I Admit it...I Suck...

I just haven't been able to bring myself to update my blog. I have been trying to stay on top of everything else, and sorry to say, the blog is very low on my current priority list.

So, here are the top ten reasons why I haven't updated my blog:

1. Catering Business. I haven't actually started a business, Joe's company work party is Saturday and rather than pay to have someone cook food I'm very capable of cooking myself, I volunteered (sort of - Joe helped) to do all the cooking. I have to make appetizers, dinner and dessert for about 17 people. I'm in WAY over my head on this one and am only now shooting myself in the foot over it.

2. CD's. Joe has been recording our neighbor, Nelia Hopkins, play her violin. We decided to make a really great CD for her and I got the job of creating the CD cover, insert and labels. This wouldn't typically be a big deal, except for the fact that she is an especially good friend of the family, use to teach Joe piano back in MA and she's incredibly talented - all of this means I feel INCREDIBLE pressure to do a bang up job, worthy of her skill...again, way out of my league.
3. The Holidays. The holidays in general make me a bit crazy. There is always so much to plan for, presents to wrap, food to cook, neighbor gifts, etc... I have a really bad habit of always planning BIG and then having to meet my lofty expectations. I hate letting myself down.

4. Christmas Cards. My little sister decided I should do homemade cards again. I gave this up the year Jack was born (for good reason) and started just doing Costco picture cards (affordable price, less work). Because I have absolutely no will power, I succumb and made a bazillion homemade cards to send out. I also included a family photo, which I do every year. This year I didn't have any good 'family' photos because I looked super fat in all of them, due to just having a baby. So instead I created the family photo collage in order to emphasis my adorable children and stay away from my excess baby fat. I also spent a great deal of time revising, and re-revising, Joe's Christmas letter. He has a tendency to include a lot of details that are better left unwritten, as any of you who receive our letter can attest.

5. Trip to CA. We drove to California for Thanksgiving this year. It was a really great trip, but I must admit, my butt didn't really appreciate the 12 hrs we spent sitting in the car. The kids did really well (thank goodness for DVD players) and Max was especially wonderful. The weather was perfect and we had a really great time at the beach, Knotts Berry Farm and hanging out with all our cousins. I neglected to bring my computer along for this trip, however, I figured it was my vacation and I wanted to RELAX (at least, as much as you can when you are 'vacationing' with your kiddos). So although I got TONS of really great pics, I haven't uploaded a single one...it's a work in progress.

6. Snow. I spend so much of my time shoveling snow these days I don't have time for anything else. We got back from spending a couple of days visiting my parents in Idaho this week and had so much snow in the driveway it took a few tries to get into the garage. I spent over an hour shoveling snow this morning and Joe even came out to help before he left for work. Darn snow...

7. Max. If he wasn't such a cuddly baby I would probably have a lot more time to spend on the computer. He's just so darn nice that all I want to do is hold him and smile at him and talk to him...he's just so darn cute! Oh, and I also spend a LOT of time feeding that boy. He was at 16.8 lbs at 4mths. He's adorably chunky and loves to eat and does a lot of it.

8. Christmas break. My kids are all out of school. I didn't realize how much 'entertaining' is required when all five kids are home 24 - 7. I will definitely do my best to truly appreciate those semi-quiet moments when my oldest three are back in school next week...I can hardly wait.

9. Weight Management. That's a polite way of saying I'm trying to get un-fat. I've been taking a Pilates class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a Cycle class every Saturday morning. They've been kicking my butt BIG time! I must say, they've been producing result though. I've already lost over three inches in my waist and the lbs are slowly, but surely, coming off. Both classes ended this month so I've signed up to start a cycle-fusion class in January. It's at 8am every Saturday for 6-8 weeks. The teacher is fantastic and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's been giving Pilates or Cycle any thought. They work really well together, it's 1/2 hour of each. The class is at a new studio, Body By Me, over on Main St in Bountiful. Check it out if you have a chance.

10. I'm Behind. I'm just so behind on so many projects. You know when you see a new project and you get really excited to start it and then realize you have 400 other 'really great projects' sitting in boxes that you haven't touched in days, weeks, months, years...that's me. I've decided to start 'unloading' old projects. It's slow going, but I'm working on it.

So, those are just some of the really lame reasons for avoiding my computer and not updating my blog. I will again promise to do better, but we all know that might not happen. I could be leading you all on. I probably am. I do WANT to try harder. We shall see...