Eye of the Tiger!!!

The fighters were in their corners waiting for the bell to ring. A resounding "ding" is heard in the distance. They meet in the middle of the ring, tap gloves and prepare for battle. After dancing around the ring trying to get a feel for their opponent, the gloves start flying. Leather against flesh. Man against man....... Alright, boy against boy.

In the red corner, weighing in at 62 pounds, Tanner "T-Bone" Stephens. His opponent, in the blue corner, weighing in at 83 pounds, Mark "The Shark" Stephens.

After watching Rocky 1-3, my boys have decided that they ARE Rocky. The battle ensues. After a full round of jabbing, punching, uppercuts and even a few crane kicks for good measure, they are sent back to their corners to await the judges decision.

A draw.

However, T-Bone landed one great punch to the eye of The Shark and split him open - a feat that both were ridiculously excited about. Thankfully, a trip to the doctor was deemed unnecessary. The Shark walked away with a super cool tough guy type injury and T-bone relished the fact that he can rip apart an opponent 20 lbs heavier.

Eye of the tiger baby. Eye of the tiger.

Ch..Ch...Ch...Changes....

For the last few years, my book club girls and I have chosen a word that describes our focus for the upcoming year. Last year my word was "Trust" because I wanted to grow in my Christian walk and learn to trust God more. The year before that my word was "Truth" because I was so tired of hearing so many lies that I wanted to set myself on a path to pursue truth.

This year, given that I am in the early stages of a mid-life crisis and I refuse to look 4o when I turn 40, my focus word is "change." Not only am I talking about changing this nasty old saggy, wrinkly, droopy, hideously grotesque soccer mom body into something that could grace the pages of Victoria's Secret (my husband would be eternally grateful), I am talking about changes that go beyond that as well.

Figuring out how to go about this change is a whole different story. Going from a shar-pei puppy to supermodel is no walk in the park- just like changing the stuff on the inside that could use a good overhaul is a daunting task as well. The way I figure, I have 4 months to change the outside (vanity and gravity are very dangerous things!) and a whole year to change the inside, so I am going to dive right on in on my quest for rockstar abs and buns of steel and I will just hope that in the process, I will figure out how to overhaul the inside!

Ch...Ch...Ch....Changes......

Failing Miserably!

This is why I don't do resolutions! It is already day 7 of the new year and this is the first time I have blogged in 5 days and I have yet to change my eating/exercise/skin care habits to ward off looking like a shar-pei puppy when I turn 40. I started watching Biggest Loser for some inspiration but it inspired me to shovel down a bunch of peanut M&M's while I got comfy on the couch. (For the record, I honestly believe that peanut M&M's are a well-balanced meal - proteins and carbs all packaged a colorful little shell!)

So what is my deal??? I need some motivation. Clearly it is not coming from within so it must be something out there that I have yet to find! Maybe at Cold Stone Creamery? The local bakery? Heavenly Donuts? I just don't know! Maybe I'll be working so hard in my quest to find motivation that it will almost be like working out??? Yep, that works for me!

Perhaps that should be my new resolution - finding motivation for self-improvement. I like it! I'll keep you posted as my search progresses!

Traditions and Resolutions!

At the year's end, there are some traditions that just need to end with them! But, on a much more positive note, there are others that should just keep going and going and going!!! My favorite tradition (besides lasagna at Christmas and birthday presents at the end of the kids' beds) is kicking off the New Year with a dear friend and celebrating Barnes & Noble style! With a nice hot drink in hand a whole converted forest to stroll through, I wouldn't want to start my year any other way!

Now, as far as resolutions go - I have never really been one to make them! This year, however, I have come up with two! The first is to be a better blogger. I know, totally lame huh??? But the fact of the matter is that it really does keep family members who live out of town in touch with all things Stephens - without having to actually come here and experience the insanity!

My second resolution is to do whatever I can to NOT look forty when I turn forty this year! Have no fear, surgery is not an option here! Everything else is fair game!

So that is it. In a nutshell - keep the traditions that work. Dump the ones that don't. Start your year how you want it to end, do a better job keeping in touch and try your hardest to not age in the process!

Happy New Year!