2017

New Year's is not my favorite holiday. In fact, it's far from it. (It's a close 2nd to Thanksgiving.) But, since we don't really celebrate it, it gives me a chance to reflect on the year that's ending. With only a few hours left of 2017, I have spent the past few hours thinking back on all the GOOD 2017 has brought to us through God's blessings.
2017 started with us buying our second house! After much frustration and heartache with a couple other houses, we realized it was worth it because this house has become our home. We have been able to use it for BBQs, dinner parties, pool parties, house guests, sleepovers and play dates. I love our neighborhood and even feel like we like in the country with all the perks of living in a city.
E started sports this year! He was only old enough to play soccer but he thoroughly enjoyed both seasons that he played. His best friend was on his team and, together, they became the dynamic duo. I don't know why I am surprised, but I was amazed by his athletic skill every time I watch him play. Now that he's 5 (give me a sec while I shed a few tears over that!), he is excited to add T-ball and football to his repertoire. He's going to be our all American athlete I'm sure.
In April I took a girls' trip to Nashville to compete in a half marathon. Not that I am a pro marathon runner by any stretch of the imagination. But, that was by far the worst marathon experience I have ever had! I am grateful to say I finished it on my own accord because several dozen runners couldn't say that. Nonetheless, it was a fun get away in a new town with a good friend. So, all in all, it was a memorable experience.
In May, P finished the school year earning 5 different academic awards! His craving to learn anything and everything astonishes me. He always has his nose in a book and remembers information like my mom. In May, I finished my first school year as a high school teacher and I have to say that I loved it a lot more than I thought I would! The boys and I ended the month in Cali, where we spent a couple weeks visiting my parents. One of my best friends got married so I was thrilled beyond belief to attend her wedding.
We had a super busy Summer! In fact, it was by far the busiest Summer we've ever had. Between friends coming over to swim, day trips and weekend get aways, I don't recall having one single day where we sat around with nothing to do.
School started and E got bumped up to preschool. Although he LOVES his teacher and friends, he doesn't like school per se. I don't think he's ever going to love it the way his big brother does. In fact, every morning he wakes up and asks, "Is today Friday?" because he knows that Friday at 1pm means no school for 2 days. Ha! But, regardless, I'm impressed with how much he's learning.
One of my nearest and dearest friends came for a visit from AZ in September. She and I snuck away to a beach side condo for the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We laughed til our sides hurt and ate until our stomachs ached. It was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time!
Fall brought the busy time of the year for us. Between P's football schedule, hunting season, choir practice for our Christmas performance, photo sessions and school obligations I felt like we were in a continual juggling act with our time. But you know? I wouldn't change it for the world!
My parents surprised us by coming to us for Thanksgiving this year. It's the first time in almost 4 years that they've come for a visit and we loved their time with us! The boys loved showing them what we do here for fun and I loved having them meet our friends so they could put names and faces together. This may sound weird/gross to you but one of my favorite things my mom and I do are nightly foot rubs. So I loved our foot rubs/Hallmark movie nights and all the memories we created while they were here!
After mid December, our lives slowed down considerably. We didn't host Christmas at our house so it was just the 4 of us for the first time ever. Then Rob took off to camp so it's been just me and the boys most days. It's been cold and gloomy so we've used this break to stay close to home and rejuvenate. E and I have been fighting sinus infections so I think our bodies (and minds) needed this down time.
I didn't mean to give you a complete rundown of our entire year. I meant to just give you a glimpse of all the good that's taken place this year. Short story long, it's been a wonderful year. 1000x better than 2016 for sure! I am looking forward to 2018, praying that it'll be as good of a year as 2017. There are some great things in the works. Happy New Year!

A Lost Christmas

Where do I start? So many thoughts running through my head this evening. This day did not go at all how I imagined. Not because of Rob. Not because the boys didn't love all their gifts. Not because we didn't spend quality family time together. Not because we didn't enjoy a nice meal together. But because I got so caught up in my head that I didn't take time to enjoy the day. I knew it was just going to be the 4 of us for the first time in our married life and that didn't set well with me. One of the things I love most about the holiday season is all the social events- Christmas parties, dinners, entertaining. But it was just the 4 of us all day and it seemed too quiet to me. I also knew that I had opened 90% of my presents before Christmas so I didn't have much to open. Selfishly, that kind of makes Christmas morning less magical for me because I love surprises. It's never about the size or the price of the gift, but how much thought was put into it. My absolute favorite thing is opening my stocking because I get things that I "need" but don't buy for myself, things like nail polish and lotion. My dad always puts together the best stockings! So I started the day in a funk.

