Within the next year...

I've always been a goal oriented person. I do best when I can spend the evenings writing out a to-do list for the next day. There's something very satisfying about checking items off of a to-do list. And for those items that never get checked off, well let's just say it's a good way to realize the things you just aren't going to get around to and you know it but you still feel the compulsion to put it down. So in light of my love for goals, I thought I'd take some time and share my goals for the upcoming year with you, our friends. Perhaps this is to hold me a little more accountable. Perhaps it's because this is hopefully going to be a big year. Perhaps it's because I'm anal retentive and I need an outlet. Whatever the reason, here they are, my goals for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year:

1. I want my husband to find a job. This one is a big one and many other goals hinge on this first occuring. I think that's another reason why I wanted to write my goals down... so I feel like I have more control over them. Because in actuality, I have less control than I'd like to admit. If Shaun doesn't find a job it will be hard to move forward in many ways. Perhaps I should add patience as a goal but common', let's be realistic! It's not going to happen.

2. I want to buy our first home! Again, this hinges on goal #1 occuring, but I've got the itch to buy so bad it's killing me. I'm tempted to call a realtor and just go looking anyway. But buying in this area means staying in this area, something I'm not quite ready to commit to. For instance, what if Shaun finds a fabulous job in say... North Carolina? Unbenounced to him, he has already applied for several jobs in this wonderful dream state of mine. I don't want to rule that out as a place to move and you can get more bang for your buck there.

3. I want to have another baby... I'm not rushing this one. Just some time this year I'd like to start trying. That's probably a better way to word it. But again, this hinges on goal #1 occurring because I would like to at least go down to working part-time after having a second baby. This of course means my husband would be the primary income, again refer to goal #1.

4. I want to decorate said house listed in #2 that we will buy when goal #1 is accomplished. I see so many beautiful things I'd love to buy for my home but it's at capacity. I'm not one for clutter so I wont buy it if I don't have room for it. There are several kitchen gadgets I'd love to buy but have no room to store them. I want to buy furniture for Ella but again lack the space to put it somewhere. I LOVE to decorate and I've conjured up so many images in my head of rooms I can decorate.... Maybe I'll go back for that interior design degree after all. If I can't decorate my own house then by golly let me decorate someone else's.

5. I want to lose 30 pounds. Now, this is the one goal I actually DO have control over and ironically, as hard as I try it seems to not work. I lost my baby weight last year but over the last six months I've put ten pounds back on. Despite going to the gym religiously I have to face the reality that my eating also has to be healthy. It's not that I eat horribly, but there's room for improvement. So 30 pounds I guess will be the goal I give the priority until goal #1 occurs and I can start thinking about all the other things I want to do. I guess it's good because if I can lose 30 pounds before I get pregnant again I'll feel a lot better (heck, I'll even be happy if I lose 15. I'll still be lower than I was when I was initially pregnant with Ella).

So these are my thoughts on this Saturday night about the things I'd like to do, some of which I can control and others which I need to pray for patience to allow to happen in their own due time. Along the way I hope to make the most of every day and remember appreciation for the things I already have accomplished and enjoy!

Ella takes care of important business

Ella knows what life is all about. First things first when traveling, you must test all equipment. That includes the luggage rack. She made it her own personal jungle gym. This girl is buuussssy!

Ella also likes to help Shaun find jobs on the hotel phone ... here she is busy making conference calls.

But all work and no play makes life dull... so a little jumping on the bed with Grandpa's help helps her stay balanced (literally)

Note: See Ella's pj's. Guess who dressed her that night. Can anyone say "daddy?"

And the most important business of all: FAMILY! This is the only picture I got of Ella with nana and grandma during this visit... too bad her shirt is a complete mess. Maybe I can photoshop that and make it look clean. On second thought, let's show the reality of what Ella does to her clothing because she has to eat everything "by self". It's still a sweet photo.

A sweet photo of Ella, her new kitty "gato", and her grandma C

Ella is a doll. I think she's got the right idea about life, don't you?

