My Christmas Card

I sat down to write our Christmas card and found that I had nothing new to say. Everything about the kids' life has been documented and thousands of pictures posted. I typed out a few things, like...Eliot James: born, tortured me with sleep deprivation, ate solid foods way early, absolutely the cutest boy I've ever seen and could snuggle with him for all eternity...Alison Louise: loves playing "mommy/daughter", took art and ballet class, started preschool, obsessed with peanut butter and honey sandwiches, rises before the sun. Then, Ben made a very good point. Anyone who would read this "card" knows all about our kids, but we never say anything about ourselves. Oh, right. I forgot I'm not just mommy to 2 kids, I'm Jen Shear too. So, here's MY Christmas card.

This year

I've learned...

• how to feed a baby, entertain a toddler and cook dinner all at the same time
• I still have blond moments
• parents are CRAZY about Santa
• I need to wear a name tag that says: Hello, my name is Jen Shear...NOT 'Alison's mommy'
• I'm not a card person; I just think they're silly. Sorry Andrea Marlow, (i.e. the best, most thoughtful card person EVER) please still be my friend!

I've fallen in love with:

• Chick-fil-A sauce
• a hot cup of coffee in the morning
• the wrinkle release button on the dryer
• swiffers
• my sweet baby's chubby cheeks-I find them absolutely irresistible to kiss millions of times a day
• The New Adventures of Old Christine
• a good fruity white wine
  

I've become:

• a preschool teacher
• the youngest member on the women's ministry team
• the director of the meals ministry
• the nursery coordinator
• obsessed, perhaps a little neurotic, about the house being clean

My goals for this year are:

• Stay in our food budget. I think I'm good at planning meals and budgeting, but I still fail miserably at actually staying in budget.
• To become a certified instructor at the Y. This goal should have already been checked off, but I can't get over one little hurdle-the director. I've had 2 meetings with her and, no joke, every time she would leave to get something and never come back. Yes, she's that scatter brained.
• Organize a small children's Christmas program
• To start our book...crazy, I know. But Ben and I are aspiring to write a book...we'll see if it actually happens.

Now, it's your turn Ben...