This is the extent of my new year's resolution.  Not joining a club or signing a membership any where because I will just waste it.  I'm taking one week at a time, it's more realistic that way.

Paula and I are taking Zumba classes once a week together.  I found an old dance studio in the hood that offers classes.  I prefer this venue over a gym.  After the first class, I had to rub tiger balm all over...muscles were throbbing for days!!! 

So far, this class is fun enough to bring us back for 2 weeks.  There are a lot of Latin women in this that can really move...effortlessly....I am totally ridiculous in this class, but who cares....whatever it takes to lose some weight. 

We are going on our first cruise EVER in 2 weeks....on a CARNIVAL ship too...same as this one:

A very HAPPY 6 year old!

Thank you to family who sent gifts in the mail.  Nic's got plenty of toys to last the rest of the year.

I have to tell you a Nic story before I forget....

One night while putting Nic and Paula to bed, we all laid there talking.  Nic was playing with his flashlight.  I told him to turn it off to save the batteries because we might need it in case of an emergency.

Nic:  What emergency?

Me:  I don't know....like if the electricity goes out.  By the way, if there is a fire and you guys are sleeping, do you know what to do? 

Paula & Nic:  run out the door! 

Me:  Right, run to Gloria's house and ask her to call for help.  Don't wait for Mom and Dad.  Dad will look for Friday, and I will look for Oliver.  You both just run to Gloria's house.

[Nic instantly burst into tears...just bawling - how do they cry so easily, so fast?]

Me:  Calm down Nic.  This is not going to happen.  But we need to have a plan in case it does.  We have to save Friday and Oliver, they are family too.

Nic:  Mom, please stop.  I can't handle this!!!

Nic is an incredibly sensitive soul.

It has been unseasonably warm this week.  Absolutely perfect.

Paula is 8 and has requested to have her own space.  We only have 3 bedrooms (master, kids' shared bedroom, guest bedroom).  Not wanting to give up the guest bedroom or letting P stay in the treehouse, I thought of this wonderful idea to "separate" their current room so that P can have her space when needed.   I was talking to another Mom who had her boy and girl share a room when they were younger, now that they are getting older, she added a wall to create 2 bedrooms.  I didn't want to do that to their room which would result in 2 tiny rooms....we clearly did not design this room with kids in mind (there are 2 doors to the outside).  I think we intended this to be the guest room when it was originally designed....so anyway....we added curtains, like what they have in the hospitals!  Such an inexpensive and temporary solution.  The kids freaking LOVE the concept - so do I!  We can try this for a few years before P becomes a pre-teen (oh my God....).

Hear we go...another fun year ahead!