New Year's

Tomorrow is the first day of 2011. In fact, it's only 2 hours away at this point. I blogged for a little bit and then quit, but lately I've needed somewhere to put my thoughts, so I'm back.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the upcoming year and the future in general, and I hope, pray, believe, that this coming year will be better. I have to stay positive.

I've also thought a lot about things I'd like to do/accomplish in the next year. Here are a few:

-Get my Colorado teaching certificate. For years I've kept my Iowa license current. I'm not sure why, I won't be moving back there. I think the main reason is I want to keep my options open. Right now, with the Iowa certificate, I can only teach in private schools. I'd like to have the option of going to the public school system. I don't know if I will, but I'd like to have the option. You just never know.

-I want to knit my first pair of socks. I've said for the past 2 or 3 years that I want to learn to knit socks and I've never done it. I have plenty of beautiful sock yarn. I have the needles, I just am a chicken and haven't done it. I like projects that don't take a long time to complete and socks to me, seem like they'll take a while. I think I'll start with a pair of anklets - maybe they won't take as long? My motivation is simple: everyone knits socks. Plus, in the past year I've participated in a couple of swaps and in 2 of them, the person sent me handknit socks! I was blown away! They're beautiful and warm and comfy and well, I want more! I want to be able to do the same for others.

-I will spend more time playing with Ryan. I play with him a lot, but I feel like after I get home in the evenings, it's do homework, eat, bath, then I'm too tired to play with him in the hour before bed so we watch tv or read a book or he plays. I want to interact with him more - play board games, play hide and seek, play superheroes. He's growing so fast and it scares me. I want to keep him young and innocent and protect him. I know soon he will be playing with his friends and won't want me around. I need to take advantage of this time and treasure it and treasure him.

-I want to downsize. I have SO MUCH STUFF! Seriously, way too much. I collect stuff and I never throw it out. I need to get rid of some of this stuff. I want to try to go through things and get rid of things I don't use or need.

There's more, but I'm tired and the couch is calling. It's 10:08 and the boys are asleep. I think I'll take advantage and do a little knitting before the ball drops and a wonderful new year begins.