Goals for 2014!

Last year on New Years Eve Michael and I started a new tradition...we sat down and we wrote out our goals for the next year. Riveting I know! We are so hip!

Anyways we actually really enjoy it. It's nice to really set aside the time to focus on whether or not we are on the same page in regards to the important stuff. This was our second year and it was fun looking back on our goals and seeing which ones we actually achieved and which ones we didn't. Our finance goals and our personal goals were met, but our home goals really suffered. This year we have quite a few things on the home goals list that need to be accomplished! 

So here are our 2014 Goals...just for my records! 

Home & Yard Goals: 

Secure flashing on roof

Bleach house

Paint exhaust stack

Paint master bedroom ceiling - DONE! 

Build tree house

Fill in the area where the clematis was with dirt

Move pea gravel to the play area

Edge play area

Put crushed gravel on ramp and easement

Buy dirt, raise soil level and reseed the backyard

Kill moles! 

Buy and install forced air heaters in the kids rooms

Financial Goals: 

Replenish emergency fund

Complete Baby Step #4 of Financial Peace University 

Save for a replacement car for Michael

Save for driveway and home remodel

Personal Goals - Michael

Finish reading meters 

Learn to drive a stick shift

Learn to drive the dump truck at work

Personal Goals - Lyndsay

Read the whole Bible chronologically

Get an update in regards to make-up and clothes

Maintain mental health and improve physical health

Get involved in the PTA

Couple Goals:

Go on consistent dates

Go to the gun range

So there it is....our hopes and goals for 2014! 

Goals For 2016!

On New Years Eve Michael and I sat down and went over our goals for 2015 and then made new goals for 2016. I truly love doing this! It gives me a snapshot of what we hope to accomplish. Sometimes we accomplish more sometimes less, but at least we are working toward our goals and holding ourselves accountable. Without further ado....

2016 Goals

Home Goals: 

Replace deck surface and stain

Touch up paint throughout the inside of the house

Fix master bathroom ceiling

Put Moss Out on the roof

Jack up the front awning

Replace kitchen lights

Yard Goals: 

Buy and plant more bulbs

Edge playarea and buy pea gravel

Get giant tree rounds removed

Money Goals: 

Save at least 1/4 of the money we will need to go on our trip to Hawaii in 2019

Save at least 1/3 of the money needed to replace our driveway

Boost up appliance savings account

Purchase Goals: 

Gun / Permit / Classes / Safe / Ammo

Refrigerator

PC or a Laptop

Rafts 

Snow Gear for the family

Family Adventures:

Ape Caves

Sledding or Tubing

Tag Zone or Lazor Tag

Rattlesnake Ridge

Camping

Family Fun Center

Water park in Ritzville

Take Ella out for tea

Personal Goals:

Lyndsay - Run a 5K or longer and build a farm table and benches 

Michael - Get his CDL and don't gain a notch on his belt! :) 

If you've read our goals for past years you'll notice that we added a few more areas. The main one I wanted to add was the Family Adventures. We are constantly throughout the year saying things like...."It's be fun to do this with the kids and go there and etc!" but since we do live without credit cards that can make doing those things hard unless we plan ahead. So we are doing just that! Heaven knows it's expensive do things with just 2 kids let alone 4! We really want to make sure we are having fun with our kids and making memories. 

Here's to a prosperous and happy new year! 

Update On Goals For 2014!

It's March and I'm finally getting around to posting about our goals for this year....better late than never right! 

First I wanted to have a record of how well we did on our goals for last year. Click here if you want a recap of our goals for 2014. 

Home & Yard Goals...completed. 

Secure flashing on roof

Bleach house

Paint exhaust stack

Paint master bedroom ceiling

Build tree house

Fill in the area where the clematis was with dirt

Kill moles! 

Power wash fence, driveway and walkway

Home & Yard Goals....not completed. 

Move pea gravel to the play area

Edge play area

Put crushed gravel on ramp and easement

Buy dirt, raise soil level and reseed the backyard

Stain the deck

Buy and install forced air heaters in the kids rooms

The few that we didn't do were mainly in the backyard and that's because we are still trying to figure out exactly what we'd like to do in regards to design back there. As for the heaters in the kids rooms we are still researching options in regards to those. Out of all the things we did accomplish my favorite one hands down has got to be KILLING THE MOLES!!!! Oh yeah I'm so happy those awful things are no longer in our yard. Maybe now we can level out our front yard once and for all.