A Most Colonial Family

It's hard to believe that it was only a week ago that we were touring Williamsburg. Other than that lovely Virginia humidity, the trip was absolutely wonderful. I don't know how many times I thanked Heavenly Father for AC and no longer needing to wear so many layers and gowns to my ankles. I was hot just watching the ladies around Williamsburg. But really, it was so nice to show Shaun's parents our favorite VA city. We absolutely love Williamsburg and the way history is quite literally alive in this town. Here are a few of our photos from our time there.

Ella and Grandma C playing on the bench in front of one of the colonial stores

One of the locals telling us about her chicken and his comb

Outside the cabinet makers

Ella loved the oxen

Ella enjoying some of the colonial gardens

A colonial reenactment

The weaver telling us Ella has "flaxen" colored hair

Grandma C loved the Colonial Gardens. I think she's going to make grandpa recreate them in Fallen, NV... Good Luck!

The Blacksmith

The Governor's Mansion outside gardens

More of the grounds on the Governor's palace

Ella enjoying her not so colonial candy lollipop

Too cute!

Visit with Grandma and Grandpa PartII

The first day of Grandma and Grandpa's trip we had a reunion with all of Shaun's uncles and cousins that live in the area. Shaun has some really great extended family members and his uncle has a fabulous home for parties so it was a great time had by all. All Ella needed to stay entertained was the ice bucket.

Shaun's mom and I preparing for the big dig.

Ella with dad and grandma C

As noted, this was Ella's favorite form of entertainment. No matter how many times I tried to take her away she always ended up back by the ice bucket.

Shaun's cousin, Brandon, and his lovely wife, Sarah

Shaun's cousin, Tyler (Brandon's Brother).

Shaun's mom with the other Calderwood women, aunt Syd and Pixie.

More to come from our little visit! Stay tuned:)

Missing Grandma and Grandpa C

Today Grandma and Grandpa Calderwood flew home to Reno after a wonderful eight day vacation out east with us. After a summer of practically no picture taking ( I know, shame on me) we made up for it in this little visit. I thought I'd just post a few pics of our last day together. I'll be sure to post more of our adventures in Williamsburg and at the lake later in the week. But for now, I just wanted to say thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful week. Shaun's mom helped me finish Ella's baby book and showed me some new recipes while Shaun and his dad worked on fixing both of our cars and getting them running... well, at least they tried. Our little Nissan still wont start but we are still extremely grateful for all the time and money Shaun's dad put in to helping us try to get it started. Too bad it doesn't qualify for the cash for clunkers program...

So to gramy and granpa C, we love you and miss you already! We look forward to Christmas and more adventures with you:) Shaun's dad and I make a dynamite team playing "hand and foot" so we'll have to challenge Shaun and his mom to a re-match:)

O' the places we will go!

Today is a major milestone in the Calderwood household. Today marks the day that Shaun is officially done with school! I actually haven't thought too much about it since now we're on to the job hunt (if anyone knows of any openings for newly graduated business majors send them our way), but it really is important to celebrate this moment in our little family's life. Shaun has been in school pretty much the entirety of our marriage so going on close to five years. We've been through countless classes ( I say we because I've helped him here or there... sometimes more than others), papers, projects, presentations, and study groups, and now we're actually finished! It's a bit surreal. I got on the computer tonight and my first thought was "what should I be helping Shaun get done?" And then an amazing thing happened. I came up blank. No research to help him do on China's latest exporting strategy, no persuasive writing papers on ethos, pathos, and logos, not even a review of Verizon vs. Apple's marketing strategies for their blackberry phones. Wow! I guess I could start looking at Monster.com for jobs... nah, some other night! Tonight I'm going to bask in the lovely light and comfort of that wonderful hubby of mine having accomplished a major goal! I'm very proud of him, because even though I did help here and there, he really did most of the work himself, and he did it well! I have every confidence in his ability to do well in the business world. We've worked very hard for this day, but really we've been working hard for what's yet to come. Please keep us in your prayers. I know many are jobless right now and it's a tough market but I am hopeful that Shaun will find something he can excel in. And when he does, as Dr. Suess puts it, "O' the places we will go!"