Thirty is close- will I cross everything off my list?

Update from the 30-year-old:  Well, I didn't make it.  I didn't even make it halfway!  But I did a lot of things I'm proud of and more things than I probably would have if I hadn't made the list.  I still have a lot of life ahead of me to finish it off.  I'm actually working on a 30 WHILE 30 list that I will post later this month!

Short answer, no, but I still have time to make more progress!  Here is an update, for anyone who may care.

Baking and Eating
1. Make cinnamon rolls from scratch- Done! Made them Christmas morning.
2. Try 5 new restaurants. (Iron Barley 8/28, Lily's Mexican Restaurant 9/25, City Diner 11/7, Spin 11/26, Crayola Cafe 12/30)
3. Surprise Matt with breakfast in bed. Done! Charlotte and I made him breakfast in bed for his birthday.
4. Make my own gnocchi
5. Make my own cheese.- Done! Made it as a gift for family.
6. Use my fondue pot at least once- Done! Had a fondue/31 party 1/8/11.
7. Make a soufflé that doesn’t suck.  Didn't happen.  I didn't try to make a souffle this year.  Maybe next year!  This was one of the only food related goals I had that I didn't complete.  I wonder if that is directly related to my progress in the next section?

Health and Fitness
1. Run another half-marathon.- Just being honest here, but this ain't happening.  This will be a goal for next year, though.
2. Run a race pushing each of my girls. -  See above.
3. Reach my goal weight. (On track. I've joined WW and according to suggested healthy weight loss, I can meet my goal weight the week before I turn 30. Time to get going!  UPDATE:  Not going to happen, but I can be over halfway there.  Any loss is good loss, so I'm not going to beat myself up over this one.  FINAL UPDATE: I made some real good progress on this one.  I'm on track to be there by this summer.  Thank goodness for Weight Watchers!)

Home Improvement and Craftiness
1. Finish the basement!   Closer, ever closer.  The tile is up, but needs to be grouted.  Shower installed.  All that's left is one final sanding on the drywall, painting, laying the floor, installing baseboards, and installing the vanity and toilet.  I say "all", but it is totally feasible to get this done by my birthday.  We did it!  The only thing remaining is the baseboards, but we are living down there, the final inspection is completed and passed, and we use the bathroom!  It.is.awesome.
2. Finish Charlotte’s first year scrapbook. (In progress. I'm almost up through Christmas!)  Nope.  Not done.  But I did make more progress than I otherwise would have.
3. Finish wedding scrapbook.  I'm going to say this is unlikely.  I might finish Charlotte's, though.  Didn't finish this one, either
4. Finish Charlotte's cross-stitch. (In progress. I'm almost finished with the border and then only have accents to do.)  SO. FREAKING.  CLOSE.  I will finish this thing if it kills me!
5. Start Audrey’s first year scrapbook.  Nope.  Poor girl.
6. Print, frame and hang family pictures for the picture wall.   I bought a LivingSocial deal to help me out here and it expires 10/12, so I'll get to the print and frame part at least by then.  Then I just have to hang them!  Done!
7. Sew a dress for both girls.  Sewing machine is in the house, but not accessible right now, so this may prove difficult.  If #1 on this list happens, this is next in line.  FINAL UPDATE:  Nope.  Still trying to figure out how to thread the machine.  I did, however, find the old manual online, so hopefully this winter I'll be able to spend some time figuring it out.
8. Make the throw pillows for our new bedroom.  See above.
9. Decorate the girls room. (In progress. We've moved all of our stuff out and their stuff in, so I'm getting there! UPDATE: I just have to hang a few pictures and their room is finished!)  Done, but there is a caveat.  It is going to be redone since we have the frame for Charotte's bed now.  I think she's ready to have the mattress set off the floor now, so this winter there will be some more rearranging.

Travel
1. Take a weekend trip with Matthew.  Nope.  None with just him.  It is hard to find the time!
2. Take the girls camping.  Done!  We went with friends 9/17/11.