Financial Goals...completed.

Replenish emergency fund

Complete Baby Step #4 of Financial Peace University 

Save for a replacement car for Michael

Not only did we save for a replacement car...we bought a replacement car....WITH CASH!

Financial Goals...not completed. 

Save for driveway and home remodel 

I have a feeling this goal will be on our list for a few more years. This is one of those times I'm really happy that we cut up our credit cards because if we had them I'm sure I would have a new driveway by now. But....I'm super glad it's not that easy and we will thank ourselves in the long run! 

Personal Goals - Michael 

Finish reading meters - March 2014 Michael officially started his new position on the service crew so wahoo to no more meter reading! 

Learn to drive a stick shift and the dump truck - This goal ended up not being necessary. It doesn't really matter if Michael knows how to drive a stick shift or not. 

Personal Goals - Lyndsay 

Read the whole Bible chronologically - I made it to August so I got close. 

Get an update in regards to make-up and clothes - Did some shopping and researched Pinterest for how to do make-up for my eyes. 

Maintain mental health and improve physical health - My mental health has been improving still working on hormone issues and my depression, but 2014 was definitely better. Physical health suffered a bit so I'm working on that this year. 

Get involved in the PTA - Went to meetings never took the plunge and signed up. 

Join the church choir - Sung the Christmas choir and loved it!!! 

Couple Goals: 

Go on consistent dates - Again we had pretty consistent dates until August...something I guess Disneyland threw us off. 

Go to the gun range - Never did make it to the gun range

Overall I feel happy with what we accomplished in 2014. 

Accomplishments 2015!

Every year we like to sit down and go over the goals we made for that year and see how we did. This is more for my records than anything. 

Goals for 2015

Home & Yard Goals: 

Get estimate for driveway 

We did and ouch it's going to cost almost 10K to get that done, but it is something that desperately needs to be done...thanks tree roots! We do not want to have a claim on our homeowners insurance because someone breaks their leg and it would be nice for our kids to eventually be able to play basketball in their own driveway!

Have consultation about kitchen remodel

We did not do this because we found out how expensive the driveway was going to be and so this project won't be getting done for a few more years. I did sit down and seriously draw up some plans and my thinking on the design has changed. The best part is the company that we bought our cabinets from still sells them so it won't be nearly as expensive. We only need 4 new cabinets...which is still going to cost us around 3K or so! 

Fix broken front window

Yay we did get the window fixed....not as quickly as we had hoped since I flew to Wyoming for my Grandma's funeral, but it was totally worth the wait. Since we didn't fix it in the winter we figured why rush. We saved for other things first and then the window and finally got it fixed in September before the weather turned cold! 

Purchase weed eater - DONE!

Build Kids Clubhouse - DONE!

We completed these goals prior to me getting around to posting about our 2015 goals! 

Replace wood and restain deck

We did not do anything with the deck last year since we felt that the yard needed new bark if we were going to try to get the weeds under control. The deck isn't in horrible shape it's just something that we do need to do and that's why it's on our goal list for 2016. 

Figure out backyard landscape

This is still something we are struggling with. We know that we want to enlarge the pea gravel area around the play structure, but other than that we are stuck. I would like Michael to build me some more raised garden beds down on the hillside, but we also need to figure out the awkward stair area that leads to our easement. 

A couple goals we added to our list later in the year were...

Clean out under our deck

We did this and it made a huge difference. We took tons of stuff to the dump and now it's a great covered area for the kids to play in the backyard. 

Organize our basement

It was such a mess and now it's so nice and organized. It was not something Michael wanted to do, but he worked on that while I worked on clearing out under the deck and it was very fulfilling to finish! 

Financial Goals: 

Pay back 3-6 months savings - DONE!

Finished before I posted about goals. 

Save for window replacement

Check! 

Save for appliances

We did set up an actual appliance savings account and it has come in handy since our garbage disposal broke and the pump to my washing machine just went out. 

