2015 Goals

For the past few years, I’ve made a point to write out specific goals at the start of the year. Although I often fall short of these goals, I find that it is very helpful to me personally to write these goals out. In particular, it helps me to be aware of ares in my life that I know I need improvement. Many goals are the same as in the past years; some because I didn’t complete them and others because they ought to continually be on the list.

Spiritual Goals:

• Daily Bible Reading
• Focused/Planned Bible Study
• Focused Bible lessons for the kids. We've been doing a lot of review over their Bible class material during our devotional time, but I want to incorporate more specific Bible lessons. (It would actually be good for me to write out some specific goals of what I'd like the kids to learn over the year. . .)
• Continue using the Scripture Memory System with the kids (and me!). We've been diligently working with this system since I started homeschooling Ella in September, and it has been a great blessing for us.
• Develop a deeper and more specific prayer life.
• Make an effort to be aware of others’ needs, as well as how to help those in need.
• Make an effort to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ.
• Always be ready and eager to share the gospel.
• Maintain and exhibit an attitude of joy that should be evident in my life because I am hidden with Christ (Col. 3:1-4).

House Goals:

• Get the house organized, and purged of excess junk at the beginning of the year. This feels like a never-ending goal, but it is good to get a big purge done at the beginning of the year, especially after filling the house back up with Christmas presents. : )
• Clean out, organize, and get the kids' rooms set up. We are in the process of moving Ella and Troy into one room (Luke and Troy had been sharing a room, but with sleeping schedules (especially that of a toddler), we've decided it will be better for Ella and Troy to share a room now)).
• Teach (and enforce) good habits to the kids for keeping their areas picked up. This was a goal that I had last year, and the kids definitely follow my lead on this (which means I need to LEAD). If I do a good job reminding them (as well as enforcing), they do a pretty good job at keeping things picked up, but it is easy to let things go.
• Keep up with Flylady’s daily assignments to help keep the house in a manageable state. 
• Handle papers (mail, or otherwise) when they come into the home, rather than just piling them up to handle later.
• Get one “house” project done each month (paint the front door, repair the floor, etc.)
• This isn’t technically a “house” goal, but it fits here best: Keep our cars clear of junk and trash.

Health Goals:

• Get back into a regular cardio routine even if it just means pushing the stroller around the block.
• Gain strength and endurance.
• Continue healthy eating. It took almost all of 2014 for me to get into a healthy eating habit, but I did pretty good for the last two months of 2014 (I actually weigh less now than I did at the beginning of November, which is a big deal to me when you consider all the eating that normally takes place in November and December!).

Family goals:

• Eat at home more often.
• Cook dinner with the kids 1-2 times a month. I really want to involve them more in cooking, but I get stuck in this bad habit of not involving them because it is quicker/easier for me to do things myself (and dinner time always seems to be hectic around our house).
• Try out a new meal at least once a month.
• Cook a hot breakfast for the family at least once a week.
• Stick to our budget, and look for ways to save more.
• Emphasize the concept of respect with Ella and Troy.
• Encourage Ella and Troy to have the heart of a servant.
• Encourage Ella and Troy to be thankful.
• Foster a good relationship between the kids (teaching them about sharing, patience, kindness, etc.)
• Give Ella and Troy more responsibilities around the house (chores, etc.) 
• Get outside more with the kids.
• Get down on the floor and play with the kids more.

Photography goals:

• Learn more about off-camera flash.
• Learn more about Adobe Photoshop.
• Learn more about graphic design.

Other goals:

• Become fluent in Spanish.
• Exhibit more patience towards everyone, but especially my husband and children.
• Work on time management, including getting up at a more consistent time in the morning, and going to bed earlier in the evening.
• Finish reading Bringing Up Girls and Bringing Up Boys.
• Re-read Your Mama Don’t Dance.
• Continue reading A Well-Trained Mind.
• Read Home Education.
• Continue working on Ella's homeschool (figuring out what to do next, considering what things have worked/not worked, etc.)

Happy 15 Months Luke!

The big news this month is that you finally starting walking at about 14 1/2 months (almost exactly the same time that Ella started walking). You remind me so much of Ella in how you look, and even how you started walking. When I watched Ella's video of her first steps, it looks so much like you. Unfortunately, I can't find the video of Troy's first steps . . . hopefully I will find it!


Luke walking from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.



