2013 Blog Goals

Besides my New Year Resolutions, I have also decided to create some blog goals.  I hope these things will make me not only a better blogger, but that it will also build my audience and outreach.

1. Blog Regularly.  Last year I set a goal of blogging at least three times a week.  I am going to work towards that goal again this year.
2. Promote More Through Social Media.  This year I'm going to look into sharing my blog through more social media avenues and on a more regular basis.  Currently I send out one tweet and one Facebook post per blog post.  In 2013, I'd like to experiment with tweeting posts out more than once, possibly creating a Facebook page for my blog, look into utilizing Pinterest more, and share on LinkedIn when appropriate.
3. Comment On Other Blogs.  This year I am going to make a goal of commenting on three blogs per week, including commenting on a new blog once a month.  
4. Enhance SEO.  In February I will be attending the regional Ag Chat Foundation conference in Rochester, Minnesota.  One of the break-out sessions I'm looking forward to the most is tips on Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  I know this is something I need to work on for my blog.
5. Utilize Followers.  This year I want to explore ways of utilizing my followers.  This could mean having guest bloggers, or guest blogging myself on others' blogs.

Here's to a great year of blogging!  Do you blog?  What are your goals for this year?

Me with Darcy Maulsby and Heather Lilienthal at the #140ConfAgIowa
Some great #AgNerd friends I have gained through blogging

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year!  I figure today is a great day to get back on track and get organized for the year.  This year I have made New Year Resolutions related to being a better Mom and Wife.

1. Wake-up Early.  I always feel good and better prepared for the day when I wake up early.  So this year I have set a goal of waking-up early each morning so I get a good start to my day.  (This will also give me more time to get things done before LP wakes up!)
2. Go To Bed Earlier.  Now in order for me to wake-up earlier, I need to go to bed earlier.  I have to admit I find myself staying up way too late pretty much doing nothing.  So this year my goal will be to go to bed at a decent time.
3. Do One Complete Load Of Laundry Daily.  I have to admit, sometimes I get behind on laundry.  This doesn't work well when we go through so many clothes between chore clothes and nice clothes.  So I feel if I get one complete load of laundry done each day I should be able to give my family clean clothes to wear.  (Plus, My Farmer and I are expecting in June 2013 so I'll have even more laundry to take care of!)
4. Do A House Walk-Through Every Night.  This house "walk-through" will involved doing the dishes, picking up toys, cleaning-up the bathroom, etc.  I know this will make me feel better before going to bed and in the morning when I wake-up if I do these simple things each night.
5. Not To Say YES Immediately.  I've always had a problem with saying "yes" too fast shall we say.  In this New Year I need to prioritize my time and activities better, especially with MP (Mini-Plagge) arriving this spring.

To be a better Mom for LP

To be a better Wife for My Farmer and
To be a good Mom to MP (you can start to see a bump)

I hope you all have a great New Year and that you can keep your resolutions and goals, just like I'm planning and striving to do!

2012 Blog Year In Review

Well, I have officially finished my first year of blogging.  At times I didn't blog as much as I wanted to or blog about different events and topics that I wanted to, but in the end I'm very happy with what I have accomplished.  I have really enjoyed blogging this year and look forward to the New Year of blogging.

I want to say thank you to everyone that has followed my blog over the past year.  It has been great connecting with family and friends, as well as new friends I have made from across the country through this experience.  I hope to expand my network of followers in the new year by having content worthy blogging that attracts a variety of viewers.

I got an idea from "From small-town Iowa girl, to big-city Ag lawyer" (@eburnsthompson) to share my "Year in Review" statistics from my blog.  In 2012 I found the time to put together 122 posts for this blog, that got 16,537 views from 10 different countries.  The most popular posts for the year included:

1. Rules of a Farm Wife (Spring Edition)
2. Rules of a Farmer (How to Have a Happy Farm Wife)
3. Cy's Cook Off - Cardinal & Gold Cream Cheese Burger
4. My 100th Blog Post!!!
5. When Life Makes You Slow Down

Thanks again for your support this past year during my first year of blogging.  May you and your family have a blessed New Year!