Loving St. Louis
1. Go to the Farmer’s Market at least once a month, even in the winter. (Failed in August and September, but went in October. Failed in November and December. Not doing so great on this one...  Let's be honest.  It's just FAILED.)
2. Take the girls to the Great Forrest Park Balloon Glow.  Ended up scheduling the camping trip the same weekend as this.  So we sat in the traffic for it, but didn't actually see it.
3. Plan a block party.- COMPLETED 10/30/10!!!
4. Attend Our Lady of Sorrows Carnival- Won't be able to do this one, so I'm editing it to be any one of the local carnivals. We'll be out of town for Sorrows' carnival.  UPDATE:  Went to one 6/4/11. 
5. Take the girls up the arch.  Didn't get to this, either.  I will, though!
6. Take our family on a picnic.  Sort of.  We packed one, but ended up eating in the car because it was too cold.  Does that count?

Making Me Better
1. Read 10 new books that are not work related. (Started Me Talk Pretty One Day, FINISHED House Rules by Jodi Picoult, Started 100 years of Solitude, FINISHED Vampire University 2/1/11, FINISHED The New York Reginal Mormon Singles Halloween Dance 1/12/11; FINISHED In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White; FINISHED Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss 4/7/11)  Didn't make this one.  I did, however, finish A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future a week after my birthday, so I was more than half way.  My mom and dad bought me a Kindle for my birthday, though, so I'm hoping I'll get even more reading in while I'm 30.
2. Update blog at least once a week.- Doing much better.  I've been pretty good about this lately.  I'm calling this good enough.  I did far better updating this year than last and that was really the goal.  I think on average I posted once a week.
3. Get a picture with just my girls. Completed 11/28- thank you, Meredith!

Charlotte-ism

Last night was a particularly trying bedtime.  We were at my parents for dinner and got home a little after 9:00 PM.  Matt put Audrey down in her crib and I attempted to get Charlotte to sleep.  First, we read Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you see?  Then we attempted to get the covers just so on her bed, but she decided she wanted to sleep on her floor instead.  Fine.  So I cover her up and go downstairs.  Five minutes later she calls out, "Mom!  Cover me up!"  So I go upstairs to fix her blanket just right.  Another five minutes.  "Dad!  Cover me up!"  So Matt goes upstairs, tells her to get in her bed, fixes the covers and tells her enough is enough and we aren't coming up anymore to fix her blankets.  Another couple of minutes and then terrified screaming.  I go upstairs and she said she heard something.  I figure out it's Audrey shaking her sippy cup of water in bed.  I told Charlotte it was just Audrey and she needed to just Go.To.Bed.  Another few minutes... 

"Mom!  Mom!  Audrey wake me up!  Audrey talking!" 
I yell up the stairs, "No she's not.  Go to bed!"  Another minute. 
"Audrey's talking!"
"No, she's not.  You are!"  Pause.
"No, I'm not!"

The stinkers finally fell asleep around 10:00.  It was not an easy morning for any of us today.  Kids.  Sheesh.

Family Camping Trip

Last weekend we took the girls camping for the first time.  We were super excited to finally go as a family.  Matt and I went camping quite a bit before kids and even went backpacking for almost a week about a month before I got knocked up with Charlotte.  We missed it and it was fun to dust off the camping equipment and get some stuff just for the girls.  We went with our friends, Peter and Kristin, and their kids, Emmalee and Cole to Graham Cave State Park in Danville.  

I don't have any pictures from the first night or the first morning because the heavens decided to open and poured rain down on us.  It rained as we were driving in, stopped long enough to get our tent up, then started to rain again.  Let up enough for the grownups to build a fire and let the kids roast a few marshmallows before bed and then started raining again after we went to bed.  It continued to rain most of the  night and well into the next morning.  Luckily Peter and Kristin had a canopy screen tent thing that went over the picnic table and gave us a dry place to set up shop.  We were able to get a fire for potatoes and pancakes and then the kids headed over to the swing set to kill some time before we hit the trail.

Cole and Audrey testing out the swings

Charlotte swinging like a big girl

Audrey would spend all day in a swing if we let her.  She loves it!

Getting ready to hike.  Emmalee was all set to carry Audrey until she realized she couldn't even lift the backpack.  :)

Ready to ride!

What exactly is she trying to tell me with this look?  I'm afraid I'll be seeing it much more as she gets older.

Ready to hike our way to Graham Cave

This is where Charlotte and I spent most of our time- at the end of the line way behind the others.  Why, you ask? 

Because of this.  And her desire to pick up every leaf, rock, and acorn on the trail.  Pokey, thy name is Charlotte.

Kristin on the edge

A neat formation under one of the foot bridges.  Later pictures show you what the ledge is.

