Christmas Picture

Here is our 2011 Christmas picture. Somehow Evin talked me out of our normal annual family picture. I still haven't done Dakota's one year pictures but I'm going to soon. I love, love looking back at Cash's pictures and how much he's changed. Cash just started Karate yesterday. I'll have to take a picture of him in his uniform. He is returning to this after about a year off. He's been begging to go and I was so proud of him in class yesterday, mostly because he didn't make me go and participate with him which he thought I should do when he was 4. He has grown so much from attending Kindergarten at Vista Charter School and although Homeschooling trends are on the rise, I see lots of great things that come from the public school system. I've been working part-time at Washington County Assessor's Dept. There are so many great people that work there, I enjoy working with them and am grateful to have a job and a break from being a mom. I love being a mom but I also enjoy some quiet time. I'm thankful that Evin is available and willing to watch the kids while I'm at work. My first few weeks at work were quiet, it took some getting used to. For 2012 I've decided to simplify my life even more, which usually means change. I'd like to purchase less and repurpose more. It's a lofty goal but we'll give it a try. When I read Your Money or your Life my purchasing habits changed. I used to buy items based on future need and for the most part I now purchase based on current need. I still shop sales but don't use coupons. It took me about a year to realize that the coupons encouraged me to buy packaged items which were cheap but not necessarily healthy for your body. Now I avoid the inside isles at the grocery store which saves me money. I learned to make my own windex (Evin still prefers the real stuff) and shower spray. I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes for Dakota and wish I had with Cash, it would have saved us about $1,500-2,000. I would love to eliminate paper towels but I think Evin would flip. Currently, I'm reading Unfair Advantage by Robert Kiyosaki. I enjoy his style of writing and enjoy reading about his real life experiences. He's a lot more famous than when I read his first book Rich Dad, Poor Dad but he seems like he's still trying to teach the same concepts. Well I had better get ready for the day.......

Wow, it's been too long. It's a New Year and with it comes more promises to myself. Promises like updating my blog more often, keeping a cleaner house, organizing more, eating less, exercising more, catch up on scrapbooking all while working a part-time job, tending to two kids and a husband. It's a tall order and I may not get it all done but at least in my mind it could happen. Since the last post we've added to our family. Dakota Wayne Proffitt was born two days before Christmas in 2011. He just turned one and is such a joy to have in our family. He laughs at us all the time, especially when he's in trouble. He's learning hot and although he can't say the words, he can sign milk, hungry, night-night and good-bye. He understands a lot. Cash is now 5 and is in Kindergarten. His teacher says he's a great student, always listening and doing what he's told. I wonder if she's confusing him with another kid? Actually he is pretty well behaved when out and about, at home he's a usual kid testing his boundaries and testing or parenting skills. So with two boys we are one happy family. We are excited to enter 2012 and embrace ourselves for the best year ever. Evin and I will have been married for 15 years this August and we are at the point that we don't remember life apart. Each year brings new challenges but we are looking forward it. Oh, almost forgot. Cash got a kitty named Sonic at Christmas, he's also a fun addition to our family. I'll post some pictures soon.............