Happy New Year!

Yes I know....long time, no post.

I love the new year! Aside from my B-day being in January (and thus the cringing at being 1 year older) I feel like it is a new start. A fresh slate. We clean up the glorious Christmas celebrations, pack them away for another time, reflect on the year past, and then we wonder...what now?

As I mentioned awhile back, I started a new business venture. All the necessary training and teacher interviews have been completed and this year I get to start having classes meet! How fun! I love watching kids absorb information. While I am not teaching class myself (I require my teachers to be fluent and prefer them to be native speakers), I will sit in on the first few classes to see how my teachers are doing, how the kids are reacting, if the parents have any concerns, and just enjoy. So, that is one of the peaks of this year. Now, if I could just get any students....

The theme of my new year is about health of body, mind, and soul.

Health of body

I have decided that enough is enough...the baby weight has got to go! I have a plan! I have the motivation. I just need to commit. I took the plunge starting Sunday. I went shopping and decided I would plan meals every weekend for the following week. There would be one day I would consider as "free" and that would be a macaroni or eating out day. Problem is that my children (and husband) do not need to count calories or fat grams...and I do. So we many times will eat different things. Plus, the Duke works late on most evenings and I can't keep the kids from eating for that long. So, if I make broiled fish....the children usually get broiled chicken tenders several hours before. Another pitfall: last night was free night since Duke was out of town...and we had pizza. Bad choice.

I plan to enroll each of my children in at least one activity that requires them to move. Drama is already in swimming and a member of his school's basketball skills team. The girls will take Mommy and Me French classes as soon as I get them started. The classes have them dancing and jumping all over the place. I want them to learn from young age that exercise can be fun. Weather-permitting I would like to take a walk or two a week with kids in tow. It's wonderful to watch them explore on these "nature walks". The diabetes gene looms in my family DNA. I also had GD while pregnant with #2 so staying healthy is of key importance for me and my family.

Health of mind:
Organization. Cleaner house. Less clutter. Stay on top of the messes. Get more help around the house.

I need a 2009 calendar in front of me to start scheduling things. The one thing I have found is that if you schedule something in advance, you are more likely to do it. Too many times I have told a friend "Let's do lunch next week"....and it never happens. Plan ahead. I found a friend who enjoys spin classes as much as I do and we meet at class every Tues/Thurs afternoon. Knowing someone is holding me accountable has made me show up at that class more often than any other I have planned on.

Another area of focus: count to 10 before exploding (we taught Drama how to do this. Mom should practice what she teaches!). Angry parents teach angry children.

Health of soul-

Another thing I am hoping to do is go to bed earlier and wake up before anyone gets up. There is nothing like a quiet cup of coffee while the sun is coming up. It's good for my soul.

It is great prayer time, and refocusing time. I feel a deep need to refocus some much-needed attention on my marriage. It's not that we are having problems, but everything we do is for and with the kids. A healthy marriage is a key ingredient to a happy home, as is healthy relatinship with God!

My plan: (In random order)

Schedule healthy fun meals, plan and shop. Keep healthy snacks around.
Schedule workouts.
Workout at least 4 times a week.
Accountability- take before/during/after pics.
Rewards for sticking with it- Non-food things....like skinny jeans, jewelry, new workout clothes.
Put as much time as I can into getting the business up and running.
Schedule fun time with family and friends.
Schedule dates with the Duke.
Schedule God time.

My blog for awhile will probably be focused on the daily life of a mom balancing life. Hope you enjoy the reads, and maybe find some inspiration of your own!

HAVE A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!