#97: Complete the 100 Pushup Challenge

 

So you may have noticed that I left five of my 101 in 1001 goals open when I made my list.  The first one I marked as "Left open for new goal - to be determined by 1/1/2009."  I just realized that date was quickly approaching! 

I thought it would be a good idea to leave some wiggle room to allow for new things that come up that I would like to do.  I'd seen this challenge somewhere in the past few months and it had been in the back of my mind.  The theory is that you should be able to do 100 pushups in 6 weeks.  My first thought was, "Oh sure, I can do 100 pushups in 6 weeks" and then I realized it meant 100 consecutive pushups! :)  Just kidding...I knew what it meant.  And quite frankly, I am a little scared I won't be able to do it!   So I contemplated not putting it on the list because I am such a perfectionist/determined/competitive person and it would kill me to not complete an item on my list!  Then I realized that the whole point of the 101 challenge is to stretch yourself to do things that you didn't think you could do....even if you try and fail, at least you gave it an effort. 

So Trevor and I will be embarking on this adventure together by following the training plan.  Let me know if you decide to join us!

#28: Adopt a Family at Christmas

A lady at work had sent out an e-mail about getting people to pitch in to adopt a family from the Hope Haven Abused Women's Shelter.   The family was made up of a mother and her 9 year old son.   I can't even imagine the hopelessness a mother would feel to have run away from an abusive relationship with only what she could shove in a suitcase before she left.

Both the mother and the boy had made a list of things they would like for Christmas and we all signed up to buy those things.  I bought the mother some candles and the boy a K'nex set.  I hope that these gifts brought a little joy to the family this Christmas.  It really is amazing how giving to others can be so much more enjoyable than receiving!

#79: Hang Christmas Lights on Our House

 

After I made my list I realized that a few of my goals could only be accomplished by me convincing Trevor to do them.  So I guess this list is helping me develop my nagging skills!?!? :)  Just kidding....I think. 

Trevor was happy to help with hanging the Christmas lights...at least he was before we started.  Part of our house was so high that he had to put an extension ladder in the bed of his truck to reach the peak.  There were a few times I was wondering if it was really worth risking his life for the lights, but we made it through ok with me holding the ladder. 

This is pretty much the view I had the whole time (safe and sound on the ground!) watching Trevor hang the lights.

I also thought I'd share a few of our other Christmas decorations.... 

 

We were a little late getting to a Christmas tree farm again this year since we were gone the weekend after Thanksgiving.  The trees were so picked over that we ended up just buying a pre-cut Fraser fir that had just been shipped in from Wisconsin.  I have to admit I felt a little guilty not cutting one down ourselves since I'm such a die-hard "gotta-cut-down-your-own-real-Christmas-tree-because-that's-what-we-always-did-growing-up" kind-of person, but I compromised my values for such a beautiful tree.  I hate to admit it, but I think I might be addicted to the Fraser fir, which could be a problem since they aren't grown anyone around here.  But we did still get a real tree.   And we also got the Christmas tree farm experience complete with hot chocolate and a Santa that had a pony-tail and happened to be missing a few teeth!

When we got home Trevor brought the tree in and cut it out of its netting and we waited a day for the branches to fall.  Trevor helped put on the lights and then he pretty much just supervised me decorating the tree...I was excited about it, even if he wasn't!!

 

We also got a little garland put up on our staircase.  That was about the extent of our decorations.  I'm hoping that we'll have the fireplace remodeled (see #39) by next Christmas and I'll be motivated to get some stockings to hang on the mantel.  I just don't really like the fireplace the way it is now, so I just can't bring myself to decorate it!

I hope you all had a great Christmas!  We certainly did.  I'll hopefully share pictures in the next few days.

Merry Christmas from the Goertzen's (and some random elf!)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

#80: Actually send Christmas Cards - NOT ACCOMPLISHED!

Well, I yet again didn't get around to my "#80: Actually send Christmas Cards" this year....so consider the post above your Christmas card! :)

Good thing I have about 2.75 years to accomplish all my goals....

