Happy 3rd Birthday

My sweet girl turned 3 today. I can't believe how the time has flown! One minute she's a newborn snuggled in my arms and the next she's telling me to put her down so she can run!

I really can't express my love for this child. She brings such joy and life into our home. What was this earth like before Jencee? What was my life before Jencee?

She loves gymnastics and "school". She loves to draw and do "homeworks". She loves her baby sister and is good at sharing...most of the time! She is silly and sweet and all girl!

Happy Birthday, Jencee Sloan. You are my heart.

Solitude

Sunday evening Chris agreed to keep the girls so I could go to Lubbock. I went to see "It's Complicated" and ate dinner at Carino's. By My Self.

Do you enjoy going out alone as much as I do? I would always prefer for Chris or a friend to go along with me but I don't mind going it alone. At all.

I'm a people person. I like to be with people all the time. I'm social. I'm outgoing. Why do I like a date night with myself so much? Really, people. I need answers.

When is the last or the first time you've gone out alone?

Peach and Mustard-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

1/2 cup peach preserves

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 pork tenderloin (about 3/4 pound each)

1. Mix all ingredients except pork. Place pork in resealable plastic food-storage bag or shallow glass or plastic dish. Pour preserves mixture over pork; turn pork to coat with preserves mixture. Seal bag or cover dish and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 8 hours, turning pork occasionally.

2. Heat oven to 450 degrees.

3. Remove pork from marinade; reserve marinade in 1-quart saucepan. Place pork in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of pork.

4. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until thermometer reads 155 degrees. Cover pork with aluminum foil and let stand 10 to 15 minutes, brushing once with reserved marinade, until thermometer reads 160 degrees. (Temperature will continue to rise about 5 degrees, and pork will be easier to carve.)

5. Heat marinade to boiling. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cut pork into slices. Serve with marinade.

Chris and I really want to start entertaining more often in our home. I'm good with appetizers, salads, bread and side dishes for the most part. Meat intimidates me a bit. If it's ground beef or sausage I'm good. But actually cooking a piece of meat for someone other than myself or Chris makes me nervous. I found this recipe for pork and thought it sounded really easy and I think pork is usually pretty forgiving.

We were having my parents and brother over for dinner because Matthew hasn't seen our house and we wanted to spend time with him before he reports back. I thought this was as good a time as any to try the new dish and impress with my culinary skills!

Chris assures me that the pork tenderloin was tasty. I didn't try it. Why? you ask. Note in step 3 that it instructs you to insert meat thermometer. I followed the step. I always follow the steps.

To my detriment.

My mom could smell something burning but I didn't notice. Chris made a joke about my Mom recognizing the smell of burn. The pork was almost done so I went ahead and checked the oven. This is what I found.

The thermometer exploded. We didn't know if it contained mercury or not and after much discussion decided not to risk it. So we tossed the dish and Chris and my brother went to get a bucket at KFC. The chicken was fine and my salad and the bread were exactly like they were supposed to be. But the pork. Ohhh, the pork.

The pork was beautiful. And like I said, Chris said it tasted good. I'll try it again next week sans the thermometer.

Treadmill

Chris and I got a babysitter yesterday and made our way to Lubbock. We had many an errand to run and needed, truly needed, to eat at one of our favorite haunts. One of our stops? Sears. We found they had a much better selection of workout equipment and a more knowledgeable staff than Academy. Anyway, Chris bought me (us) a treadmill!

It was too long to fit in our vehicle so we drove home with the back door half open and tied to the bumper. It was cold and long. Really it wasn't so bad but don't tell Chris I said that ;)

This afternoon whilst both girls were sleeping Chris began the chore of putting it together. He's handy like that. It fell on his toe. I heard a few grunts. But it was worth it! Wasn't it Chris?



After putting it together he ran.
Doesn't he look athletic?

After the girls were put to bed, I ran.


Don't I look awesome?

Actually, no pictures were taken because the THUD THUD THUD of the treadmill was causing not only me and my thighs to jiggle to high heaven, but also everything in the house. If a picture had been attempted I'm sure it would be blurry as there is no possible way that a photographer could keep a steady hand with all the jiggling going on.

I digress.

I'm very excited about my new piece of equipment and was pleased with the outcome of my first workout. We've placed the machine in our enclosed sun porch. We have a TV and DVD player and will soon have cable connected so I can watch my shows and workout at the same time. It only makes sense.

I think I lost at least 5 pounds today. Surely. I mean, I sweat out at least 5 pounds of water weight! Good Lord. I need some water.

Welcome 2010

2009 was a crazy year. Marlee was born in 2008 but the adjustments started in 2009! What a way to start a year! My brother graduated from basic training, shipped to Iraq and came home in time for Christmas. I learned to sew! I lost 11 pounds and have since gained 12. Chris changed jobs and we moved to a new community. I travelled to Seattle, Louisville, Dallas, Killeen and Ruidoso.

The better part of 2009 was devoted to my kids and our new home! I'm so proud of the little lady Jencee is becoming and am constantly amazed by the changes in Marlee's day-to-day development! I can't wait to see the leaps and bounds my girls will make in 2010.

I love our new home and am pleased with the progress we've made. We still have a few projects but this house feels like a home. It feels permanent. We've begun to plant roots in this house and I'm imagining the years to come in THIS house!

I didn't do much for myself in 2009. Don't get me wrong. I saw plenty of movies, slept in plenty a Saturday morning, had plenty of pedicures. But I didn't challenge myself in new ways. Yes, the move was a challenge. Leaving friends and attempting to make new was and is challenging. Adding a baby to the family in a 2 bedroom house and sharing your bedroom with an infant was a challenge. All these "challenges" are just part of life. Am I better for them? Absolutely! But they aren't goals or resolutions. They're just "dealing with life" challenges. Am I making sense at all?

Anyway, for 2010 I'm choosing to challenge myself with goals and resolutions. I usually shy away from New Year's resolutions because I feel like I'm setting myself up to fail. But this year, I don't really care if I fail. I want to attempt! I want to succeed! And I want accountability. Even if no one is holding me accountable I'll feel like it because I shared the goals here!

So without further ado:

My goals for 2010

1. Lose 15-20 Pounds/Eat Healthier


2. Workout at Least 3 Times a Week


3. Train for and Run a Half-Marathon


4. BLOG More Consistently


5. Join a Ladies Bible Study


6. Join a Sunday School Class


7. Make New Friends


7a. Have a Party with my House Full to Overflowing with Friends and Family


8. Continue Learning to Sew


9. Learn a New Craft/Hobby


10. Learn to Bake Bread


Of course I have more goals and resolutions for my house and family like, keep a neater house and cook kid friendlier vegetables. The list could go on. BUT the ten goals I listed are for ME. They're to make me a better Mommy, a better Wife, a better Woman, a better follower of Christ.

I'm really excited about 2010. It will be challenging. But that's the point, right?