While I have a minute ....

Ok ... While I have a moment or two I am going to try and update this blog- I don't have nearly as much updating to do as I should - since for one reason or another I have once again have failed to take pictures of almost everything that has happened lately. (There are two basic reasons why I don't take pictures...1- Our camera eats batteries like nobody's business and 2- my son NEVER holds still and the blurry results just depress me)

So sit back and enjoy a little thing I like to call my blogger cram session.

Merry Christmas

We had an awesome Christmas this year - the entire Williams clan was under one roof for Christmas for the first time in 5 years...

The last time everyone was home was the year Ryan & I got engaged.... (and Lindsey & Brady)

Holding true to tradition - Our little Kristin had something new and shiny on her finger this Christmas- we are all so excited to welcome Macky into the family. (They actually got engaged a few days before Thanksgiving.. but since we hadn't seen her since she got engaged... it was exciting for us)

So the house was full - Ari had a blast spending time with his aunts & uncle & uncle-to-be.

We all seemed to get exactly what we wanted for Christmas this year -

We thought we had learned a lesson from last year - and decided not to go "overboard" on presents for Ari this year - I think we did a decent job at that this year

For Christmas Ari received:

-Clothes ... (his least favorite present but hey I had to take advantage of my seasonal Macy's discount)

-Duplo blocks ( to add to the ones he got for his birthday) *** These were actually a birthday present from Ari's Sievert Cousins - but he was pretty overwhelmed by presents at birthday time so we just wrapped these up for Christmas, it's nice that he is still little enough that we can spread out his presents

-Dinosaur puppets from his far away puppy Berkelee

-Converse Chuck Taylor shoes just like his mom and dad from Santa

-books from Kristin and Nana& Papa

-these awesome cars from his cousin Cambren

-a Dodger's Ball and bat set from his soon to be uncle Macky ( I am already planning my pay back for that gift.... Ari + bat= DESTRUCTION

- the Tag Jr reading system and books (which has been such a hit with him) Thanks Nana & Papa and Oma & Opa

- A new BYU football jersey from his Kristin

AND - last but not least ..... the gift Ryan and I were the most excited/stressed about

We searched everywhere for the "perfect" tricycle. I read reviews online, we went to Target, Walmart and Toys'r'us... but once we spotted this one we just fell in love with it- It is so AWESOME - it's the original Radio Flyer Tricycle - with rubber tires and a bell (and the double step so Ari can take his lady friends for a ride....

Ari LOVES it (sadly he is a little to short for the peddles so we are working on getting some blocks so he can truly cruise in style

I do have really cute video of Ari on Christmas morning - coming down to see his tricycle for the first time - and I promise someday to get our videos on to our blog - (we got a replacement USB cord- now I just need to figure out how to use it)

Ari taking inventory of all his AWESOME gifts

Ari was so cute the day after Christmas - as soon as he woke up he ran down stairs and climbed on his trike again - it was like he was saying " it wasn't a dream... I really am the luckiest boy alive" and every morning since Christmas he has done the same thing..... love him

The Sunday after Christmas Nana, Kristin, Macky, Ari and I went up north to Paso to visit family up there. We had such a nice time visiting and got to see the elephant seals again and I was finally able to tour Hearst Castle. It was so amazing

It was a great holiday season and we miss everyone already .....

Hello/ Goodbye ....

I don't think I have ever actually made a New Year's Resolution - I mean sure come New Year's Eve I often find myself thinking - "Next year I'm going to ________ or be better at _______", but I never put it out their publicly or write it in my journal - sometimes I doubt I give it a second thought New Year's Day.

So this year that's my first Resolution - to make New Year's Resolutions ....

So there it is Resolution #1 - Make Resolutions (or lets just call them goals)

Along with that there are going to be some Hello's said and Goodbyes yelled

Here it goes.........