You continue to be extremely vocal, although you don't have a lot of official words yet. You have gotten more pronounced in the words that you do say. You also love to "sing" and we often here your sweet voice when we having the radio playing. You've also started signing "finished" more frequently.  You haven't picked up any new signs, but I think part of that is probably because I haven't been as diligent with you. I've started doing other signs with you more often recently though.

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You continue to be a picky eater, though you really do like to eat. When we put you in your high chair you start pointing and banging on your tray as if you are saying, "put the food right here!" You are also what I consider a very "suspicious" eater, as if we've given you something at some point that you really didn't like. When we give you food you often poke at it, pick it up and examine it, and then sometimes put it in your mouth.



You have a TON of teeth. When I took you to the pediatrician for your 15 month appointment, he "congratulated" you on all your teeth. Although you seem so big to me (probably because Troy was SO little for his age at this age), you are still only in the 25% for weight and the 20% for height. I still think your hands and feet seem big for your size, so maybe you'll grow into them. : )



You love playing with your siblings (for the most part anyway!), although you and Troy struggle sometimes. Troy still doesn't quite get that you can't "share" the way he thinks you ought to be able to share. Troy also doesn't always understand that you don't like him being right up in your face. You love to play "wrestle" with Ella, Troy, and Daddy. I think your favorite part is jumping on the pile. And, speaking of jumping, you love jumping and bouncing, especially when you are in your crib.



You LOVE the Christmas tree and all the decorations. When the Christmas decorations started coming out in the stores you'd point and yell at the decorations in excitement. You do a pretty good job listening to us to you "no" about touching the tree, but you'll go over by it, stare at it, and coo and talk to it. It is precious!

Signs you do: more (though you are "lazy" most of the time and do a modified clap instead of the official sign), finished (you do this sign a lot more these days).

Words you say: Mama, Dada, Eh-wa! (Ella), "anks" (thanks), "eeses" (Reeses), "eye" (hi)

Favorite foods: Yogurt, chicken (especially chicken nuggets/strips), grilled cheese, baby pouch foods

Favorite activities/toys: Books, balls, little figurines (like Mickey Mouse), cars. You love to "put things in things" as well as throwing. You also love to play chase with the other kids, and you've added a new level of "fun" since you started walking. You love to push things around too (boxes, your push toy - especially if Ella is riding on it, etc.).


Luke a couple of weeks after starting to walk from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.


Luke @ 14 months
Troy @ 15 months
I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old

Happy 14 Months Luke!

The biggest newsflash of the month is that you are still not walking! : ) I shouldn't be surprised though because Kennedy kids have a track record of being very fast crawlers, and very late walkers. You will take a step or two to try to get from one thing you are holding on to the next thing you want to hold on to, but that's about it. If we try to hold you up to get you to try to walk, you will be silly and not even let us put your feet down. You will "walk" if someone is holding onto your holds. Sometimes I think you almost seem more interested in climbing than walking.

You continue to be a very busy little boy. You love to play with toys and books. You also love to play chase with Ella and Troy. They like to play that you are the monster, and they will run away from you as you crawl quickly towards them. You really like your blankets, your pillow pet, and your little Mickey Mouse that you sleep with. You are SO sweet with those things.
You have an amazing ability to keep a straight face, no matter how hard some folks try to get you to laugh. I know you get that from your dad because I'm pretty sure I couldn't keep a straight face if my life depended on it!
You love to talk and communicate. You point and yell to get our attention or to point something out to us. You say "uh" all the time when you are trying to talk to us. Hopefully those "uhs" will turn into some more words soon. : ) You also really enjoy when there is singing or music. You often "direct" the singing during worship services. You will also put your hands together for prayers sometimes (and have been doing that for a few months now).
You are a very persistent little boy. Though you obviously know what "no" means, you are not often deterred when we tell you "no." Sometime you will even break out into a full-on cry when we tell you "no" because you don't like it. You are constantly on the lookout for our phones, the tv remote, the dog water, and cords. You are very quick at spotting things you cannot have!
You have a mouthful of teeth! You have really started wanting us to give you whole pieces of food that you can gnaw on rather than breaking it up. We've got to keep a very careful eye on you! You continue to be quite the picky eater, though I did finally get you to eat (and like!) some eggs recently (which you had been refusing before). One thing that there is no doubt that you like is ice cream. We had some one night at a restaurant and you were yelling at me because I couldn't get the bites to you fast enough. When it was time to leave, you yelled again because you wanted more. On a different occasion we were buying some Blue Bell and you screamed loudly with excitement in the store. I don't know if you really knew what it was or not, but it was too funny!

