New Goals for a New Year!

Happy New Year, friends! I just settled Levi down - and miraculously, last night was the FIRST night since the beginning of December that he has slept without waking!!!! - so the fact that he was up only around 4:45 is actually something to celebrate, and he is now quiet in my room, so hooray!!

We have started off the year with a renewed sense of purpose, are working on some things that have caused us so much stress over the years (I'll share those later), and are making plans to realize some dreams of ours. Wow. Some shorter-term goals are to simplify and declutter room by room, and be suuuuper vigilant about what enters our home in the first place. Tricky when this involves gifts from family that, well, you just don't need or want.

And to laugh and enjoy the small things. Really! I shared on IG the other day how I've been feeling a lack of joy in my life, and that isn't how I want to live. I want my children to see a Mom who dreams and laughs and chooses well and loves unconditionally while holding onto Truth, without worrying about what people think, or how our situation compares to someone else's. I want others to see a light in me that comes from following Christ, and that can only happen when I allow Him to fill me up. And I'm learning that it's the small steps, the one foot in front of the other steps, that grow me on a daily basis much more than huge leaps and bounds, ie, loftier goals.

So here's to moving forward, one step at a time, in love and grace, with purpose and intention.

What are you dreaming about for the new year??

 Ok, can't do a post without pics, so here are a few from our NYE and New Year's Day. :)

Jonah got some new bamboo steamers from Santa and he made us dumplings and these custard buns. They were both delicious!!!

I have a love-hate relationship with ushering in a new year. This year, it was okay, although it does make me cry to think that he will be turning three this year. Three??!!

Still kind of stuck in that strange in between land of Christmas and New Year when you don't know what day it is or what you're doing, but smooches are always a good choice. :)

Personal Goals for The New Year

Well.
We're three weeks in.
It was a great beginning, but things took a downward spiral quickly when we all got sick (still recovering, ugh), and now I'm in that post-holiday-sick-of-winter funk.
But it's okay. I don't have to throw in the towel, admit defeat, or hang my head in shame. I get to keep trying, keep working towards my goals, and that's a good thing!

So here they are:

1. Spend more time reading and studying the Word

2. Pray for my children and husband with specific and intentional petitions, not just broad "generic" ones

3. Continue to move my body and fuel it with the best nutrition

4. Invite more friends and families over for coffee, play dates, big dinners...you name it!

5. Dream more. No, really. Dream big crazy dreams.

Interestingly enough, or maybe not, HA, these were quite similar to my goals for 2017. So how did I do last year?

I wanted to do some specific Bible studies last year, and they did not happen. I also was lacking in the reading Scripture department, big time, which has such a huge impact on my day to day life. I still feel extremely unsettled at our "new/old" church, but I'm really craving interaction and friendship and all that, so I'm just going to reach out to a few friends and see about doing our own study a couple times a month. I've also committed to reading the Bible in one year, and I've been doing well so far.

My prayer life still needs work. Some days/weeks I feel on fire, and others, well, barely dim.

Ha, don't ask me about my fitness goals THIS week! Earlier I shared that I felt more in tune with my body and more in shape right after Levi was born, and then as time went on (and sleep got nixed for over a year) I fell into bad habits and my self esteem suffered. I'm doing better. My family gave me a FitBit for my birthday, and I love it! Turns out I'm very competitive with it, ha ha. Now I need to take the time and effort to eat better, and stop snacking on junk!

I think we did well in the hospitality department, and I'd like to keep that momentum going. There's just something so special about coming together and sharing what's going on in your life with friends.

I admit that I get stuck a lot lately. In my own head. Life is complicated, isn't it? I mean, it isn't, but it so is. And relationships. Talk about complicated! I seem to be in a season where past hurts keep coming to mind, and it's hard to get past them. And then it's hard to dream about anything, really, because I'm just plain stuck. I suppose I need to pray more about this one.

So anyway, those are my goals for the year. Do they resonate with anyone else? Does anyone even read this blog anymore? It's been so hard to keep up with everything, but I'm trying! :)


And of course, every New Year I treat myself to one or two new plants to celebrate new beginnings, and to help get me through these dreary winter days. The cats devoured the poor African Violet, but the pink one is doing well. For now. ;)

Ringing In 2018... Happy New Year!

One of these years, I'd like to get dressed up all fancy and go out to some fancy party or restaurant, and just be fancy.

But.

This wasn't that year. ha ha We had my parents over for dinner and played games and just had fun together. Lots of laughter is bound to be a good sign for a new year!