Start saving for trip to Hawaii for our 20th Anniversary in 2019

We did not do that, but this is something we are starting in 2016

Start saving for a car

We did add this to our budget....we need to up the amount, but all things in good time! 

Personal Goals - Michael: 

Learn more about the Backhoe

Michael did get more opportunities at work to further his knowledge about the Backhoe. He still would really like to get his CDL, but that's all up to Boss Man so we'll see! 

Personal Goals - Lyndsay: 

Get more toned

In February...I think...I started working out with my neighbor Rachael. We meet once a week at her house. It's been slow since it's only once a week, but I have noticed a major change in my body. I no longer have to go to the chiropractor nearly as often. PTL!

Finish reading through the Bible

A couple years ago I started reading the Bible Chronologically with my church. I made it until August and then things just fell by the wayside. My plan was to pick up and finish, but that didn't happen. Instead I joined BSF in September...another thing I've been wanting to do for years. We are studying Revelations and I'm loving every minute of it. To me anytime spent in the Word of God is a win! 

Be more intentional with teaching Ella

I tried people....I really did! That girl and I just do not work well together. I decided for the health of our relationship that I just needed to pull back. Ella is doing so much better in school. We meet with the rest of her IEP team in January so I'll have an update then. 

Couple Goals: 

Go on more dates

Michael and I definitely did go on more dates...still not enough if you ask me, but we are going to work on that more this year as well! 

Overall I feel really good about what we accomplished in 2015. One thing that is crazy for me to think about is that 5 years ago Michael was still unemployed, we had 3 small children, I started watching Logan to help money wise and we still had no clue what God had in store. Fast forward 5 short years and Michael has had numerous raises so much so I don't have to watch anyone else's child and this year alone we were able to...

build the kids an indoor clubhouse

I was able to attend my grandma's funeral

get bark for our whole yard

go on vacation  to Wyoming

get our window replaced

go on vacation to Seabrook

have our front tree cut down

give our kids a great Christmas 

All of that without ONE credit card! Dave Ramsey would be proud! :)  

Review Goals - 2018

Here is my annual review of our goals for the previous year and how we did. 

Goals for 2018

Saving Goals: 

Continue to save $100 each month towards our 20 Anniversary trip to Hawaii

We did continue to save and I was able to book the trip last August. We actually bumped our savings up to $200 per month just so we will have a nice cushion and won't have to be to mindful of a budget when it comes to eating out. It is a vacation after all! 

Continue to save $100 each month for the kids' future cars

We are still continuing to save for the kids' future cars and I don't imagine this one changing until they all have cars! 

Get the 3-6 months bumped up to where it needs to be

This is one our Goals again for 2019...see below!  

Start saving towards a tent trailer

We didn't just save for a trailer we made an executive decision to go ahead and buy a trailer. We only have our kids at home with us for a few short years and we want to get out and enjoy life with them and make lots of memories. Last year we used the trailer 4 different times....The First Camping Trip, staying at my parents house over 4th of July, Jenning's Family Reunion and then our trip to Oregon camping trip here and here. 

House Goals: 

We had a seriously interesting year in regards to our house and it's still not finished. Long story short....wind claim, new siding, new sheeting, new windows and bringing the house up to code...all covered by the insurance PTL!!! The claim has been open for almost a year now. There is still work to be done so stay tuned. To read about the craziness click here and here. Needless to say with all of that going on NONE of the home goals got tackled! 

Replace rails and bad boards on the deck and stain it.

Build patio furniture & buy cushions

Take out big bush by the play structures

Build planter to go where the bush was

Plant fruit tree

Family Goals: 

Family - Make reading & Bible time a priority & play more games together

I feel like we did better in regards to reading the Bible (or a kids devotional of some kind). It gets tricky in the summer with all the busyness. I did start doing a devotional book with the kids in the van prior to them getting on the bus, but then I changed it to where we do it at home and also have prayer time. It's really a great way to start the day. 

As for playing more games I feel like we go through ups and downs of this as well. I think right around birthdays and Christmas we play lots since we've just received new games and then when we are camping we play lots of games as well. We did have a Family Game Night group at our house last winter so that was fun to get introduced to a bunch of new games. 

