Goals: 2018 Version

1. Unpack the house and be completely settled by January 15th. Including all furniture purchased, and all junk tossed out.
   Still a work in progress, but it will be done this year.  We have made so many trips to donate things and for the most part, this is done.  I still need to purchase some furniture and organize my office space.  
2. Fill out paperwork to foster/adopt and meet with agency by  end of January. 
   I have a contact.  This is in the works.  More to come on that later.   
3. Print family pictures to hang on canvas. Goal=1 new portrait a month during 2018.
   I ordered ONE this month!  Yay!  By the end of 2018 we should be well documented!
4. Take more photos with my camera and document our lives in real time via blog 2 times a month.
   Nope.  Not this month.  I'm using wrestling season and our MOVING as my excuse.  But I will update our blog one more time with a vision plan for each new room soon!
5. Create 10 goals that can be TRACKED and checked. As in, tangible numbers with multiple check points. So I have a numerical goal. Or something of the like...
   I'm working on a few personal development goals that I will track this year.  I'll post those later on!  
6. Exercise 3 times a week.
   Not this month.  February.  It is in the plans for February.  I did however, move a lot this month.  Never have I ever walked so much moving things!
7. Streamline the finances and housekeeping process. Not sure how this will work, but I want to continue to hit the Dave Ramsey plan hard and start envelopes by end of January. So maybe that’s my REAL goal. Track expenses and income through Jan-Feb. with envelopes in place beginning March.
   Our payroll changed.  I paid off the majority of our debts.  I am printing envelopes today.  Laminating planned for end of the week.  Budget hit hard in February.  Goal is to PAY OFF truck by end of 2018.  2019=student loans GONE.
8. Plant bulbs by end of Feb. and draw landscape plans.
   Just got my last shipment of bulbs this weekend.  I will buy some more and start planting this weekend.  I am so excited!
9. Clean out closet and donate/sell seasonal wardrobe excess by end of March. As we approach spring/summer completed by end of May.
   Done.  I did this already this month.  I will hit the kids closets after our Disney trip and revamp their stuff.  I also need to update some of their summer clothing.  I see a serious Sam's shopping trip this month!  
10. Plan 2018 & 2019 vacations. Brainstorm ideas for 10 year vow renewal...
    I think we may go to a new spot just us 5 this summer.  And I have started working on our vow renewal plans.  I'm thinking small.  Just our family and our closest buddies for that... more details to come later!

Goal Summary 2017

You can view my 2017 goal list HERE.

1. Started several books.  Didn't finish one.  ...sigh...
   
2. No crops.  Zero.  I did grow some awesome flowers though!  Does that count?
   
3. There was lots of purging and ridding of uneccesary things.  Not in an orderly fashion, but the effort counts, right?
   
4. I did sell some antiques.  I did buy new furniture on December 22nd, for our new house... but it got done y'all!
   
5. Home repairs done.  We sold that house and the repairs were required for the sale! 
   
6. Nada on the exercise.  Next....
   
7. Nope on the MK sales director and nope on the quit teaching.  I have actually found a renewed passion for that one lately.  The MK is still fun, but less passion is present!
   
8. Still working on the debt payoff plan.  We sold our Mason Falls Drive house and we will be able to use our profits to pay off most debt.  We are still waiting on the closing of our new house to do that. 
   
9. We did repaint all those rooms listed.  We didn't do any of those other major repairs because we sold that house. 
   
10. Good GRAVY--a  lot can change in 12 months.  Looking back at this list... I see some of the things I wanted to do were a good idea, but I have learned that I have to create TANGIBLE goals with a way to track them.  Be on the lookout for #goalpost2018 soon with measurable goals that I can actually track and achieve! 
    
11. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!  

Thanksgiving at WES

I should not be allowed to blog unless I do it in real time.  Sheesh.

Driveway Art

I need to purchase new chalk for our new house.

I cannot wait to break in our new driveway!

My bigs

Nap hair and a post nap snack from Libby.

And this kid.  Not sure when he grew up, but here he is.

Zoo Times

In December 2016 we were gifted with a Zoo Atlanta membership!  We were finally able to cash that in during February of 2017 and have been every single month since then.  This was one of our miscellaneous Saturday excursions with Ms Mackenzie!  We got to spend extra time in the panda habitat learning about things they love.  They enjoy textures, scents, and personal touch.  

The face in a hole pictures will be the death of me.

African elephants covered in red Georgia mud.

The Combo

This year was exceptionally busy for us in the Spring.  I am grateful that all our people made time for an Easter gathering and celebration of Spencer turning 3.  Somehow those things happened in the SAME week and we got to gather and celebrate both our Risen Savior and this sassy pot.  She insisted on wearing her Elena dress for the celebration and egg hunt.

See below.

Grandma and most of her grand babies.

Clean children.