Where have you been?!...

This is probably what you have been wondering for the last month, right? Probably thought my family had disappeared mysteriously or that I had given up on blogging...no way! We are alive and well.

We just happened to get super busy with finals in December and then traveling to AZ for Christmas and New Years. Speaking of Christmas, we had an amazing Christmas with Joshua's family. Seriously,  we have been so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love my in-laws as if they were the family I was born and raised in, and they have been so loving and have treated me like their own daughter from day 1.

Christmas was very special this year. This year, all of Joshua's siblings were together for Christmas for the first time in several years (Joshua served a 2-year mission for our Church, and then his brother, Jake served a 2-year mission as well). It was also Kaiya's first Christmas! I can't believe I was pregnant with her last Christmas, just dreaming about what it would be like to have her in my life. Having her here this Christmas was so special--even though she had no idea what was going on or how spoiled she was (Grandma and Grandpa McG got her this exersaucer that she adores)! Christmas was really just a special day, and it was so fun to see the excitement everyone had with the "toys" they received.

Joshua got Legos for Christmas! Such a kid at heart.

Kaiya and mommy on Christmas Day 2012

For New Years we didn't do too much. On New Year's Eve, Joshua, Haley (Joshua's sister), and I had a dance party with Zumba and Just Dance 4 on the Wii (we danced for 2 hours...or at least I did!). Joshua and I then enjoyed a nice glass of Welch's sparkling grape juice as we watched the ball drop in New York and made a toast to a new and happy year. It was a very simple celebration, but it definitely gave Joshua and I something to look forward to: a new year full of unexpected twists, excitements, and goals to improve ourselves.

With a New Year comes New Year's Resolutions. Joshua and I have several resolutions in what we believe are important areas of life: financial, educational, physical, spiritual, social, and mental/emotional. We were so excited to sit down and write these together! Okay, so maybe I was a little bit more excited than Joshua...but we still had fun!

Here are some of our goals!

• Financial: 

1. 10% to tithing, 20% to savings, and 70% to budget (thanks to Shawni Pothier of 71 Toes for the idea!)
2. check our budget on Sundays
3. save and organize receipts
4. budget for organization supplies (our apartment is slightly unorganized--and that might be an understatement)

• Educational:

1. Check grades weekly as a couple
2. Write down homework assignments on a calendar at beginning of week so we keep track of what is due and when
3. Look at grad school requirements for Joshua and start working to fulfill them

• Physical

1. Exercise daily
2. Increase veggie intake (it's harder to do than I thought!)
3. Sweets in moderation (also difficult...)
4. Increase water intake
5. I'm working for a 6-pack (should probably start working on that!)

• Spiritual

1. Attend temple every other Saturday
2. Nightly family prayer
3. Personal and couple scripture study and prayer

•  Social

1. Girls' night once a month
2. Call parents more often

• Mental

1. Learni to sew (Mikaila)
2. Learn guitar (Joshua)
3. Stay positive--avoid complaining
4. Write in journal/blog often
5. Read The Hobbit as a couple

So far we've been pretty good at the financial, educational, and spiritual goals, but the other areas could use some work! 

What are some resolutions you made this year? 

Love, 

JaM