Little Big

Each year in January I like to take time to go through and update and revise my life list. There are always a few things I forget to cross off as well as things that no longer appeal to me that I need to delete. I like rereading it because it puts things in perspective and helps me remember what’s important. I remember the person I am and I remember who I want to become. Knowing who I am and what I want helps me set goals and create steps to achieve them. I like this system better than making resolutions which is why I leave it as a chore for January. I’m posting a list of my accomplished items below because I love the feeling of satisfaction I get from seeing a lot of items crossed off an even larger list.

• Take an unconventional family portrait MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Visit the aquarium with Isobel MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Sell my thrifted finds on Etsy MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Decorate Isobel’s big girl bedroom MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Visit Jose and Lupe in San Jose MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Create a thrifted dress-up chest MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Take Isobel to the library for story time MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Master a working menu for a year MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Pick out and carve Isobel’s first pumpkin MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Stargaze in the desert  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Take a whale-watching tour MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Redesign my website; host & maintain it MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Take Isobel to our local water park  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Visit my friends Dave & Stef in Reno MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Meet our financial goal so I can be a SAHM MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Take a Mommy and Me swimming class MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Stock my garden with a village of gnomes MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• Meet Anthony Bourdain MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
• High-Five DJ Lance Rock MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, SORT OF!
• Purchase copies of my favorite childhood books MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

• Fondue party!
• See Rifftrax live
• Contribute financially to our family
• Help Anthony get his game published
• Carve our initials into a tree
• Display my photography in a gallery show
• Visit a giant planetarium
• Look through Lick Observatory’s telescope

Dear friends and extremely talented professional photographers Chris and Jenn were kind enough to take some photos of our family last spring. This was an item that had long been on my life list. Now that the main crush of the wedding season is over I have the glorious results of that photo shoot. (I posted a sneak peek, which included lots of Squirrelly bottle feeding, here.) What they captured filled my heart and spilled out through my eyes. Thank you so much, you guys.