Walking through Sand instead of Snow for a few days

Enjoying a beautiful December day on the beach, with my feet in the sand....

LP and My Farmer's feet in the sand

Wait - that doesn't sound right!  December means celebrating Christmas and playing in the snow, not relaxing in the sand.  Well, this year I've been able to do it all.  My Farmer, LP and I just got back from a few days in Miami, where we celebrated and participated in My Farmer's sister's wedding.

My Farmer's Sister and her new Husband at their wedding reception

My Farmer and I during his sister's wedding reception

LP having fun at the wedding reception
(LP enjoyed not having to wear shoes for the beach wedding I think most of all!)

I don't have too many photos from the actual wedding day because I was busy with everything involved with being the matron-of-honor.  But I do have pictures from other things we did in Miami, including some "firsts" for LP.  

My Farmer and LP getting ready for LP's first plane ride
LP did a great job both ways of the flight

LP playing in the sand for the first time during the rehearsal

A quick family photo after the rehearsal

LP playing the ocean for the first time

LP having fun in the ocean

LP playing in the sand

Enjoying our time in the ocean

We had a great time in Miami and we were all honored to be apart of such a special wedding.  We wish My Farmer's sister and husband a blessed and life-long marriage!

An ocean view (and backdrop for the wedding ceremony)

A night-time view from the reception area

Merry Christmas From My Family to Your's

Merry Christmas!  We had a great time with family the last couple of weeks celebrating Christmas.  Here are a few photos (from the tons I took) to show you a little of what and where we've been.  I hope you and your family enjoyed celebrating as much as we did!

LP and My Farmer on a very cold and windy day picking out our Christmas tree

LP playing with his new tractor with wagon and corn stalk bailer

LP opening gifts from My Farmer & I and Santa Clause

LP posing with some of his gifts
(including cheese blocks from a  meat and cheese gift box from a landlord)

LP was one lucky boy and got a pedal tractor
(LP also got a motorized tractor and wagon for Christmas too - that'll be fun this summer)

LP and My Farmer opening gifts (and wearing gifts) at my grandparent's house

What does a farmer truly get excited about:
a new pair of Muck boots, a  new  Carhartt sweatshirt and a new Leatherman

Our only family photo from Christmas...  I'll work better on that next year!

Christmas Update

Wow!  I have not been good about blogging since Thanksgiving!  I guess, just like all of you, I've gotten busy with getting ready for Christmas, going to Christmas parties, directing our Children's Christmas program at church, etc.  Plus we've been busy with things for my sister-in-law's wedding that is at the end of the month.  I know I don't have to explain being busy during December.  December always seems to be a busy month.

To brighten your day, I thought I'd share some of our Christmas card photo out-takes from this year.  For the last four years since My Farmer and I got married, we've taken a Christmas Card photo in front of our west wind break using the self-timer on my camera every year.  It is one of our Christmas traditions.  Here's a look at this year's Christmas card photo:

Looks like our dog Bailey would rather look at us than the camera.
(This seems hard to explain to her every year...
Bailey you have to look at that random camera on tri-pod in the middle of the yard, not us.)

This ones great, both LP and Bailey are not wanting to look at the camera.

LP and Bailey talking to each other - "Hey Bailey, how are you doing?"

It's not just our dog Bailey and LP that make a photo not a keeper.
Not sure how both My Farmer's and my eyes were both closed on the same photo?

And the winner!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Wordless Wednesday - Santa Visits

My Farmer and I thought visiting Santa might not go the best this year - LP is at the stage that it takes him awhile to warm up to people.  So we decided to try to visit Santa when he came to the library, because one of LP's favorite places to go is the library:

LP visiting Santa at the Library

As you can see he wasn't the biggest fan when we wanted him to sit on his lap.  So we figured we'd try one more time when Santa was at our local fire station.  LP actually knows Santa, so we thought it might go a little better:

LP visiting Santa at the Fire Station

It did go a little better...  It must be the red suit!  We figure these pictures will be priceless someday!