inspired by Tisra

Whose blog reminded me that I don't need to be eloquent or profound... you guys really just want to know things that are going on in the life of the Baldwins.

Stuff that's happened so far in 2005:

-I keep forgetting to write 2005 on checks. Sigh. How long will it take this year?
-It snowed a couple of weeks ago! And stuck to the ground for a few hours. The kids loved it and Violet thinks that snow in Las Vegas is a regular thing.
-Riley's favorite video is "The Best of Elmo" - it's got major tracking issues in the beginning from overuse. I am not sure how much longer it will last... hopefully till he moves onto the next movie phase.
-Riley has GONE PEE IN THE POTTY twice now!! We have made a big fuss over it and he is very very proud. But not proud enough to do it regularly. But we're getting there!!
-Riley and I are taking a "totnastics" class on Thursday mornings. He totally loves it!! 45 minutes of rolling around and jumping on trampolines. Can't beat that!
-Violet is really blossoming in preschool. 2 days a week for 2.5 hours each day can really cram a lot into kids brains... and of course she is a sponge. She's nearly mastered writing her name in upper & lowercase (instead of all caps). And today she decided she would write her name in cursive, so she connected all the letters. hehe.
-Violet is really a social butterfly. Anywhere we go that incolves a playground, she'll run up to a kid that looks like her age and say, "Hi! I'm Violet! What's your name?" and then they will start playing. It's so nice that she is asking the names of her newfound friends, instead of calling them by how she sees them (like "the pink girl" cause she was wearing a pink shirt).
-I am tired of living in our house. Our HOA sent us a second letter (and threatened to fine us) based on an anonymous letter from a fellow homeowner that our dog has been running loose and "defacating in the common area." Hmmmm. He's never out without us and if he poops we clean it up. Someone around here must not like us. Oh and they are raising our rates to $90 a month, up from $70 - which I already thought was an insane amount of money to spend on a neighborhood without a pool.
-I've been very good about my water drinking lately... and it makes me feel much healthier.

-One of Rick's New Years resolutions is to run a triathlon this year. Hopefully our healthy eating habits and new exercise machine will get him in the shape he needs to finish it. And please let it just be a mini-triathlon this time.

-I am back on the FlyLady wagon and very happy about it. I already see a difference in my home in the week I have returned to the system.
-Riley is so much of a boy now that his hair is cut. I need to post a before and after shot. It's cute. :)
-I am gearing up for the CHA show in February... a plane ride ALONE and time to promote myself professionally. I really hope to go somewhere with this scrapping career and this is my chance to show it. I'll be bringing page samples, a portfolio, and business cards.
-On my to do list: get page samples, create a portfolio, and get business cards ;)