Resolutions

I made 3 New Year Resolutions this year. 

My main one is "Take an extra minute!"  This sort of encompasses everything!  Take an extra minute to put something away the right way.  Take an extra minute to pick up the girls' rooms before nap.  Take an extra minute to listen to communicate and listen to Rob.  Take an extra minute to cuddle with the girls before bedtime.  Take an extra minute....

My second one (which has not been done yet although I have had the chance numerous times) is to start using recyclable bags when grocery shopping (although not 100% because our buddy Kramer still needs those plastic ones)...Rob says it takes 21 times for something to become a habit so looks like I have 21 more times to go.....

My third one (which I'm sure was my one last year too) is quality, not quantity.  I am with my girls 24/7 now...and in one way it's a sacrifice, in another way, it's the easiest thing ever.  Although they loved going to "daycare" one day a week, I had so much guilt.  I want to spend the next few months really focusing on quality time.  It doesn't have to cost a lot to make memories....but this time is going so fast and I am holding on as tight as I can!!!!  Here are some pictures that capture some "quality" time from last week....

Last week we decided to have a special lunch....Princess Tea-Party Style!  We had so much fun!

(She wanted to be called Princess Fiona)

Princess Tiana

On Tuesday  morning Caitlin and I spent some great time together while Abigail was at school...on the way back to school I captured this adorable picture of her:

Last Friday we met Jules and Lucy at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago.  It's a FREE conservatory and it's a great place to go...especially in the winter.  It was wonderful to walk around and take in all the fresh air and beautiful scenery.  They have poinsettas everywhere and I'm thinking next year we'll do some holiday pictures there!

Checking out the coy pond

Caitlin would have gone in had I not been holding on tight to her pants!

Jules and Lucy...we love Friday playdates with them!

Sisters...sharing a single stroller (If I bring a double, Abigail wants to walk...if I bring a single, Abigail wants to ride....)

We had a really great weekend.  On Friday, the girls went to my parents house so Rob and I could have a date night.  We were going to see a movie, but Rob had a really long day at work and was afraid he'd fall asleep at a movie.  So instead, we went shopping!  ;)  We had gotten gift certificates from my parents for Xmas so we went shopping and gots LOTS of things we needed and wanted.  Perfect date night if you ask me.  We then went out for a nice dinner in which I didn't have to get up once the whole time to take someone to the bathroom, so that alone made it amazing!  We then headed back to get the girls but instead, decided to stay there due to weather, so Rob went to bed and my parents and I stayed up way too late having wine and talking...great night!!!!  Thanks so much Mom and Dad for our gift certificates...and also for watching the girls for us!!!!

Saturday started with a family trip to the park district for Abigail's 1st ballet/tap dance class!  Next week she uses her tap shoes and she's so excited!

Then, daddy and Caitlin headed home to do somethings around the house...and mommy and Abigail had a "date day".  We went to the Wheaton library to see a performance by Jim Gill (Children's singer).  As a kindergarten teacher, I was very excited about this!  We had so much fun together...lots of singing and dancing!!!!  She has been singing his songs all week now so I think I'm headed to the library today to get some CDs!

(She was so cute interacting with Jim Gill)

We went out for lunch and did some errands to finish our "date day". 

Sunday started with our new mattress being delivered!!!  It's my first new matttress since I was like 6, so I am so excited!!  Ahhh....King Bed!

Then, Caitlin and I did some errands while daddy and Abigail spent some quality time together...and LOTS of games of Go Fish I hear!  ;) 

Later, Nana and Papa came over to help with our Xmas gifts from them!  They really made a difference in our house!!!!

First, Daddy and Papa installed our new kitchen light!  It's so nice to have a modern-looking light!

Then, instead of throwing away the previous light, we decided to move it.  In our "foyer" entrance we used to have this boring light.... 

but we moved our old kitchen light there and it really looks great.... 

We also got our new coffee table/side table set up and they look great..and are a lot safer than our previous table with sharp edges! 

Thanks so much Nana and Papa for all our new presents....and for helping set them up too!  We really appreciate it!

We ended with a Packer win....I know, it's even hard to write that...but if the Bears and Packers both win their next playoff game, then there will be a Bears Packers playoff game at Soldier Field.....Can you even imagine?  It would be bigger than the Superbowl around here!  I'm thinking we will definitely have to have a Bears party for that game!!!!!!