Monday, January 11, 2010

Reiny...where are you???

So the other day I was busy doing something in the bedroom (probably folding the massive amounts of laundry) and Reiny disappeared on me. I searched everywhere calling her name and nothing...no reply. As I was standing in the kitchen, I notice a cabinet door open just a crack that I don't use very often. I listened carefully and could hear what sounded to be candy wrappers being removed. I openned the door and low and behold, Reiny had found where I stuffed her leftover Halloween candy. Pretty cute...she even offered me some!


PS Please disregard the shaggy-looking hair...her hairstylist was on strike that day!

Hair...It's a girl thing!!!

Reiny has hair! Well, she's had hair for a while, but everytime she reaches a new milestone with her hair I just have to stop and remember the months of baldy-baby comments I endured to get to this point!!!

Behold...the pig tails!!!



The last picture was taken at nursery...Reiny's Aunt Catherine made this awesome dress!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Christmas 2009

Ok...I have my camera, the toddler's asleep, my house is freezing, but I'm ready to recap Christmas 2009.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. For some reason, I was really into the Christmas Spirit this year. Maybe because Reiny's two and can actually open her own gifts and actually knows who Santa Claus is! In any case, I decorated the house more than I ever have, I made a gingerbread house with Reiny...which I neglected to photograph for evidence of the day...CRAP, and I got most of my shopping done weeks before Christmas! The only exception to that was when someone asked Reiny what Santa was bringing her and she replied..."A new baby." After Jordan came down from the shock and we determined she meant a "babydoll," we headed back to Toys-R-Us to "send Santa a letter about Reiny's wish" (wink, wink). While there, Jordan found this Radio Flyer bike that had a seat that adjusted all the way up so Reiny's stubby little legs could reach the pedals. Even better, it was on sale! So, Santa got a request for that as well.

We went to Jordan's parents house on Christmas Eve like we always do, and had strawberry waffles and openned our family gifts to each other. That was a lot of fun. Jordan got a new hydraulic jack from Boyd (probably so he'll stop borrowing his!!!), and I got a huge scrapbooking kit from Marijill! It is totally awesome and I can't wait to start working on it. I made a picture book of last years major events for Paula, and we bought Dad a new Hot-Shot electric cattle prod...nothing says "I love you, Dad" like a new electric shocking stick!!!

We had my parents here this year for the big day, which was a lot of fun. Of course, old traditions stood and we couldn't open our gifts until mom was dressed and had all her makeup on! We got the whole thing on video! Reiny came out of her room...saw all the gifts...then ran right to the kitchen set my mom and dad got her for Christmas. She played with that forever before we could convince her to open her other gifts. She also got a Melissa & Doug art easel from Jordan's parents, the baby and bike from Santa, Elmo Live Encore from Mom and Dad, as well as some clothes, candy, and an Elmo movie. Needless to say, Reiny made out A LOT better than any of the rest of us. I got Jordan a motorcycle helmet (kinda a crappy gift, but expensive and necessary none-the-least) and new skis and boots for his birthday (which we bought back in August since the deals were so awesome). Jordan was kind enough to wrap up my hot glue gun to throw me off his trail...he booked another trip to Kauai, Hawaii. We leave Jan. 23 and don't come home until Feb. 4th!!! The best part is...Reiny is coming with us this year! I'm so excited to get away and especially excited that Reiny will be with us the whole time. This should be nice for all of us.

Anyways, Christmas evening, we had EVERYBODY out to our tiny 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house for Christmas dinner. Jordan's parents, Chase and Megan, Jilli and the boys, as well as my parents and our family crowded into our little kitchen and had apple-spiced pork for dinner. It was a lot of fun, and slightly overwhelming to the obsessive-compussive neat freak (ME!!), but nevertheless, I wanted to do Christmas dinner for once, and I did!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, but I must admit that it was a bit of a letdown when it was all over...I was like "ok...what now" and I cried when I had to watch my parents leave yet again. It's hard not being closer to them. I just need to make more of an effort to get to New Mexico and visit.

Anyway...on New Years we went to my brother's cabin in Heber, Utah and used the ski passes my mom and dad bought us to ski for 2 days. It was "fabulous" (using a favorite word of Lauren's). I loved being on the hill again, but it was perhaps the best to get a call from my brother David saying he just changed a really nasty poopy diaper on Reiny while I was enjoying my winter fun!

I wish I was independently wealthy and every week could be like the week between Christmas and New Years...maybe someday...



Thursday, January 7, 2010

Time to put the thoughts into words...

