2000 + NINE

Our NEW YEARS EVE was spent at the church with the youth. I swear when I was 12-18 I cared more about the activities planned for me, and less about the socializing in the hall. Maybe not? :) At 10 we headed home. At 11 we watched the  ball drop in NYC and made some loud noises. I have to admit it is not one of my favorite holidays with young, tired, crabby kids {maybe that will change as they get older?}. Cooper was DEVASTATED that our "toast" was a drink and not bread. Gunner enjoyed the high-sugar-carbonated-beverage, and despite being exhausted, his "toasts" were sweet enough to buy him a few more minutes of cuddle time. 

NEW YEARS DAY we went downtown Kansas City to UNION STATION with the Bells. We had fun at the amazing SCIENCE CENTER. The boys loved the science golf, tree house, dinosaur bone digging, instruments, games, animals, slides, bubble machines and more! We also got to go in the PLANETARIUM and watch a "Peter and the Wolf" laser light show. They had a huge, really neat, MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY in the grand lobby of Union Station. The boys especially loved seeing the Polar Express train, and the lego replica of the Kansas City skyline. Great entertainment while we waited to eat at the famous Harvey's Diner {tasty, but had tasteless service}. 

I am finally getting caught up on my blog, and ready {or not so ready} to face the NEW YEAR. It has been so invigorating... and intimidating... and inspiring.... to read about each of your goals and resolutions for the coming year.

I face this year:

• DETERMINED to continue losing my baby weight from #3, since I will undoubtedly (or should I say hopefully?), be pregnant again before the end of the year. I can't deny myself the feeling that Heavenly Father blessed me with such and amazing baby {Beckett}, because he wants me to have another one. [btw, I'm amazed that so many of you avoided mentioning weight-loss goals... I swear it is not all in vanity... but also for healthy reasons. :)]
• GRATEFUL for the many friends we have met here in Missouri. I hope to get to know each of them better this year, and can accomplish this the best through lots of SERVICE. Or, as my husband would call it, "getting over myself". It really makes you feel contentment when you spend more time looking outside yourself. 
• INSPIRED by my little brother, ELDER spike GATTEN. I hope I can share my beliefs more freely, and help those young men, in white shirts, with name-tags, a little more.
• HUMBLED by the pain and suffering of my close friends and family. May I increase my strength (through growing my spirit), so that I am better able to lift some of their burdens. {hope many of you are ready to caravan to the temple}