runny noses, reading and resolutions

It seems like our household has been sick since New Year’s Eve so I am finally getting back to my “to do” list.  Our exciting New Years plans included putting our sick kiddo to bed and then trying to stay awake long enough to watch our pyro neighbors put on a fireworks display to rival the Space Needle.  I was also bummed to miss my friend’s library-themed birthday party which it too bad because it would have been fun to dress up like a librarian.  Fortunately I was well enough for a brief time to plan a baby shower for two of my good friends who are each expecting little boys next month.  I made it a children’s book theme and decorated with stacks of books, green apples, and alphabet blocks.  Check out the cute apple cupcakes I made!

All of this talk about books got me thinking that I really wish I could be one of those people who reads for fun.  Want to hear a semi-embarrassing confession?  Of course you do.  In the last ten years I can only count three books that I have read cover to cover purely for entertainment.  Don’t get me wrong, I do read all the time; I read for research, I read blogs, I read the news, I read bible studies, I read cookbooks, I read to my child every day.  I have a stack of books in the corner gathering dust that I have been meaning to read forever, it just never seems to happen. 

So this brings be to my belated New Year’s Resolutions for 2011, but instead of resolutions they are more like New Year’s Wishes, because I don’t know how I plan to accomplish them.  My wish is to find a way to do things that seem impossible right now.  Some of these things include:

• Read a book for fun (I’m being realistic, reading one book this year would be more than a 300% increase over the past decade).
• Get some exercise (I know everyone makes a resolution to do this, but for me it’s really a wish because I love to exercise but I don’t see how it’s possible in my life right now – any other working moms have tips?)
• Stop Worrying (yeah I know, good luck right)

So, Happy New Year!  Now that the holidays are over can we just be done with the winter cold season and let it be spring?  Either that or just snow us in for the next few months so we can stay home and not have to work?