Kids Goals: 

 Get in the habit of bathing on a regular schedule (just being real people) - have kids use their shower instead of ours

The kids have been consistently using their own shower now. Ella and Zeke still need help figuring out how to get it to the correct temperature since it's two knobs. I can't tell you how happy I will be when they figure this out. There are certain things that my kids learn to do on their own that I'm not sad about and this will be one of them. As for actually having a schedule we started it and then it tapered off. Every week is so different and it's just tough to be stuck to a schedule. I will say I have been better at reminding them to go jump in the shower more, but there are still times where my kids go over a week without showering. Again keeping it real! 

Lyndsay's Goals

 Try not to be so hard on myself 

This one cracks me up. I'm so hard on myself! I try not to be, but I put unrealistic expectations on myself. I will say that I am not so hard on myself when it comes to the kids birthday parties anymore. I used to spend months and months getting ready and now that's just not the case and I'm not going to freak out about it. 

Stay organized 

I really slacked on the whole organization thing, but over Christmas break I watched Tidying up with Marie (as well as a million other people) and now I'm in a super organization mode. Michael and I are in the process of completely redoing the garage. I've went through everything in the house with the exception of the Kitchen and all the closets. The closets are what I'm tackling in February and I know it's going to feel so good once those are done! 

Plan ahead

I feel like I'm a super planner! I mean I've been planning our trip to Hawaii for 5 years. I have camping trips planned months ahead. I plan our monthly menu and try to only do big shopping once a month. So yeah I feel like I nailed this one. 

 Get better at my job

When I wrote this it was for my job at church, but I do feel like I accomplished this one because I did get better at my true job which is being a homemaker. Working at the church was such a growing experience and I love that I got to do that, but I'm loving staying home and I'm so blessed that I can do so! To read about my decision to quit my job and stay home click here. 

Michael's Goals

Okay let me just say my man was a total overachiever!!! He had all these goals completed by February 16th!!! 

 Get CDL - check

 Pass test for WD Manager 3 - Check

Work towards eventually becoming the District Manager

He didn't just work towards becoming the District Manager he IS the District Manager. Click HERE to read that amazing God written story! 

Family Adventures: 

Snow activities @ Rainier

Yes we were able to go up and spend a day at Black Diamond Camps enjoying the snow. So fun! 

Family Reunion in Oregon

Yes, we went to the family reunion and had a blast. Link is above in the section about the tent trailer. 

Great Wolf Lodge

Yes, we got to go to Great Wolf Lodge and had the best time ever!!! We are hoping that we might get to go again this year as well. 

North Cascade Hwy

Michael has been wanting to do this one for years and so do I, but we really need a truck in order to take the trailer over the mountains. So I bet you can imagine what's going to be one of the goals for 2019! 

Goals For 2015!

Now for this years goals! 

Home & Yard Goals: 

Get estimate for driveway 

Have consultation about kitchen remodel

Fix broken front window

Purchase weed eater - DONE!

Build Kids Clubhouse - DONE!

Replace wood and restain deck

Figure out backyard landscape

Financial Goals: 

Pay back 3-6 months savings - DONE!

Save for window replacement

Save for appliances

Start saving for trip to Hawaii for our 20th Anniversary in 2019

Start saving for a car

Personal Goals - Michael: 

Learn more about the Backhoe

Personal Goals - Lyndsay: 

Get more toned

Finish reading through the Bible

Be more intentional with teaching Ella

Couple Goals: 

Go on more dates

This years goals definitely seem more sparse, but I think that's because we realized that we piled them on a little thick last year. The nice thing is we can always add to the goals throughout the year. 

Goals For 2020!

Here's our goals for 2020! 

House Goals: 

Install Flagpole

Get Halo installed on the furnace 

Go through and organize everything

Maintain yard & garden beds

Patch and paint all interior damage
Paint trim around all the windows

Money Goals:

Save for truck

Sell Fusion

Buy Truck

Replenish 3-6 month fund

Vacation Goals: 

April - Michael's work conference

June - Camping @ Deception Pass

July - Family Reunion in Wyoming

July/Aug - Family Reunion in Oregon

September - Michael's work conference

October - San Antonio Trip to celebrate Michael and I turning 40! 