Then, after opening the presents, I was trying P's drone out that Santa brought him and I lost it. Like, it flew over someone's property and just disappeared. I spent several hours looking for it to no avail. While looking for it, I lost the ring he had bought me at the school Christmas store. I was beating myself up about losing the ring and drone on top of being in a funk.

We laid down for a nap and when I woke up I had a few minutes to myself. I realized that I had spent the day thinking about all that the day was lacking instead of counting my blessings. First and foremost, the reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We work very hard at making sure the boys know that that is the real meaning of Christmas. But, sometime I don't put enough importance on it. Second, even though I've missed my parents terribly today, I have Rob and my boys. We are all healthy (for the most part) and spent the entire day together, playing and relaxing. Third, we are blessed beyond measure. Although we never go overboard with gifts, Rob and I are always blessed to be able to buy the boys (and each other) the gifts everyone wants. We have a beautiful house (Our first year celebrating Christmas in it!) and we had a nice meal. There are a lot of people that can't say that.

So, while Christmas wasn't how I pictured it to be, it was imperfectly perfect. It was a day packed with memories and blessings. And most importantly it's about our Savior, the One Who was born to show us grace even on our most imperfectly perfect days! 

Merry Christmas y'all!

Traditions

If you have been following our blog for awhile, you know that I value family traditions. I love making birthdays and certain holidays even more special by partaking in family traditions. In my opinion, traditions add to memories. Now that I'm a mom, I try to keep certain traditions that we enjoyed when I was a child. Traditions such as driving around, looking at lights; searching for the German pickle on the Christmas tree; stocking filled to the gills (One of my most favorite things about Christmas!). Certain traditions we have not kept for various reasons- the "Orange Man" and cutting down a fresh Christmas tree; enjoying In N Out Burgers after looking at Christmas lights; falling asleep on a pile of wrapping paper Christmas morning. Other traditions we had made as a family- elf on the shelf; reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the "Birth of Christ" Christmas Eve; supporting a family in need. This year I realized just how important our traditions have become because P told his teacher about the German pickle. She was very impressed with this tradition and shared it with another teacher, after asking P more about it. I hope when the boys grow up and have families of their own they are able to keep our family traditions or create their own with their family. Traditions enrich our lives and help tie generations together!

Making or Breaking?

Maybe it's because I have a Bachelor's in Child Development (basically child psychology) or maybe it's because I am a mom to two very different kids. But, I've been thinking a lot this week about making or breaking a child. I have heard two people speak to two different kids in two different settings in ways that make my heart sad. I have no doubt that either person meant to hurt the child's feelings or harm them in any physical way but it's just made me think. I feel that adults (parents, teachers, coaches, etc) have an important job in a child's life. It's to help a child without tearing them down. It's to understand that a child does not cognitively have the same ability as an adult. It's to build self esteem, highlight a child's strengths instead of always harping on their shortcomings. It's to make them feel safe, to feel loved. A child should not feel that s/he has to earn love and praise. It should be unconditional.
I am by no means a perfect parent so please don't think I am pointing fingers. I lose my patience with the best of them. I make sarcastic comments and see the hurt I have caused. But I try. I try to love on both of our boys equally. I try to discipline them equally. I try to encourage their strengths equally. All the while knowing that our boys are as different as night and day. Both are smart and strong and brave in their own ways. I want to start acknowledging that more.
Here's why. By the time the boys become teenagers, their mental foundation has basically been set. What they have heard over and over again is what becomes engrained in their mind. It can become their focal point. I want those things to be positive things. I want both of our boys to feel they can conquer the world because that's what they've learned from the adults in their lives. I want them to be strong (mentally as much or more than physically) to handle what life throws their way.
I am not the type of mom to think every child deserves a trophy. I think that society has made kids too soft with that mentality. But I do think that it's vital to teach while nurturing. That doesn't mean to be soft. It just means to love. To build up. To understand. To give them your best. Because they deserve nothing less. They are our future.

**Scroll down to see our Southern Winter wonderland.**

Winter Wonderland

I thought my friends would be what I'd miss most about moving away from NV. But, as much as I miss them, it's not the thing I miss the MOST. I miss the weather. I REALLY miss the mild Summers and snow filled Winters. I miss a layer of snow covering the trees, making everything look like a Winter Wonderland. I miss sitting on my overstuffed chair, with a cup of coffee, watching the snow come down. So I was beyond giddy when I heard that the weather report called for snow today. I was even more excited when Rob woke me up at 6:45 this morning to tell me that snow was falling. We bundled up and went outside to enjoy snowball fights and building snowmen. For just today (and maybe tomorrow morning?) I got what I miss the most....a Winter wonderland! Merry (early) Christmas to me!!