Reviewing 2016's goals....

I made some goals at the beginning of 2016.  I may have proptly forgotten some of them. But I did do a pretty good job on some as well.  So, in all honesty, here are the goals I wanted to do, and how well I did on them.

My Goals
1.  Try 1 new restaurant a month/ Success! I did get to a new restaurant at least once each month. And I'm pretty sure I have been to more than 12 new restaurants this year.  Win!  
2. Get my Visiting Teaching done each month, even if it is a call or a letter. Um.... I got about 80% here.
3. Go on 6 Cultural Excursions- either in a group, with friends, or by myself.  But get out, move away from my comfort zone, and see Japan. I did get out on at least 6 exciting excursions, some well outside my comfort zone (And I'm totally counting Hong Kong!)
4. Sew and finish a quilt for my bed. (I'm on a huge sewing kick right now, but so far, only baby blankets are coming out.) Nope.  Nothing.  Did not even start one.
5. Volunteer at the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society twice a month. I kind of got this.  I actually went in for the first month or two.  Then I just sewed baby blankets to donate.  I earned over 900 volunteer hours, so I'll count it a check mark for YES.
6. Have a lunch date with Dan twice a month.  I think we did this 75% If you count evening dates, closer to 100%.
7. Visit Hiroshima Castle Did it!
8. Go to the Motonosumi Inari Shrine- the 122 Torii Gates shrine. I didn't realize there are like 500 Inari Shrines.  I went to two of them but I don't think I went to this specific one.

Bucket List Goals for 2016
1. Climb Mt Fuji I did it!
2. Do Karaoke  Nope
3. Visit Cat Island  No
4. Go to Universal Studios. Kind of tried to twice, but didn't get further than tentative plans.
5. Go to Kuga Park (when it is open!!) Yes!

Family Goals
1. Media/Tech-Free Wednesdays  Did great till after our summer trip.  Then no.
2. Do our Saturday Chores diligently (as opposed to not often, which is the current status quo) We are doing really well on this!
3. Do a better Job of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. Ug. I'm sure I meant to make a posterboard with some sort of measuable goals on it.  I think we are better, but not a lot.
4.  Kids cook dinner once a month. Collossal fail.  Josh makes waffles or nachos occasionally, but that's it.  I totally forgot about this.
5. Go out and do more things as a family. Dan thinks we did this, but I don't feel like we really did.  I should have made measurable and specific goals on this one.

How Christmas went Down

Delaney and Rylee left cookies for Santa. (Santa had help eating them.) I don't know why it is sideways.  It was really cute.

The tree was lovely and glorious. 

The stockings arranged on the ...er, couch, with care. 

The magic of Christmas was definitely there! 

Rylee with her stocking, and pleased with her loot. 

I loved that Josh was so excited to see under the tree. 

Callie, wearing the awesome Santa legs hat, and Rylee. 

 Rylee is waiting her turn to open gifts.

My shaggy boy and his gift. 

Marian opening somehing fun. 

It was this cool electro-ball held in a dragon's jaws.  See, told you it was fun!

 Delaney was delighted with her ear phones.

And with her gymnastics shirt! 

And Rylee was so happy to have a digi-bird.  I think it was her favorite gift.

Christmas fun

Daiso has the most random stuff!  What IS this hat?! 

We made gingerbread cookies and the kids had a marvelous time frosting them. They were delicious.

Dan and I had an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party to attend.  I hate sweaters, and long sleeves.  So these were perfect. 

Although I felt rather.... er... busty.

Bowling Day

 I wanted to get the kids out of the  house, so I lured them to the bowling alley with promises of cheesy fries.  To my surprise, they actually wanted to bowl as well.  So we did.  Two games even!

Callie and Josh, doing their thing.

They did a pretty good job. 

Rylee just wanted her fries. 

Delaney was feeling triumphant after knocking over some pins. 

 My silly boy.  I know.... the hair.....

Jingle Bell Jog

 Callie volunteered me to chaperone her class for the Jingle Bell Jog. So I did.  I got to walk the mile with them from the school to the gym.  Then we ran most of the 1.5 mile Jog, had yummy lunch at the party, and walked the mile back to the school.  It started raining just as we left to walk back to the school, so that was cold and wet.

Callie and her cool classmates.  And her utterly awesome teacher, Mrs. Billlups.  The Jog had a Grinch theme, in case you couldn't tell!
And the event is open to the entire base.  And a LOT of units participate.  There is nothing more fun than seeing a "sleigh" with Santa in it being pulled by 9 Marines wearing reindeer outfits.  It is a really fun event.

Rylee and her friend Lilly. 

Rylee and her best friend Milly! 

Rylee rocking the hat and antlers. 

 I saw Delaney during the Jog as well!

Look at her go! 

She was particularly pleased with the streamers that trailed out in the wind.... or when she was running. 

 Having fun at the party at the gym.