Family Goals: 

Take one kid on a date each month

Owen - March, July & November

Jack - January, May & September

Ella - April, August & December

Zeke - February, June & October

Do a family fun activity every other month with all the kids

Play more games together

Go to Wild Waves @ least 6x

Michael's Goals: 

Have 2 co-worker BBQ's 

Have more people over from church or the neighborhood

Host game nights

Incident Command School

Play w/kids more

Read Extreme Ownership

Lyndsay's Goals: 

Workout regularily - twice with Rachael and twice a home each week

Mentor new believers 

Do devotions with kids every night & every morning

Read Relationship book with Owen & Jack

Read books during the day

Don't worry about politics

Kids Goals: 

Owen - Buy the computer game Starcraft 3 

Jack - Finish AWANA book so he can go to camp

Ella - To get to a level 1R in her reading

Zeke - Continue working on talking like a big boy & try to be more careful so he doesn't hurt himself

Goals for 2021!

 Here are our goals for 2021! 

House Goals: 

Transform the backyard into a bigger kid play area by....disassemble the play structure, moving the trampoline into the gravel area, builting a platform/tree house and building a ninja warrior course. 

Put medicine cabinets in the kids' bathroom - We've actually already accomplished this last weekend! 

Have a heat pump and Halo filter installed upstairs. 

Money Goals: 

Replenish 3 - 6 months

Save for our September 2021 Road Trip 

Start furniture fund - When we planned these goals we hadn't received our stimulus check yet so once we got that we decided to use that to purchase a whole new living room set. We are still starting this fund, but we're calling it the Household Fund instead. It will be good to have money set aside in case our refrigerator or something else big goes out. 

Save for new driveway

Family Goals: 

Get outside more...go on hikes & bike rides! 

Be consistent with having Game Night on Tuesdays & Family Movie Night on Fridays. 

Vacation Goals: 

To go camping at least 2 times...once to Oasis in Ephrata

Attend the Family Reunion in Oregon

To drive the North Cascades Highway 

September Road Trip

Personal Goals: 

Michael: 

- Go on monthly Dates with Lyndsay 

- Golf under 90 strokes

- Weigh less than 190

Lyndsay: 

- Go on monthly Dates with Michael

- Start working out on the elliptical again

- Look into starting therapy - I actually found a really great Christian therapist that's in our insurance network. I've been "seeing" ie...zoom meeting her for a few weeks and she's been great! 

- Have Cranial Sacral Therapy done again - I just started this last week. I'm hoping to do 3 sessions and then go in maybe once every couple of months for a tune up. 

Owen: 

- To buy Starcraft 3.

Jack: 

- To get on the Honor Roll.

Ella: 

- To not get in fights with my friends. 

Zeke:  

- To speak in a big boy voice all the time. 

Goals for 2019

Goals for 2019

Savings Goals: 

Replenish 3-6 months savings 

Save $100 a month towards the Kids' Cars

Save $200 a month towards camping/vacations

Sell the Ford Fusion 

Save up enough money to buy a truck

Home Goals: 

Buy garage doors & install

Rebuild & stain deck

Rebuild fence in some areas & paint

Stain kids playset

Paint Zeke's room

Patch and touch up Ella's room & paint clubhouse

Family Goals: 

Play more games together

Go camping at least 4x

Take older boys fishing

Invite neighbors over for a BBQ

Invite people from church over

Go to Wild Waves @ least 6x (I bought season passes) 

Lyndsay's Goals: 

Organize & purge house

Read the Bible 15 minutes a day

Curl hair more often

Take kids on individual dates

Go on dates with Michael more often

Plant garden & tend to it

Create a weekly, monthly and quarterly cleaning schedule

Sew new curtains for the trailer

Michael's Goals: 

Golf at least once a month during the summer
Have 2 BBQ's with co-workers

Take Jack to a baseball game

Kids Goals: 

Owen:

Get more sleep

Spend more time with Jordan

Jack: 

Get more exercise (Track & Club Victory) 

Stop annoying Owen

Spend more time with Hansi

Ella: 

Keep my room cleaner

Bruch hair more often

See Papa more often

Read more

Go to Kendra & Lily's more often

Zeke: 

Use a big boy voice all the time

Listen the first time