Top Ten Tuesday

Disclaimer: This post was originally going to be published on Tuesday, it was all ready to go. And then Blogger decided to do really stupid things with the layout and text size and such and it was a reminder of one of the reasons I had stepped away from blogging. In fact it's still not publishing the way I want it to. But I took a deep breath, tried to fix it as best I could, still not understanding why things line up while I'm editing but not on the blog but whatever. So here it is, not how I wanted, but voila! See, I'm trying...

I really doubt that this will be a regular occurrence here as I'm still not sure that I will be a regular occurrence here. But just in case, it gives me an idea to do on Tuesdays, right? And since I am really, really good at making lists...maybe I can share some here. I will tell you, however, I am not so good at the crossing things off the list. But here goes my first attempt. It's a new year, so this list will be all about...

The Top Ten Things I Want in 2011

(in no particular order)

1. to get back on track with some sort of exercise program or physical activity.

I've already kinda addressed this one. But I think it's crucial to do something, anything. So me and my new best friend the Wii have been having some fun. We have a few "active" games and I've been playing them while the girls are at school. I've also been playing Sonic

the Hedgehog which burns absolutely no calories whatsoever but you know I do like to

reward myself and better that than ice cream.

2. to get new couches.

Oh this isn't a list just about resolutions and me bettering my life. It's about things that I

want as well. And couches is high, high up on the list. The current ones have experienced

their fair share of spit up, apple juice and Cheetos finger stains. Plus have endured hours

being mistaken for a trampoline. And I don't slipcover...

3. to have more quality family time.

I am finding it more and more important to actually spend time with the family. I mean one of them will be leaving the nest in two years. With the four girls in different activities on every night of the week you can imagine it's hard for us to sit down for a meal together. But that is the thing that I have found is the easiest way for all of us to connect and share our

lives. So I am learning that I have to modify the schedule a bit. That being said...dinner tonight will be at 4:30pm between choir rehearsals, a riding lesson and basketball practice.

4. to take pictures again.

I am become really lazy on this one. I was very excited to get my camera a few years back

and quickly became unexcited when I saw how much better my friends were at snapping

shots and photoshopping. I have come to accept the fact that I am not, and never will be,

a professional photographer, not that I ever aspired to be one. I'm not creative enough nor smart enough to deal with the technology it requires. However, there seem to be quite a few

simple quick fixes on my new Macbook that will make my pictures look loads better. I just

have to figure out how to use them...

5. to organize our photos.

So after taking pictures, I should really do something with them. I thought, once upon a time, that I would scrapbook. I got the tools, loads and loads of paper and more stickers than I know what to do with. And so they sit in a corner, neglected and gathering dust until

a daughter needs to make a project pretty. And also neglected and gathering dust are about

15 years of our lives in shoeboxes. So it's time to get on that one. Before I really forget which

baby is who. But I'm still trying to decide if I want to go the classic photo album route or do

it all in Shutterfly albums. Regardless, maybe I can get at least one year done.

6. to get three stars on all levels of Angry Birds.

I don't think this really needs much of an explanation. I'm addicted and I need help. But

I want to be the best. Without the YouTube tutorials and the Mighty Eagle though. I'll see how far I am in December before I enlist the cheats.

7. to host a Just Dance tournament.

This is happening soon. This may be the only thing on this list I actually achieve. I threw

myself a birthday party this past weekend and at some point after fajitas, during margaritas

and before tres leches cake, I said let's play. And it was fun. And I won't post incriminating

video of some of the menfolk doing "Step by Step" because they are not my men to

embarrass. But I have decided that there were too many people who did not participate. So

I'm making it a competition, with cash prizes. And I'm making a bracket board. Seriously,

you are going to want to come. And lose to me. Did you read number 1? ;-) *

8. for Water for Elephants not to suck.

It's one of my favorite books. And I just can't handle another major let down after the

cinematic garbage known as The Time Traveller's Wife.

9. to organize the house.

I've lived here 4 1/2 years. I still have boxes unpacked. There are too many people with too

much stuff and I think that maybe, finally, it's really starting to irritate me. So I've already

started on the study. That's the other thing, I tend to get very overwhelmed when I start

thinking about all I need to do so I don't do it. Or I have multiple projects going on at once

which means none of them get the proper time or effort. So one room at a time. And I've

enlisted the girls to take care of laundry and dishes during this time so that I really don't

get sidetracked. And so the study, so far, is looking good. And I'll get right back to it after

this post is done, I run to the grocery store and watch last night's Castle.

10. to blog.

I've already discussed this. January, so far, so good. But I do know if I blog nothing else this

year I will do my pictorials on the four ballparks I've visited the past two summers. Not that

any of you really look forward to those posts, but I enjoy them and I refuse to take them off

the list of unvisited parks until they have been documented. And I also, sometime this year,

will blog the birth of my fourth daughter. That one, you'll want to read.

Hmm, I have a few other things I'd like to accomplish this year as well. But it's a list of ten so, there you go. Hopefully come the end of 2011, these items won't be on the Top Ten of what I did not achieve.

Stay tuned...

*practicing Just Dance really gives me no advantage whatsoever. Because I don't care how many times I try...there are moves on Ring my Bell that this body is never ever going to be able to do.