Because it IS January... GOALS.

I'm still hoping to do a goal-a-month.  So far my January goal is reading.  20 pages a night of something non-magazine.  And, preferably, non-work and non-web-based.  A book.  And more books for my kids.  My 7-year-old is an Anamorphs maniac.  And now he's reading Tom Sawyer.  And the dinosaur encyclopedia.

I haven't thought of anything for February.... but other 2012 goals include:

Hot's Eyes.  Boy needs lasik.  One eye (the cataract eye) is good.  The other one is a big exercise in compensating.  Need to get that fixed.

Budget.  We have one.  Now to track it.  I already kinda hate it.  And so far in 2012 I've spent $160 in Costco groceries and $11 at the dollar store (new toothbrushes, organizer drawer baskets & 2 frames for a project...)

Travel.  We don't plan to go far but we do plan to plan.  Last year we made a goal of taking 2-3 yearly mini trips.  In 2011 we did the rodeo finals in Great Falls in January, the state fair in the summer and Fairmont Hot Springs in the fall.  We are doing the finals again this month.  We go up on Sunday, do the rodeo at 2, go out to dinner with family, stay in a hotel and watch trashy tv, swim & eat breakfast.  Then a bit of shopping and a nice lunch on Monday and home.

Money.  We are cooking up a rather major money thing right now.  Paying off our mortgage.  Go ahead.  Laugh out loud.  But our investments sucked in 2011 and the outlook for 2012 is baseline... so we are thinking of yanking a big chunk of change out and paying off the mortgage.... well... most of the mortgage.... ok, part of the mortgage.  Ok... a little bit of the mortgage.  But it is a goal.

Seasonal Fun.  Doing things with the seasons.  Sledding, skiing, swimming, watersliding, picnicking, fishing, hunting, shooting, biking, baking, cooking, canning, gardening....

Organizing.  Less planning, more doing.  I'm seriously considering boxing half of the toys in my house and storing them in the shed and rotating every 3-6 months.  Not every category but maybe books, puzzles, games & stuffed animals.  The play kitchen/food/pollies/barbies and lego/dinosaur/transformer/fantasy stuff can stay year-round.  I'm trying to accept the challenges of a small house with a poor floor plan and make peace.

Remodeling.... or buying a new 4-wheeler.  It's a toss up.  We have plans for new flooring but not any time soon.  Carpet for the living room, stairs & upstairs bedrooms.  Something laminate for the dining room, kitchen, laundry room & bathroom.  When the stove dies we may do a bit of work in the kitchen... moving a few things around and getting new countertops.... but that might be a 2013 goal. 

Work.  Work is a hard one for me to talk about.  You see..... Hot's position is temporary.  He's in fairly solid shape until fall... although he may not have benefits after April..... but then what?  With a little creativity and our carefully molded 2012 budget we will be ok for a while.  But he needs joyful and meaningful work.