I need to post about Christmas and New Years...this I know, but since I left my camera upstairs in my dresser and my toddler is such a senstive napper, I really don't want to walk past her room to get it and chance her waking up (pathetic I know...all too well). So, rather that post a bunch of cool pictures and talking about the awesome things we've done, I'm going to take this time to put my thoughts into words regarding New Years Resolutions.

Here goes...Susan's 2010 Goals:

I have a lot this year. As some of you may know, 2008 was quite possibly the worst, most depressing year of my life. 2009 showed great improvement, thanks mostly to my drastic change in attitude. So, in effort to avoid a relapse into my 2008 self, I've been thinking a lot, and reading a lot, about ways to keep myself happy. I know a person has a greater chance of keeping resolutions if they are in writing where they can be seen frequently for motivation, so hopefully the same is true for typing...

Intellectual Goals:
~I want to finish reviewing algebra, trigonometry, and calculus and finally take, and pass, the math competency exam for teacher certification.
~I want to get my CDL (commercial drivers license)...yes folks, I want to drive the big-rigs with my husband when he needs my help. This goal sorta scares me to death, but hopefully with Jordan's help, I can feel more confident behind the wheel of our semi...
~I want to read 2 financial books a year. This one seems funny, but every year my father-in-law gives me books on financial literacy (perhaps he knows how truly illiterate I am on this subject), and I want to actually read at least 2 of these books every year, rather than stick them on the bookshelf in the basement. I know absolutely nothing about stocks, commodities, or trading...I rely solely upon Jordan to manage our stock portfolios, and it is time that changes. I need to be prepared for the emerging markets and hopefully this goal will help guide me.

Physical Goals:
~I want to be healthy, and look smokin' hot! I know that this one seems petty compared to some of my other goals, but everyone wants to improve on some part of their physical self, and I'm no different. I look in the mirror and see bat-flap arms, and thighs that rub in the middle (pleasant picture I know...). I'm sick of walking past the mirror as I climb in the shower and noticing a whole new plethora of cellulite bumps on my tushie. Time for a change...these next goals will help.
~Get up when Jordan leaves to teach seminary, rather than staying in bed 'til Reiny calls, and do my Pilates exercises for 20-30 min.
~Take a shower and get ready for the day before Reiny's up...this might be a challenge to do everyday, but at least do it on the days you exercise early.
~Take more time with yourself when you go out in public. Just because I spend most of my time around cows doesn't mean I have to look, smell, and dress like them too...
~Make a meal plan monthly. Hopefully, laying out a written plan for meals will help me stick to healthier eating habits.
PS If I looked like this when I'm done...that would be ok...


Spiritual Goal:
~Say your personal prayers every morning and night. Yup, and this is the only one I'm putting in this category. Someone once told me, that if I would commit to personal prayer twice daily, then all the other spiritual problems I'm facing would soon begin to disappear, so there you go...Just pray.

Business Goals:
~Write up a Business Plan for 2010 with Jordan. We need a map for where we want to go this year.
~Finish the paperwork to get our FIRC license for the hydroelectric powerplant. I want this done sooner rather than later, since practically everything we made last year was dumped into this idea, and without the FIRC license we will never see a return on our investment.
~Get the paperwork and red-tape done to finally separate all of our operations into LLCs. The cows need to be separate from the irrigation business, which needs to be separate from the powerplant, which needs to be separate from our personal assets. To truly feel financially secure, we need to brace for any legal liabilities we may incur in the future. Forming an LLC is the best way to do this.
~Send out bills monthly. Jordan and I need to sit down and bill for our labor every 3rd Sunday in order to not overlook things like we've done in the past.

Personal Goal:
~I want to be a bigger person. Jordan and I were talking the other night, and I came to the realization that I gather so much of my self-esteem by what I do for our business and the ranch. I'm good at what I do, go figure...I'm sure no one thought I would be when I first came here, but I've surprised everybody, mostly myself. In light of recent events, which I won't describe here, I need to be a bigger person and step back from these things I do so well, and let someone else try to learn them too. I love what I do here. I love all of my responsibilities. I love that I can be trusted with these responsibilities. Stepping back and letting someone else come in and essentially take over what I've learned to do in order to better themselves, will not be easy, but it's necessary. I must be a bigger person. This might not make sense to a lot of people that read this, if you actually made it this far, but that's ok...this is MY goal, and I know it's a necessary one for me.

Well, I'm sure I could list a hundred more goals I have, but I have to start somewhere, and these are the most important to me. I want to be happy. I want my family to see me be happy. I never want to return to "2008 Susan" ever again. I feel like I'm on the right path now and I just need to keep pushing ahead to help make 2010 and every coming year the best one of my life.