Technology has sucked me in.

I used to criticize people who were "in love" with their cell phones.  Now I have an iPhone.

I get it.  I'm sorry I was critical. 

I love that I can check my email and Facebook so easily, wherever I'm at.  I need easy, because between email, Facebook, digital pictures, and blog reading, I can barely keep up with my technological life.  Whew.

Recently I kept hearing everyone talk about the Words With Friends game.  I thought I would try it.  I do love word games.  And I do love winning at things.

Y'all.  I am addicted.  I might never be productive again.

Although, I did make an awesome pot roast the other night.  Hayes was a huge fan.

 He signed "more" four times.  The carrots were his favorite. 

I am doing so well at trying new recipes, like I wanted to do here.  The pot roast was great because I did it in the Crock Pot.  So simple.  It really freed up my evening time, because dinner was done.

And yes, that gives me more time to play Words With Friends.

It's raining Kens...

...and Barbies too.

Let it begin.  My daughter has a new love for a classic-Barbies. 

My parents, who are pretty dang smart sometimes, saved my Barbies.  They have spent years in a big trunk in their attic.  They recently brought it to our house.  It went straight to our attic.

Now that Bella is really interested it seemed like the perfect time to get them down and check out what 20 year old Barbies look like.  It also helped that Andy was in the attic putting away Christmas stuff.  I don't do attics.  At all.  Things live up there-I'm sure of it.

So, the trunk came down.  And despite the mildew smell from years of ridiculous Corpus Christi humidity, my Barbies (and Kens, Skippers, and Kellys too) were GLORIOUS!

Look at those bangs.  The 80's, baby.

I was in heaven.  They looked exactly the same in the cute little coordinating outfits I had last left them in.

Ok, this one wasn't so glorious.  She lost her head.  It had been hot-glued on due to an accident, which probably involved on of my brothers, and let's face it ...hot glue can't hold up in an attic.  (Although Barbie can't face it, her face is gone.  Ha!  I am totally the funniest person I know.)

And just for fun...

I have no words.

I also found this in with the Barbies...

What is it, you ask?  It is/was my Barbie family organizational book.  I had every doll named (Um, they can't all be the name Mattel gave them.  Way too confusing.) and organized into families.  They were listed together, complete with ages, jobs, hobbies, etc.  This is proof that my OCD started at an early age.

And no, I won't show you a picture of the inside.  Let's have Barbie with the 80's bangs be embarrassed enough for the both of us.

 After Bella went to bed, I went through everything and here are the results...

I told you it was glorious.  There are ice skates.  And roller blades.  And a life jacket. And outfits for an entire wedding party. There are many more dolls too, but Bella had already taken some up to her room.

Today, Bella and I dressed the Barbies for a wedding.  Everyone was so fashionable.  There was dancing and cake, too.

 The Guests

The Bride and Groom

This Barbie can no longer sing, "It's raining Kens."  She has to just stick to this one now. 

I guess I will do it too.

 It’s the new year.  Or is it New Year?  Should that be capitalized?  I don't know.

Anyway, I didn't really think I was going to make a resolution.  Too cliche.  Too easy to break.

Then, I just started thinking about things I would like to do, things I would like to change.  Isn't it funny how a new year can do that to you?  It's just another day really, but it feels like a fresh start.

I like fresh starts.

Here is my list that I came up with.  It is in no particular order. Not all of them are amazing or unique, but I thought I would share regardless. 

10 Things for a Better 2011

1.  Use my china at least 4 times this year.

2. Try two new recipes a month.

3.  Read through the Bible in a year. 

4.   Realize that it’s ok to do nothing once in awhile.  I don’t have to fold clothes while watching a movie on TV.  I can just sit and watch TV every now and then.

5.   Do pilates again.  I have come to realize that my stomach is not going to fix itself.

6.   Send notes to people for no reason-a simple “I’m thinking of you.” makes a big difference.  I will also do this for my husband.   I used to do that all of the time.  Funny how life gets in the way.   

7.   Spend more time outside with my kids.  I am just not an outdoorsy person, but I will try, because fresh air is good.

8.  Drink more water.

9.   Not spend my gift cards on my children all of the time.

10.  Worry less.  

PS-I have no idea why it's doing this funny paragraph indenting thing or why the font is weird.  I am just leaving it.  I don't have the energy or know-how to fix it.  I will not let it drive me crazy.  Remember, I am worrying less.

In the middle of the night...

My son woke up in the middle of the night last night.

Instead of waiting to see if he would go back to sleep, I anxiously went upstairs.  I wanted to be with him.

Long after he fell back asleep, I sat and held him.  I didn’t even rock.  I just sat still and held him close and felt him lean against me, secure and peaceful.

I thought about how he is safe right now from so many things, in his current state of babyness.  

He doesn’t yet know that people can be mean.  Or that sunburns really hurt.  Or that the mail is mostly filled with bills.  He doesn’t know the sorrow a heart can feel after experiencing death.

Part of me wants to keep it like this forever.

But then I also thought…he doesn’t know what it’s like to have a friend stick up for you.  Or how delicious ice cream tastes on a hot summer day.  Or how Jesus paid our debt and this brings victory over death.

I prayed for him to grow.  I prayed for him to experience. I prayed for him to know Him. 

And I can’t wait to be his Mommy through it all.

He is my best gift from 2010.