger.

I want to remember how are proud and protective of your little brother. You are always pointing out cute things he is doing, telling him how great his drawings are, congratulating him on the fantastic block tower he built. You are a good big brother, despite how difficult Monkey can make it for you sometimes.

I want to remember how you said you weren't sure you wanted to go to college, because that means you would have to move away, and you like being home with us. You say it makes you sad to think about moving away someday.

I want to remember that now, even at this age, you want to read together each night, and get a piggyback ride to bed. You still want me to tuck you under the covers and kiss you goodnight.


I know that all these things are going to change. So I'm doing my best to remember.

Love,
Mom

The Things I Want to Remember: For Monkey

Dear Monkey,

There are things right now that I'm sure I would be just fine forgetting. The fact that you have become such a picky eater. That your default mood is whiny. That you still have a hard time sleeping in your bed.

But there are so many more things that I want to remember. I keep forgetting to write them down. I know that the memories are slipping through the cracks of the busy schedule faster than I can gather them back up in the quiet of the night.

I want to remember how you insist on having a straw with every single thing that you drink. Whether it is your after-school strawberry milk, or breakfast orange juice, or water with dinner, you much have a straw.

I want to remember how you tromp after your Daddy to the woodpile in the cold winter evenings. It doesn't matter how cold it is, or if you are already in your pajamas, if Dad is going to get wood, you are doing with him, stomping over the hard ground in your boots, holding the lantern.

I want to remember how much you love animals. Each library trip finds our book bag filled with books about platypuses, armadillos, frogs, insects, chameleons. You say that you are going to grow up and be a zookeeper.

I want to remember your wild imagination. After studying the 5 senses at school, you were asked to draw items that you would like to touch and items you would not like to touch. Under your "like to touch" box, you drew "fake insects, nice snakes, and grass." Under your "don't want to touch" box, you drew "real insects and poisonous lollipops."


I want to remember all the funny things you say:
-While learning state names: "What do they have in New Hamster? A lot of hamsters or something?"
-Getting ready for bed: "Daddy, I really love you, but I NEED A DRINK!"

I want to remember how you shout playfully that you don't want me to go to work, hanging on my leg and hollering that you won't let go and that I can't leave.

I want to remember how you snuggle up to me on couch while we read, lifting my arm up so that you can get even closer. How you ask for a blanket so that we can be warm while we snuggle. How you fall asleep under my arm, your head heavy with dreams. How I carry you to bed, along with an entourage of stuffed animals.

I want to remember all this. I want you to remember all this.


Love,
Mom

Currently - December

Current Book
Just finished The Book Thief. This book was excellent. Now I'm finishing up The Maze Runner series.

Also, I am determined to get a book review post out before the end of the year, so I can share my thoughts on the books I have read this year.

Current Albums
Waking Up by OneRepublic
Funeral by Arcade Fire

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure
Pinterest. I am newly obsessed. Because I need another time suck in my life.

Current Drink
Eggnog. Tis the season.

Current Songs
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show
"The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson

Current Wish-List
A house keeper and a personal chef

Current Needs
Two consecutive days off. It's coming up this weekend. I'm so excited.

Current Triumph
Getting Monkey to sleep in his own bed instead of the floor
Having all my Christmas shopping done and Christmas cards mailed by December 1st.

Current Favorite Film
We just rented Super 8, and I loved it!

Current TV Show
Person of Interest
Chopped

Current Indulgence
Blogging. Given everything right now, even 15 minutes of straight computer time feels like a luxury.

Current Outfit
Breaking out my cozy winter sweaters!

Current Banes of My Existence
The state of our bathrooms. They are quite neglected.

Current Excitement
Christmas. I'm crazy excited!

Current Mood
Vitamin D deficient tired. I need some sunshine.

The Tree

Each year, I have to look back to see what I wrote about the Christmas tree. Because each year, I feel the same way about it, and want to say the same thing. About the old debate about artificial vs real, the way it doesn't feel like Christmas until the tree is up and decorated. This year, it was just the same. But then again, it wasn't.

This year, instead of driving to the store to pick up a tree, we drove further, along unpaved roads, through rolling countryside that is so American heartland that it leaves me breathless.


We drove to a small local tree farm to cut our own tree. The day was misty and wet.


We hiked over the muddy ground through the rows of White Pine, Scotch Pine, and Canaan Fir to look for the perfect tree. We ended up walking the rows several times, because the two different trees we liked were on opposite ends of the farm.


We finally decided on a bright green, fat Scotch pine. Bug and Monkey took turns sawing through the tree. They shouted, "Timber!" in absolute delight of the opportunity to do so.


Then, with Hubster at one end and me at the other, we carried the tree back up the hill, where the extremely friendly farmer shook out the loose needles and tied it to the top of the car.


