To Widen my Horizon...

So I've decided to take on a small little project for myself to keep busy. I've also wanted to broaden my horizon and expand my artistic talents. Every day for the next week I'll put up a new photo that represents HOME to me.

Come check it out! http://www.hangaertphotography.blogspot.com/ . Yesterday's photo was:

Title: Man vs. Nature

xoxo Nichole Gaertner- aka Han*Gaert Photography

Potty Training and New Year Resolutions...

It is done. Finally.

I kept telling myself that I would actually potty-train my son when he turned three. I never felt that he was quite ready, or even willing to try until then. And then when he turned three it was as if something clicked in his mind. An amazing click that has opened new avenues and forged new pathways into his brain. Not only did he pick up on potty training very quickly and easily, he has grown immensly intellectually as well. It is simply amazing to see him grow so much in such a short amount of time.

He's an amazing little man.

Shaylee is quite the little sass-a-frass herself, I must add. She too is interested in potty-training, however I think I'll wait until the beginning of February. That'll make her 18 months old. And that'll save me $120 a month of diapers and wipes. (If she's ready, of course.) That's almost a car payment! I'm soo close to getting my mini-van! I can smell the pleather/ fuzzy interior. I can even feel the wind in my hair.

Err... maybe that's the fan.

Either way I'm getting closer.

I have some personal goals that I'd like to achieve this year.

They include:

*Developing my small art/ photography business. (www.hangaertphotography.blogspot.com)

*Lose another 30-50 lbs. (www.hardworkmakeshealthy.blogspot.com)

*Keep up with both blogs bi-weekly.

*Keep up with family blog weekly.

*Start and complete at least 1 project a month.

*Write in my journal twice a week.

*Start scrapbooking again- complete both baby scrapbooks by the end of this year.

*Make hardcopies and organize all of my pictures. (I was devastated when I lost all of our daughter's pictures because of our hard drive pooping out on us.)

*Read the Book of Mormon.

*Get our Mini-Van (hopefully in March.)

*Do something culturally stimulating for my children once a month.

*Teach Aiden all his pre-school fundamentals by the time he's 4. (It's a goal...)

*Try to teach Shaylee her fundamentals as well.

*Start doing mommy/ son & mommy/ daughter dates. (I think they'll truly enjoy this!)

*Complete 3 of my 4 chosen triathlons.

*Find other ways to reach out to other women and have us all learn to appreciate our selves and what the Lord has given us.

Well that's it for today. I finally put up some projects I worked on in December on my craft blog. Feel free to stop by and let me know what you think!! :)

Love Nichole