I tried to do lots of little, special things throughout the weekend. Sometimes it's the smaller gestures that mean the most.

Our festive tablescape. Isabelle made the sign for me again this year.

Oh, and these are the temps we've been having for two weeks straight now. Not even kidding. It has only been above ZERO twice in the past two weeks!

I can't remember now what exactly the problem was- isn't that how it always goes- but Sunday morning I was just having the hardest time. Like emotional turmoil kind of hard. I couldn't stop crying in church. #embarrassing #stopitmom

So when we got back home, I threw on a few extra layers and headed out. The sun was shining and the sky was bright blue, but it was freeze-your-snot cold. And then the wind picked up and blew snow everywhere, including your face. Cooooold. 

I left alone and was happy to be alone, but Caleb found me ten minutes later. Honestly, I was annoyed. But then I came to my senses, thankfully, and felt so touched that he would brave the tundra to find me. He said he was worried about me and wanted to make sure I was okay. Aww. In the five or so seconds it took to take these photos, my fingertips were already numb. You can kind of see the snow swirling to our left...right before it smacked us in the face. 

I have a thing for crystal and glass in the sun, too. So pretty and sparkly!

Jonah kept making rainbows all over the wall and ceiling, and Lev was completely mesmerized. So funny.

You gotta have punch to ring in the new year!
3/4 jug Hawaiian Punch, a bottle of Sprite, and scoops of rainbow sherbet - I used my cookie scoop because I don't have a melon baller. So fizzy and good!

There's just something so magical about candlelight. It makes everything look so beautiful.

Isabelle quizzing my Mom a zillion random animal trivia facts. My Mom is such a good sport. After ten minutes, I was like, Okay, I've got dishes to do, floors to sweep, umm basically anything that may need tending to...I'm outta here.

Someone discovered he has a deep, deep love for cream puffs!

This was promptly at nine o'clock. Ethan was on his way out, and I was not feeling too well. I made it another hour or so. #lame Or #old. ha ha

We enjoyed a slow morning on New Year's Day. I was so happy to see the sun shining a second day in a row! Not only has it been freezing, it's been so dark as well.

We bundled up for ten whole minutes outside. But we made snow art. :)
Random question, but has anyone tried to boiling water thing where you toss it into the freezing air? I'd like to try it this weekend...

Mom. It's so cold. (And I'm just noticing now how that little bit of neck is exposed- bad bad bad. I'll have to get him some turtlenecks for outside play.)
But he loves it! He pitches the biggest fit when it's time to come inside.

When the feeling returned to our hands, we played with the play-dough that Daddy made the day before. I love fresh play-dough, especially when still warm, but cold, day old or older play-dough, truly makes me gag. Weird, right?

Isabelle and I also had a hot cocoa date in the family room and watched the Soul Surfer movie while Levi took his nap. I loved it, it was very touching and meaningful.

So everyone went back to school on Tuesday, and yes, I always miss them when they aren't here, but the stillness and calm was quite nice. :) Of course yesterday was a Snow Day and today is already a delayed start, so we have had lots of togetherness this week. And it's Friday! Hooray! Did anyone do anything super exciting for NYE? Tell me and I'll add it to my growing bucket list!

Here are some links to years past...I can't believe little Levi was so tiny last year! Aaaahhhh!
 

2017

(I don't think I have a post from 2016...I was still throwing up regularly and pretty sure I was in bed by 8 pm that night, so I don't remember anything!)

Skating in the new year from 2015

A Year in Pictures photo recap from 2014

One of my most fun memories, our Day of Adventure from 2013

Celebrating Our December Birthdays

This was the first year that we celebrated everyone's December birthday on their actual birthdays, plus a small family party, complete with hot cocoa bar, one of our favorite things about cold-weather birthdays. And it was fun, but it was also kind of rough. On me anyway. I think I'm going back to spacing things out a bit. Plus, I really dislike how certain family members are getting too comfortable in omitting their birthday celebrations and gifts and instead "lumping them altogether" on Christmas. I know gifts are not the most important things, of course, but it's the idea that they aren't worth the trouble of celebrating just because their birthdays fall close to Christmas. Birthdays are for celebrating!

Things never get wild or loud at our house. No, never. ;)

With a big snow storm, the first of several since then!, in the forecast, and basketball practices and work, we opted to do Caleb's cocoa pajama lights drive a little early. This was a great year in terms of pretty decorations. It seemed like everyone was in the spirit to make Christmas even more magical. That said, it was probably one of my least favorite rides through town. Now that they're all older, I'm thinking this is one tradition that has run its course. The hard part of parenting, for sure, giving up those things we've held dear for so many years.

