goals

i have a few goals for this new year. and i'm hoping that by writing them down and telling "Everyone" that i might actually be able to accomplish a few of them.

i want to read the doctrine and covenants all the way through. i'd like to read the book of mormon as well, but think that might be pushing it a little.
i want to be better at writing in my journal. life goes so fast, and without some record, my ancestors won't know what my life was like. blogging is part of this.
i want to have a cleaner house. shaun and i talk about this all the time. he complains that the house is never clean. that's not true, it's just not show house clean. i have 5 kids, my house is lived in. on the other hand, my house is NOT filthy. there are not piles of garbage sitting around, there aren't dirty clothes filling rooms.

these are the main ones. here's hoping i can accomplish at least parts of these.

christmas calendar

the grandparent christmas calendar is FINISHED! and a whole 2 months earlier than last year!

car woes

about 3 weeks ago, the van starting acting up. on my way to an appointment, it starts lurching, and then didn't want to shift. turns out the transmission fluid was gone. at the moment, it's parked in the driveway until we can get it looked at. we're hoping the transmission wasn't permanently damaged.
thankfully, we had a car parked at the house in sugar. it needed a new battery, and the license renewed. the only downside is we can't all legally fit.
a week ago, the car started acting up. it was acting like it was running out of gas, but the gauge read 3/8 of a tank. we changed the spark plugs, and hoses, and thought that was it. yesterday, something started knocking around in back when i was stopping, and the heat died. last night, it wouldn't start.
as of right now, the consensus is that it's the fuel filter. but until they actually look, they won't know for sure.
(1p)

UPDATE: (7:00p) it's not the fuel filter.

UPDATE 2: (8:30p) they put it on the computer, and diagnosis is coils.

slacker

it's been awhile since i've really blogged anything. lately, i find myself lacking energy and desire to do much. i get basics done, but can't seem to do much more than that. the laundry hasn't been put away for 3 weeks, we've been pulling clothes out of the baskets. i'm hoping to get a few more things done a week, and eventually get to the point that everything is maintenance instead of disaster management. and then organized.

i was telling shaun today that my house will never be a show house clean. that is not my goal. my house is lived in, and by 5 little people to boot. if i can stay on top of the basics, i'm doing pretty good!