The boys and I petted bunnies instead of helping.


I love that the tree is local Iowa grown. I love that it is freshly chopped. I love that we were helping out local farmers. I even love that it is the pokiest tree and so fat we had to do more furniture arranging than anticipated.


Once we were home, the tree was put up in the living room, the boxes of decorations were brought up from the basement, and Christmas music was started. I opened the boxes of gold and silver ornaments and then stood back. This year, I let them decorate by themselves. I hung garland around the house, put up the wreath, but didn't help with the Christmas tree baubles. I watched the boys be so sweet to each other and so proud of their work.

After every box was empty, the boys felt the tree was perfect. I absolutely agreed with them. I added a few flowers, but didn't move a single one of their carefully placed ornaments. There was no need.


The warm fuzzy feeling, the joy of watching my boys, and the tree in the corner. It was all perfect.

Holiday Blues

I'm having a hard time getting in the holiday mood. I'm not procrastinating anything. In fact, everything is ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Christmas cards are done and (mostly) addressed. Almost all the Christmas presents are bought. But I feel like I'm just going through the motions.

The days have flown by, so I'm in denial that it is actually November, let alone nearly the end of November. And since I can barely register the fact that it is the end of fall, it feels that there is no way it can be Thanksgiving tomorrow.

I'm also just to-my-bone-marrow tired. I've been working some of my longest hours in a long time, working 80-90 hours a week for the last several weeks. I'm also on a night shift currently, which just makes me feel cantankerous. And being on nights means that I work 6 days a week, regardless of holidays.

So that means I will be working Thanksgiving day. Actually twice. I get home at 7:30 am on Thanksgiving morning, and have to head back to work at 5:30 pm. I feel that if I have to hear about everyone's 4-5 day weekend, and about all the family and friends they will be seeing, I might have a meltdown. There will be no holiday weekend. There will be no gathering of extending family and friends. There will just be us and a very tired me.

So that's my little pity party for one.

However...this does provide us with good opportunities. We are still planning on a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Which means for the first time ever, we have to cook a turkey. I am scared to death of this, but Hubster and I are doing this together. Our turkey is currently being brined, and I'm so excited about it. Tomorrow it will be injected with broth and butter and stuffed with onions and apples.

Given my schedule, there won't be down time after the dinner. But Hubster is planning on bringing our pies to the hospital, so that we can have dessert in the evening, and share it with the other residents that are also away from their families on the holiday.

I'm planning on being over my negativity by the time I wake up this afternoon. I'm planning on cooking with my family and make holiday memories together. I'm planning on forgoing some sleep to make sure that happens. Even if there is no large family gathering, or days off, and even if dinner is eaten around a hospital table instead of the dinner table, I'm planning on celebrating.

Update: I have made two realizations. First, every time I open my mouth (or my laptop) to complain, I have a moment when I realize how pathetic and whiny I sound. Second, I really shouldn't talk (or write) when I am tired. I've slept. And guess what? I'm not really that upset. I'm okay (ish) that I'm working Thanksgiving. It means that someone else won't be. I'm going to have time with my family, and I love them so much. The turkey, despite how afraid I am of it, is going to be awesome. The pies are already done. This is going to be an awesome holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Shiny New Menu

Ever since I started meal planning back in September, it has become a little bit of an obsession. I've become compulsive about it (and there you have it, a diagnosis, just like that.)

I'm always on the look out for new recipes, keeping an eye open for what's in season and how I should cook it (which is really not a lot right now here in the icy, but not just snowy, state of Iowa.) Our evenings are so much smoother and our diets are so much healthier. The times that we just give up and go for a fast food run have been cut drastically.

Since this has become such a big deal, I couldn't continue just using a little sheet of paper stuck to the side of the fridge.


No, this was much more important than that. So much bigger.

So, I did what any normal, compulsively planning menu obsessing woman would do. I bough a can of chalkboard paint and painted out a large rectangle on a wall in my kitchen.

I love my new chalkboard menu (although I would like to point out that the walls in our house are textured, not flat. Hubster mentioned this to be just as I was starting to paint and asked if I wanted to sand the wall first. I didn't. I was in the zone and just ready to do this already. Turns out, he was right. A textured chalkboard isn't the most ideal writing surface. Another point to Hubster.)

Each week, I write out the week's menu (from the scrawled on monthly menu sheet on the side of the fridge - that's not going away.)


Now, not only is the hard work I spent planning meals for the family nicely displayed, but there is finally something on the blank walls in our kitchen. I personally think it goes with everything else quite nicely.


Everyday, the boys run into the kitchen and read out loud the dinner planned for that night. Sometimes the meals are a little nicer, a little fancier.


Other weeks, they are not.


The trick is still actually getting the boys to eat anything, no matter how pretty the menu is.