2014

Today I'm linking up with Casey Wiegand and several other lovely ladies to talk about my goals and plans for 2014. I've never been big on resolutions, but this year I am actually excited about making some. I'm calling them goals instead of resolutions. I'm thinking I will do do better with accomplishing my goals if I call them just that.  Goal number 1. Get Healthy. And fit. I've never been a runner, but I'd like to be. My goal is to be able to easily run a 5K by spring and maybe even a 10k by fall. If you knew me, you'd know this was huge. I will accomplish this with the help of the Y family membership we just got. It comes with childcare so I really won't have much of an excuse! I also joined Kym's diet bet, so I have money invested in this. And since I hate wasting money I will be damn sure I am one of the winners at the end of January!
Goal number 2. Save more money for our trip to Sweden/Iceland/Norway in June. We are doing this trip completely debt free, and the more money we save before June, the more fun we get to have! I have a few ways this will be happening, one of which is this thing I've seen floating around about putting money in a jar, putting more money each week. Example week one put in one dollar, week two put in two dollars, but since that won't get us that much by June we are starting at like week 10. Also we are both putting money in so we will get double! We will put in money from Drew's paychecks which is our 'family money' if you will, and I will also be putting in from my paycheck, my 'fun money'  so that will help! We also have a few other ways up our sleeves to get the amount of money we think we want for out trip. A 2.5 week long European vacation with two kids and two adults is Not cheap, but we are determined to get the most out of it! 

Goal number 3. Create and stick to a grocery budget and weekly meal plan. We have done okay with this off and on, but it's time to get serious about it. Clean eating goes along with this as well. We have been doing pretty good with that, but it needs to get better. 
So those are the goals I will be able to visibly see if I have accomplished this year. I have many other goals/hopes/dreams/wishes for this year. Being more present with my kids when they are awake and with me. The phone needs to stay away when they are with me (except for taking pictures, I will still be taking lots and lots of pictures!) pretty much anything else can be done when they nap/go to bed. I also really am working towards having more patience. Especially with Jasper. He's at a hard age. A fun age, but a tough one. He wants his independence, but he can have a bit of an attitude some times. And he knows Everything. So I'm definitely needing more patience with him. And Tindra too. She's apparently decided that since she's going to be two in four months she might as well start throwing some 'terrible two tantrums'. Fun huh? She has also showed some signs that she's ready to start potty training and I'll definitely be needing patience for that!
What are Your goals for 2014? And do you have any tips for budgeting/meal planning? 

Picture from our last trip to Sweden in 2011. I can't wait to bring Jasper back and have Tindra experience Europe for the first time!