Tradition is that Dad carries you out to the warm car so your feet don't get cold touching the ground. Levi is the last one, and possibly the only one we can actually carry anymore. 

And another Snow Day for his birthday! We had lots of fun sledding and playing in the snow all morning long.

My parents surprised us with donuts!

That night we celebrated fifteen years with ice cream cake...well... someone thought that our three season room would double as a freezer while someone else thought that that someone had simply put the darn thing outside. You know, in the actual freezing cold. So there really was nothing to salvage for cake. It will probably be a funny memory one day, but I don't think it's funny yet.

Then, on Friday, we had fancy birthday pancakes for Isabelle!

It was a balmy 6 degrees, way warmer than the -20 it's been all week now. We brought in homemade lollipops like usual for her class.

That night, we had a few of her friends over for pizza and a movie. Boys are loud, but girls are LOUDER. :)

Levi didn't quite know what to do when he wasn't Isabelle's usual center of the universe, so I let him help me with snacks. His pant legs and tippy toes kill me.

He kept grabbing the veggies and taking bites out of them, then putting them back. HA He held onto half a cucumber like a microphone and kept gnawing on it. It was pretty funny.

And now I'm getting everything ready for NYE. It's been a crummy day, my attitude is poor, and I'm really not in the mood for any festivities. Praying for a renewed spirit to salvage this day and the hope of a brand new year. Happy New Year to you!

Happy New Year & Goals for 2017

Happy New Year!

2016 was a big year for our family, and although I typically mourn the "loss" of a year when we ring in the new one, I have to say that I was surprisingly ready for it this time. Even looking forward to a brand new year, right from the get-go. Normally it takes me a few days or so to ease into brand new, ha.

 I was disappointed that we had to cancel some plans with friends because several of us just weren't feeling well, so our celebrating was about as low-key as it gets. But Isabelle helped me set this up for our 9:30 pm ringing in...I was aiming for ten, but baby boy had other ideas and I was just plain exhausted.

Like many, I've spent a lot of time thinking and planning, and even a little dreaming about this new year. Levi is simply amazed at the possibilities. ha ha ha

This picture has nothing to do with anything, other than the fact that I didn't take his picture on Christmas Eve, and this is what he wore. So it's doing double duty here for New Year's. Baby boys in plaid, and sweater vests!, are just yummy. Well, those little grey suit pants make me weak in the knees, too. :)

After a weekend of list-making, goal-setting, and prioritizing needs versus wants, I did something I feel like I haven't done in ages...I plopped down in front of the TV with absolutely no agenda at all and inhaled enjoyed my salted caramel popcorn.

So what are my goals? Pretty simple, actually.

Being more intentional about Bible reading and my prayer life, and sharing that with our kids

Planning more time with friends, individually and as a family

Carving more FUN into my daily life

Seeking adventure, especially with my husband

There you have it. What things are you hoping to accomplish or get better at in 2017?

2016 in Review...What A Year!

Okay, okay, so I'm cheating a little bit with this picture. Technically, if you want to get technical, this was Christmas Eve 2015, but I never posted it (who knows why???), so it is now part of my 2016 year in review. This picture makes me smile. I am (and was) in such awe of how good God is by giving us such a precious gift.

 Third trimester in January! We had just had a huge scare when Levi's heartbeat couldn't be found for thirty seconds or so, and while that does not seem like a very long time, it felt like time had stopped while my whole heart began to crumble. They wanted to monitor me for a while after that, and of course, monkey man was leaping and bouncing within a few minutes. I felt so thankful that afternoon.

 

In February, Jonah had his wisdom teeth pulled, and then we took our crew- and this bump- to Florida to soak up some much needed sunshine. We met up with my parents and it was one of my very favorite trips ever.

Very first time at Sonic! We had to see what all the fuss was about. And...I'm still not sure. :/ Sorry, don't hate me!

Week 34!!

This was the first time I actually enjoyed being pregnant, and I tried to treasure each and every milestone, thinking that I might miss it one day. And I do.

Love these crazy people!

 Off to see the dolphins! Little did we know that the other people on the boat would prove to be even more entertaining. HaHaHaHa (Endless beer on tap...)

One of my most popular posts to date has been this post about my maternity shoot and taking great looking pictures with a selfie stick.