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

#64: Try 30 New Recipes (3 of 30) - Fruit Pizza

  

Our dinner group got together for a brunch a couple of Saturdays ago and I signed up to bring a "fruit" item.  I thought I'd try my hand at a fruit pizza.   I found a recipe online and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.  And it was VERY easy to make!
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Fruit Pizza
Ingredients: (Amounts I used for a 13" pizza pan)

1-1/2 rolls of store bought sugar cookie dough

2 - 8 oz. pkgs. of cream cheese

2 cups of powdered sugar

Assorted fruit (I used strawberries, kiwi, and blueberries)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice cookie dough into 1/4" circles and arrange on pizza pan.  Flatten the slices together to form a crust.  Bake until firm to touch, about 11-15 minutes.  Cool crust. 

Blend cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Spread the baked cookie with cream cheese mixture and decorate with sliced fruit.
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Enjoy!  And keep telling yourself that it's healthy since it has fruit on it... :)

#8: Hold all 3 of my "Duffy" nieces (Victoria, Alexandra, and Caroline) at once!

After many attempts, this is the best picture Mary Ellen took of me holding all 3 of my "Duffy" nieces at once.  It cracks me up every time I look at it!  Alexandra is not looking, Victoria is trying to stand up while I'm pinching her with my legs, and Caroline is SCREAMING her head off.

I sure do love these girls!!

#6: Visit Rachel & Ryan in Memphis

Hold on to your hats!  I have a ton of pictures from our trip down to Memphis to meet baby Caroline (and see Rachel & Ryan!).  We haven't been to Memphis since we moved to Kansas City from Little Rock two and a half years ago.  It was good to get to see them and it was even better to see Caroline.   We drove down on Thanksgiving Day with Dad and Kim's family and I came back this last Tuesday.   It was tons of fun!  I'll let the pictures tell the story:

 

Grandma made it down in time to be there when she was born!

The Happy Family!

We all had to get our hands on her when we got there Thursday!

Victoria checking out her new cousin.

Alexandra was pretty interested in Caroline too!

Trevor's becoming quite a natural at this baby thing. 

Friday was spent hanging out with the family and watching Nebraska beat Colorado!

Uncle Trevor and Uncle Ryan took Victoria to feed the ducks in the lake behind their house.

Alexandra sat in her Bumbo and watched the game intently!

She prayed really hard that Alex Henery would make the 57 yard field goal to put NE ahead at the end of the game....and he did!!

The rest of the weekend was filled with lots more loving on babies with a few activities scattered about.  We went to Kim & Justin's hotel to watch Victoria "The Fish" Gulbrandson swim, watched the Oklahoma game for Uncle Ryan, Victoria gave us all complete physicals with her doctor kit, and Ryan and Victoria built us a nice fire.

 

Monday we all took on the task of hanging up Caroline's name in her room.  Do you know what happens when you put a bunch of perfectionists together in one room to hang something???

Lots of measuring!

 

But it gets done RIGHT! Even if it is a few hours later... :)

Caroline has a beautiful nursery to enjoy!

Monday was also Mom's & my birthday!  It was nice to be together on our birthday.  We don't get to do that too often anymore.  Someone took our annual picture together, but I haven't gotten a copy.  Hint, hint whoever took it! 

I also got to see my roommate from college, Mary Ellen!  She lives in Memphis and goes to church with Rachel.  She was also excited to come over and meet Caroline when she got back from her Thanksgiving trip.

She brought Mom and I (and Caroline) a delicious "Happy Birthday" cookie cake!

We also had Mary Ellen be our "professional photographer" for the night since she takes great pictures!  She sent me a few of the ones she got of us girls....I can't wait to see the rest!

In all the hubbub of Mary Ellen taking all of our pictures, we didn't realize until the next morning that Mary Ellen and I didn't get one together!  So we set  up the timer on the camera in her apartment before she left for work and we left for Kansas City.  It didn't turn out too bad!

I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving trip.  I am so very thankful such wonderful family and friends!

Congratulations to any of you that actually made it to the end of this LONG post! :)