Signs you do: more (though you are "lazy" most of the time and do a modified clap instead of the official sign), finished

Words you say: Mama, Dada, Eh-wa! (Ella)

Favorite foods: Yogurt, chicken (especially chicken nuggets/strips), grilled cheese

Favorite activities/toys: Books, balls, little figurines (like Mickey Mouse), cars. You love to "put things in things" as well as throwing. You also love to play chase with the other kids.

Luke @ 13 months
Troy @ 14 months
I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old

Happy Fall Y'all!

Happy Halloween from . . .

Anna of Arendelle

Toothless the Dragon
and Superman!

   

 And, some fun at the pumpkin patch!

Happy 13 Months Luke!

So to say the last couple of months have been busy would be a huge understatement! I hate that I'm so late posting this, but I'm finally doing it now! Hopefully I won't get too confused with what you were doing last month and the current month. : )

You are a very, very busy little boy. This month we opened up your barrier (we'd been keeping you barricaded in the living room to play), and you've loved all the new places in the house you can explore. We've got the house babyproofed pretty well, but you always look to see if we forgot to put Reeses' water up. You love to splash in it and make a big mess if you find it within your reach.

You aren't walking yet, but you are a very, very fast crawler. You crawl like crazy chasing Ella and Troy. You also love to play "fetch" by yourself. You'll throw a ball or other toy across the room, and then crawl quickly to grab it and throw it again. 
You are into EVERYTHING.  You love to play with your toys and books. You are busy putting toys in baskets, buckets, or bowls. You love to "cook" (stir with a spoon or other object). You often carry your toys around as you crawl throughout the house.
For your first birthday we gave you a pillow pet and a super soft fluffy blanket. You LOVE them. You are so sweet with them, laying your head on them. You still love your Aiden and Anais blankets, and still like to chew on the tags. I'm thankful you like those swaddling blankets - so easy for us to carry around with us because they are lightweight and don't take up much space.
You have become quite the picky eater which is funny to me since you were a better eater than Ella or Troy when you were younger. You love bananas, yogurt, chicken, nutrigrain bars, grilled cheese, and quesadillas. You'll also eat other things, but you aren't consistent in what you like. One day you'll eat something, and the next you'll look at me like I'm crazy for giving you that food.

Signs you do: more (though you are "lazy" most of the time and do a modified clap instead of the official sign), finished

Words you say: Mama, Dada, Eh-wa! (Ella)

Favorite foods: Yogurt, chicken (especially chicken nuggets/strips), grilled cheese

Favorite activities/toys: Books, balls, little figurines (like Mickey Mouse), cars. You love to "put things in things" as well as throwing.

Luke @ 12 months
Troy @ 13 months
I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old

Troy's 4th Birthday Interview

1. What is your favorite color? Purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Dinosaur toy that has that man that has those things that shoot out
3. What is your favorite fruit? Oranges
4. What is your favorite TV show? Wild Kratts and Mickey Mouse
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken nuggets and Macaroni
6. What is your favorite outfit? Disney shirts
7. What is your favorite game? Hungry Hungry Hippo. The game where the crocodiles try to bite the balls into their tummy.
8. What is your favorite snack? Popcorn
9. What is your favorite animal? Lion
10. What is your favorite song? This World Is Not My Home
11. What is your favorite book? Hiccup Clifford Book
12. Who is your best friend? Karsyn
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cereal with milk and sugar
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with our compass
15. What is your favorite drink? Coffee and Sweet tea
16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter and Thanksgiving 
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Puppy
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Oatmeal
19. What is your favorite thing for dinner? Broccoli and Sweet Potatoes And Regular Meat - the sausage meat is the regular meat. I like sausage too. I like it so much. Whenever it is spicy on my tongue, I get a drink and I feel a little better.
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a Christian {check this link}
21. What is your favorite movie? Puss in Boots
22. Where is your favorite place to go? My grandma's house
23. What is your favorite Bible story? Peter and John going in jail
24. What is your favorite memory verse? Genesis 1:1
25. What is your favorite letter? T O Y

Troy's 3rd Birthday Interview
All the kids birthday interviews