Shaw Update

New Year's Resolution: to do a better job of WRITING on my blog in addition to posting PICTURES.

Shaw #1
My hubby has been snow plowing since the earlier parts of December. We have had several pretty good-sized snowstorms that have kept him out all hours of the day/night. The few days of snowplowing are always interesting for our family because Daddy is home during the day, yet he is asleep or falling asleep on the couch. The boys learn to be quiet.
Hubby has also had a break from his class to become a certified arborist. The College of Western Idaho has been on Christmas break, and so has he! He starts back up again at the end of the month, but he only has a handful of classes left before he has to take his exam in March.
Hubby has been enjoying the work of setting up his new shop. I'll post pictures when he is done. He got lots of new "toys" to play with for Christmas from my fabulous door buster finds on Black Friday.

Shaw #2
I have been REALLY BUSY (no surprise there!) with all of my different home businesses. I got a little bit of transcription work in early December. I worked on getting set up for my new semester of private music instruction. I currently have 13 students and I hope to still add a few more to my numbers before we get to much further into the semester. I am also teaching two Kindermusik courses this winter: Village (baby class) and ABC Music & Me (month-to-month class for 2-6 year olds). I have a handful of families enrolled, but I can't WAIT until I can add to my numbers in this as well!!! Pray for contacts and enrollments!!! I want to use my new room!!! ;-) Creative Memories is going strong. I am hoping for some new business this month. I have more capability to hold events here at the house, which should really boost sales and attendance! In other news, I have had some struggles with my health recently, but am doing okay now... just pray for strength and for me to relax. My mom told me recently that I am a worry-wort! This I know, and this I am striving to "cut it out!"

Shaw #3
Mr. Spiderman is doing MUCH BETTER in school. At the beginning of the year he had a hard time following instruction, keeping quiet during class, and often stayed in from recess. Recently the reports at pick-up have been "he had an AWESOME day, today!" and just this week he was moved up in his reading groups. He is starting to read, I can't believe it!!! Where has the time gone?! He's a smart boy and we are super proud of his accomplishments. He did awesome in his Christmas concert (you maybe saw the posts) and will be starting piano lessons with me this month. He got lots of great presents at Christmas that are keeping him busy, including a Tag Reading System, VTech video game system, Star Wars figures, and a almost Spiderman-sized dinosaur from his Uncle. That was a fun box to receive in the mail!

Shaw #4
This little guy is a H-A-N-D-F-U-L! He is walking, almost running, everywhere he goes. He gets into everything possible. We have moved books off of shelves. Locked cabinet doors. Next project is to figure out how to baby-proof the broiler drawer on the oven, the desk drawers and the kitchen trashcan. Any ideas?! He still doesn't say mama, but we're working on waving and he is starting to point to things he wants, definitely wanting to communicate with us! He is very funny to watch and we enjoy him every minute of every day. What a blessing! I am so grateful to the Lord that LOVE MULTIPLIES! I never knew I could love my boys this much. :)

I would tell you about our canine Shaw #5, but he's just the same-old-crazy-dog he's always been. Not much to say there... :)

Hopes for 2010
~Improve our Financial Situation... implementing the "envelope method" of spending, getting rid of our debt, paying off the truck so we can buy another family vehicle, etc.
~Read more. Currently "The Search for Significance" but wanting to read other devotionals, books to read as a couple, reading TO and WITH Spiderman, sharing the love of books with Baby, and hopefully finding some just plain FUN books to read before bed each night for me. I think I may start the Jane Austen books this year...
~Certified Arborist status for Hubby so that he can get a raise, more responsibilities at work, and maybe some stuff on the side. He would like to up his clientele for spring rototilling to 20 customers this year.
~Family Vacation(s) including some really exciting places and maybe some visits with other extended family members.
~Bike riding. Fishing. Hunting. Exploring. Hiking. Camping. Just being OUTDOORS and with our BOYS!
~Lots and lots of scrapbooking. I haven't seriously scrapbooked since Baby's birth... I am in serious withdrawal.
~And I am sure there is more, but I will just have to share that as the year goes on.

I would love to hear YOUR hopes for 2010...