We had some incidents on the way home, including a flat tire at 4 in the morning, but we made it safe and sound. Next time, we fly! I'd started this quilt the day before we left, because I'm smart like that. I was up before everyone else the morning we finally got back, and I remember sitting on the couch, watching the sun rise up through the woods, enjoying the quiet and stillness, and I finished the quilt. It's one of my most treasured baby things for Levi.

We celebrated Jonah's fifteenth birthday on March 5th, exactly one month from my due date (and Levi's actual birthday, we would later find out).

 My family and friends threw a sweet baby shower for us!

 I remember captioning this "stripes for daaaaaaaays" - I think it still works!

So ready to meet our baby boy!

And here he is!!!

Nameless until 7:25, and he was born at 8:25. ha ha

Such a healing salve for this Mama's wounded heart.
 I couldn't believe that he was finally here.

 Already adored by his big brothers and sister

Oh my goodness, that face! I miss that squishy little face.

I'd also forgotten that he had the red around his eyes from birth.

This was our first spring here and I couldn't wait to get my hands dirty. The previous owners hadn't planted one single thing in the backyard, so it really was the perfect clean slate for me. I can't wait to see this in a few months- those pink roses bloomed profusely all summer long!

Sandy baby toes. I die.

We didn't travel as much this summer as we normally do, but there were still plenty of day trips to the ocean, lakes and mountains.

 Time stood still again when we had to bring Levi to the ER to be treated for pneumonia. We were there just for one day and night- thankfully the meds began to work quickly. I didn't sleep much that night, just laid on that sofa cot thing and prayed for my baby boy and for all the other Moms and Dads in the world who face far greater medical issues with their children. There is nothing worse than watching your child in pain.

 I don't think I ever blogged about the transformation to our downstairs area, but two floors up, operation Switch Rooms for Isabelle and Caleb began. I have been frustrated many times by my desire to be done already, and the fact that I can't really do it all. And, well, I can't really do it all. #truth

 I've also tried to keep up with my fitness goals, so we went on lots and lots of walks this spring, summer and fall. Winters are more challenging since I can't pop him in the stroller and go most days, simply because the snowbanks make the roads so much narrower and I feel pretty unsafe. Maybe we'll try mall walking with the older folks. :)

More switching...

We got new windows right after Levi was born and it made a HUGE difference. Plus, I've been tackling all the trim, so the white on white looks much different and fresh and clean, just how I like it. I finally finished these doors, too. Painting trim is no big deal. Painting doors, though, is tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment.

 How on earth did my oldest son turn seventeen in August? We had several pool parties this summer, but this one was my favorite.

 School started and a new normal was forged, if you can call it that. Levi doesn't do much of anything on a schedule, and that's been really hard on me. Another exciting soccer season was underway and I knew it was tradition for the Varsity team to dye their hair Obscene Blond (if that isn't the actual name of the dye, it should be), so I begrudgingly arranged for family portraits. It was eight hundred degrees that day, and my hair had just begun falling out in masses about a week earlier, and I still wasn't happy with certain areas... glad I went for it anyway because I treasure this.

 We met up with extended family on Bill's side at the apple orchard. This look sums up how he felt about it all, ha ha.

 Smooches on the sidelines at soccer games

 Enjoying a pretty walk in the woods

We brought Jonah and Caleb to a Jeremy Camp concert in November and it was so good. We were moved to become a sponsor family that night.

 Another challenge for me this year was finding balance with my shop, Rose & Ruffle. I took a lot of time off in the spring, typically my busiest season, and started taking custom orders again in the fall. If Levi slept (at all) it might not have been so hard, but it was. Everything got finished and mailed off in time for Christmas, though, and I am so grateful. Thank you to my wonderful customers! This flannel nightgown- in different prints and colors- has been my biggest seller.

And then it was Halloween, my birthday, Thanksgiving, two December birthdays, Christmas, and now New Year's Eve! We're celebrating tonight with an eclectic feast, as usual, and playing games and things. I know, super exciting. But one, I'm exhausted. And two, I'm afraid of all the intoxicated people on the road on NYE, so we stay in.

 I really could go on and on about this year and all of the countless ways we've been blessed. We've certainly had our challenges too. For whatever reason, this has been the year of sickness- every time I turn around, someone is coming down with something. Normally I don't get sick very often and I've been down and out at least half a dozen times this year. Ugh. I'm hoping this trend does not continue in the new year. If a cute little guy learned to sleep better, that sure would be great, too.

Most years I'm feeling slightly depressed at the end of a year, not yet ready for the finality of it. Not this year! I'm looking forward to a brand new year, fresh and hopeful and open to any and all possibilities. Happy New Year to you! Thanks for reading and following along!