The kids checking out what is under the bridge.  Peter jumped out from under another one earlier on in the hike, so the kids felt the need to investigate.  :) 

The beginnings of another cave.  This is what the bridge was going over.

Charlotte and Peter bonding.  He actually spent quite a bit of time carrying her on this hike.  He carried her the entire mile back.  I'm not sure if it was because he thought she was tired or because it took us 45 minutes the way there and only 15 the way back.  :)





Exploring with the girls

Emmalee trying to hurry Charlotte along.

Almost to the cave!

Another distraction, albeit a cool one.

 

We're here!  Graham cave.

Wait for me, guys!

Climbing up to the top of the cave to pick up the trail.

Proof I was there, too!  Waving to Daddy.

 

Snack time!  These kids ate nearly a pound of grapes.  Hungry kiddos!

I think Audrey ate about half a pound.  Love those chipmunk cheeks!

Charlotte hiking with her new buddy, Peter.

Like father, like daughter.

Daddy McCreepy Eyes  :)

More investigation with our resident conservation guy

Even Kristin was curious.  Of what, you ask?

Of this creepy crawler.  It's right smack dab in the middle of the picture- a huge spider.  And those little dots on its torso?  Not spots.  Oh, no.  Those are BABIES.  Gross.

Back to the campsite for naps and dinner

Finishing up the sauce for the pot roast

I put Kristin in charge of the mushrooms.  Holy heck, this dinner was good.  I made the pot roast, Kristin made the foil potatoes and onions and we grilled asparagus.  So yummy.

Is it a hug or a sneak cereal attack?  You be the judge.  :)

I didn't take any pictures the next day.  It rained.  Again.  All night and into the morning.  It stopped in time for us to get our omelets in a bag done and the campsite packed up.  And then it rained some more.  Everything was covered in mud.  I am proud to report, however, that there are no lasting mud stains, thanks to multiple washings, Tide stain remover and a hose.  :)

Twinkle Toes!

Charlotte started dance classes this month.  It's been a slow start, but she seems to be enjoying it.  She certainly looks adorable!

Stretching before class

Charlotte's turn!

Learning to keep her belly button towards the mirror

Freestyle!

This picture is blurry, but it sums up Charlotte's opinion of tap so far.  She is not a fan of the noise.  This is the second class.  The first class she pulled her leotard up over her ears and face.  We're making improvements.  :)

Remembering

To commemorate 9-11, a group of individuals put a flag on Art Hill for every life lost in the attack, nearly 3,000.  The 10th anniversary of this tragedy hit me harder than I anticipated.  I don't consider myself a flag waving patriot, but I most certainly appreciate the sacrifice of those who protect our country, be it overseas or at home.  I spent most of that Sunday thinking about where I was on September 11, 2001 and how the events on that day and the days following profoundly changed our country, in good ways and in bad.  It bothered me a little as the news coverage talked about those lives that were "sacrificed".  Sacrificed isn't the right word.  "Lost" seems more appropriate.  Or "murdered".  These people did not choose to be symbols of something greater, but they have certainly become that.  I thought about their families, thought about their last moments, and thought about the incredibly brave men and women who entered ground zero so selflessly to save as many people as they could, many of them losing their lives as well.  I knew that I wanted to do something to remember that day and the display on Art Hill seemed fitting.  A very poignant display of those lives lost.  And poignant it was.  I can't describe what it was like turning the corner on the path we were walking and seeing all those flags, each one representing someone who died 10 years ago.  It was incredibly sobering and a very moving tribute.  We let the girls walk around, surrounded by the American flag and the memory of those lost.  I sincerely hope that we "never forget". 

Hitching a ride with Daddy as we walk to Art Hill

Art Hill

Each flag had the name of someone who died in the attacks.  This one was a first responder who died at the World Trade Center.

A school group had put together all of the obituaries of the first responders.  It was incredibly moving to read.  Not only for learning about those lost, but also the strength of the families left behind.

This one especially touched me.

Afterwards we had lunch at the boat house.  The girls were great the whole time and really made the morning special.  I tried to remember how incredibly lucky I am to have the family I do and that the time I have with them on this earth is fleeting and I need to try and enjoy even the most difficult moments.  I am sure that the men and women who died on September 11, 2001 would give anything for just one more of those "difficult" moments with their families.  I am so blessed and while it was a sad day, it was also one that reminded me of all those blessings.