Goodbye Soda - Farewell for GOOD - I am not saying that I will NEVER have another soda - that is unrealistic for me - However there was a time I refer to it as B.R. (before Ryan) - when soda and I were not so well acquainted.... So for this YEAR I am saying Goodbye to Soda - and after I have accomplished that I will decide what my relationship with Soda will be. I will miss you coke from McDonald's with no ice - "it's not me.... it's you"

Hello Water- Hello water- pleasure to make your acquaintance - I think we met a while back ... yeah I should have called more often - my fault - I was kind of seeing someone else - BUT that's over now... I look forward to having a long lasting relationship with you

Goodbye Fast food - It's been a good run - but all good things must come to an end- and it's going to be hard, what with school starting up again and all the fast food restaurants on campus and my late night classes. But we just can't keep seeing each other the way we do- it's not healthy - I finally figured out I deserve better.... take care

Hello Eating Healthy .... where have you been hiding? Oh ... Breakfast ... what is this breakfast you speak of?

Goodbye ABC, NBC, MTV,WB and TLC - Sorry you have become something of a monster in my life and I just can't do it anymore - I have finally realized that it doesn't matter who the biggest loser is or what the Littlest Couple does, I hate those Real Worlders who are so far removed from reality its a joke and I really don't care who the next apprentice is... So we aren't going to be able to spend as much time as we have been spending in the past - I'm sure you will get over it.

Hello Fitness.... sorry I have been a flaky friend - you deserve better and I am going to make it up to you

Goodbye Candy - I know we don't really hang out much as it is - so this might come as a surprise to you but lately we have spent WAY to much time together - So I donated my stocking stuffers to Ryan's co workers (he is now the most popular guy in the office) I am sure I will see you around candy - but I won't be looking for you anymore - it's time for you to just move on

More Resolutions

Ok - I said my hellos and goodbyes for 2010. I have a few more "resolutions" so since my #1 resolution was to make resolutions - (and what is the sense in making them if you're going to keep them a secret?) Here they are

I used to write- I used to write A LOT (some of you might know that) - I don't really know why I stopped - All I can figure is that I did my most writing when I was at a college where I never really felt like I fit in and I desperately wanted to fit in, I wrote volumes when I was repeatedly falling for the wrong guy. I wrote and I wrote and I wrote - and it was my thing- and I loved it. I guess maybe I was a little dark and tortured - and maybe that is what inspired me - Because that is when it stopped - I met Ryan and no matter where I was - if I was with him, I felt like I belonged. I didn't care about fitting in - because I didn't want to fit in - Ryan loved me for who I was so it didn't matter anymore. But I miss writing - and it's no ones fault but my own.. I got distracted by love and life and my little boy - but I miss writing - so that brings me to #2

#2 - I am going to write again - I am going to set up a blog and just write

I love being a Mom - I had no idea how hard it was going to be before I was a Mom - NO IDEA - but regardless.... I LOVE BEING A MOM

I had to put that out there

I (more often then I would like to admit) get caught up in how "naughty, clever, active" Ari is or how "uncreative, uninspired and uninspiring" I am and forget to enjoy these moments I have being a mom. I am ashamed to admit that I have sat in the rocking chair with Ari rocking him to sleep all the while wishing I could be watching TV or updating my status.... I have caught myself on too many occasions wanting to be somewhere else - when what I have is so fleeting..... I read my journal entries from when Ari was first born and being away from him was physically painful - I read my entries from when I went back to work and I felt like I was dying those first days, weeks and months..... In my journal and my prayers I promised that if I could be with him all day I wouldn't take it for granted - I would be a good mom, I would be creative and inspired and inspiring ..... but I got off track - I don't know how I went from feeling like my heart was breaking while I walked to my car to sitting in a rocking chair and wishing I could be watching Glee - wishing my baby didn't need me to read three books and sing one song and rock him for 30 minutes to go to sleep some nights.... HOW DID I GET HERE ?!?!?

# 3 - I am going to enjoy the moments, messes, mistakes and madness that come with being a mom -

# 4- I want to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - it's September 11th-12th in Santa Barbara. My favorite Sister in law did it a while ago and I have always been super impressed with it - So this year I want to do it... However I am very nervous/scared/chicken to do it myself - so I am putting it on Facebook and hopefully someone, somewhere in Facebook land will want to walk with me- I don't think I can do this one alone - (and Ryan doesn't seem to interested)

So there they are .... my New Year's Resolutions