2013 Goals

Goal setting is still pretty new to us.  Bethany is a natural list maker but we have never really set goals together.  Last year was the first time we wrote things down that we wanted to accomplish.  We didn't complete everything on the list. But over all we were happy with what got accomplished.  

Here are the new goals for 2013!

Bethany's List: 
1.  New recipe each month
2.  12 DIY projects 
3.  Read 48 books       
Hope to have that list posted by the end of the week
4.  6 organization projects
5.  Establish a good morning routine for myself


Trevor's List:

1. One blog post a week
2. Memorize Scripture. One verse a week.
3. Improve prayer discipline by setting aside at least 15 minutes morning and evening.
4. Conquer my NFL addiction by limiting myself to 1 game a week.
5. Finish my home improvement projects from last year. I think there are only five that have been started and remain unfinished.

Family/Marriage
1.  Read one book together each month
2.  Only watch one hour of TV together each week
3.  Have one family over each month for dinner
4.  Find somewhere we can volunteer as a family and volunteer once a month
5.  Date night once a month
6.  Continue family devotions each night

Here is the link to our homeschooling Goals

What goals have you set for the new year?  We would love to hear what new things you are going to try!

Winter Fun: Make a snow man

They made the middle section so big they couldn't pick it up - Dad to the rescue!

Putting on the finishing touches

Yes - we have a girl snowman - with her long blonde hair

Today is their day!

5 years ago today we were nervously waiting 

the arrival of the twins. 

Josiah Robert arrived at 5:10pm 
weighing 6 pounds and 7 oz.  

Jeremiah Dean arrived at 5:35pm weighing 7 pounds 15 oz.

And our lives have never been the same!     

Happy Birthday   Josiah & Jeremiah!

Winter Fun: Play in the snow and make snow angels

Happy Hanukkah - a few weeks late

As with most celebrations at our house it is all about the food!  

Latkes - we like ours with sour cream

Krugel Noodles

My favorite - Challah bread

 

We eat by candle light and use the good dishes.  Normally, on the first night we dress up, but this year  we didn't.  

During the 8 nights we read a different book each evening. 

Then we light the menorah.  Sorry I forgot to take a picture of us doing that.

No Christmas Cards

In an attempt to cut down on our holiday spending we will not be sending out Christmas cards this year.  So here is a review of our year. 

Eliana just celebrated her 8th birthday.  We spent a couple of days in St. Louis to celebrate.  It was just Eliana, mom & dad.  That alone was a treat for her.  She had been saving her money all year and asked all of her relatives for cash as birthday presents so she could go to American Girl.   We spent one day at American Girl.  Her other requests were a book store,  the art museum, and zoo.  She is doing well in school this year, and has learned to work more independently.   She has added a private dance lesson to her weekly group lesson, and right now ballet seems to be her thing.  She loves to read and almost always has a book with her.  The homeschooling group we are a part of has several girls her age.  They are getting to be a pretty tight knit group.   

Josiah & Jeremiah will be 5 in just a few weeks.  How is that possible?  Josiah started taking speech at our local elementary school this year.  It sounds like that will be a weekly routine for us for a couple of years.  We started preschool with the twins this fall.  Josiah is really eager to learn to read.    Jeremiah loves art.  He knows when we are done with lunch the mess begins!   It is very interesting to see how different the twins are.  It is so apparent when I am trying to teach them new things that they both learn so differently.   

 
Asher Jude turned 2 in August.  He thinks he is as big as his brothers.  He is most definitely the baby!  He is our class clown.  He can get everyone in this family laughing.   We never knew how much joy one person could add to a family.  







Trevor is still working at the water treatment plant in Charleston.  He is once again coaching the varsity basketball team at CCA.   Bethany is busy homeschooling, and has joined the leadership team of the local homeschooling group.  

Our family wishes your family a wonderful holiday season! 
THE STEWARTS

Winter Fun: Picking out the tree

We have gone to the same tree patch the last few years.  Here are a few pictures of our day!

We found the perfect tree!

A few funny highlights of the day:

1.  Asher filled his pants within minutes of arriving at the patch.  I had left the diaper bag at home.  We had a stinky boy while looking for the tree. 

2.  They forgot we were in the patch.  It started to get dark.  Eliana & I had to go find someone to help us.  This had never happened before! 

3.  The tree flew off the top of the van  on a country road on the way home.  Trevor then backed down the road in the dark to find it! 

Home and Decorated

Sleeping Beauty

At our homeschooling meeting last night we discussed kids wanting to go to public school.  For us that has not been an issue yet.  Eliana is very happy being at home.  When asked about public school it is always the same response, "I would have to be on the bus before 7am!"  She is not interested.  Here is why,  it is 9am and this is what she looks like: 

Yes some day she will be very unhappy with me that I took this picture!

Eliana's 8th birthday weekend

Eliana does not want to write about her weekend, but she does want to share the pictures that we took.  If you have a question about one of them - ask her about it the next time you see her!

Rebecca getting her spa treatment

This was Eliana's favorite piece at the art museum

The one thing she wanted to see at the zoo - THE SNAKES!