January

Well, I think that I am deciding that I don't hate winter. It's not my favorite but it's not as awful as I have thought in the past. I have spent many days inside my home and had many moments to quietly reflect and plan. I have enjoyed being inside my warm home (that I love) with the people that I love best! We've had some good snuggly days. Leila is learning to knit today (she is home with pink eye). Asher is playing basketball and I couldn't be any more proud of his progress! He's awesome! Cal and Caroline are stinking hilarious and so much fun to listen to and watch. Life is getting easier every day! In case I haven't expressed it before, I am overwhelming blessed to only have to work two days a week. The rest of the time I get to be totally devoted to being mom and wife. I owe so much thanks to my hardworking husband for making this a possibility. I love my home and being a homemaker. I am trying to use these cold days to clean things up and out. I am trying to finish these things by nap time so we can enjoy playtime afterwards. Need to remember that these times are fleeting! Also, I finished my testimony! Yay! I still need to type it up, but it's completed. The new season inspired me to get a new do….bangs. I like them, except when I first wake up in the morning. Speaking of hair, Caroline got a trim at Cal's last appt. She also had her first blow out. She wasn't scheduled for a trim but she decided it was her time. She handed me her hair bow and marched over to Kara and said, "It's my turn now!". Who could refuse? ;) I had a fun girls night at Maggie's cabin this past weekend….super fun but the pipes were frozen so we didn't have water! Yikes! I came home early and Tyler and I enjoyed the rest of the weekend together. Also, I just got my new kitchen/computer chair (a gift from my sweet momma!). I love it! Happy Winter!

Winter….

I don't like winter. Tyler loves winter. Atleast one of us keeps the spirits up during this time of being trapped inside. Here are a few things that we have been doing thus far…

Dress up

A family game of Headbandz

A slumber party

An early birthday trip for Asher to see the OKC Thunder play the Boston Celtics. His two favorite teams. We went during the Polar Vortex and to say it was cold would be a major understatement. It was the coldest temps recorded in decades! Our washer fluid was frozen for the entire trip which meant pulling over several times to clean sand, snow, road yuck off of the windshield. We stayed in the same hotel that the Celtics were staying and arrived just in time to see them loading on the bus to head to the game. They were easy to spot….they looked like trees! Asher thought it was pretty neat. The kids were troopers for our walk to the arena and the game was great fun!

We've had movie time and potty time! A certain little girl made #2 on the potty yesterday! Woo Hoo!

The kids went to school one day and a few hours before we received an early arrival of an icing. It was quite the crazy day getting everyone home from work and school, but we made it. Thursday, school was out due to inclement weather. I had a chance to bust out my new Christmas boots and we were entertained by watching people slide all over our neighborhood in their cars. We made it to work late yesterday to finally get my car and grocery shop. Happy Winter, it's here!

Another lovely wreath by my Nana! Thank you!

Snowflakes

So different, so beautiful!

2014

I read over my New Years Eve post for 2013 and I can say that we did live in the present. We cancelled our trip to the beach for 2013 because the toddler phase seemed to say to do so! ;) We did take a spontaneous trip to San Antonio, Texas with parents. That trip was perfect! I can't imagine any trip would have been better. Bonus, I got to hang out with my best friend for a night. We had many fun memories and adventures! We saw elk for the first time! We rode roller coasters together! We didn't prepare nearly as much as I had hoped but we made a start. I didn't learn to knit, but I got knitting needles and yarn for Christmas. I also watched many youtube knitting instructional videos. It's a start. We took some Spanish lessons (in the car) on our trip this summer. It was VERY entertaining! It was a start! We found contentment in where we are in our journey in 2013. We also feel like some seeds were planted in our hearts in 2013. We were blessed! Highlights of 2013: Asher played basketball and soccer for the first time. Tyler coached both teams. Leila was a gingerbread girl in the Nutcracker. I ran a 5k. Tyler and Asher went dove hunting. Asher started his first phase of orthodontic treatment. Asher(2nd) and Leila(Kindergarten) started school together. Cal and Caroline are communicating very well and learning many new things daily. Cal received his first set of stitches. We took a trip to Kansas City and San Antonio. We added Marley to our family. We added a new sister in law and niece to our family. We went hiking for the first time in 9 years! We celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries! All of our kids sleep through the night!! So, what for 2014? I just kept thinking how blessed in health and family we have been this year. I pray that 2014 holds continued blessings of health for everyone and continued days with our families! I pray that we have continued employment opportunities, a home to enjoy, cars to carry us around safely, and food for our tables. We will continue to grow/learn in Him! We pray that we remain in the middle of His will. I keep coming back to love. In 2014, I hope that we love others (and each other) in such a big way that they see Him in us. LOVE NEVER FAILS! I do have a few goals for 2014 too: I will write my testimony this year. It's gonna happen. God will help me, I know it! I am going to spend many days having tea parties, playing trucks, building legos, reading books, playing dolls and dress up, building forts, cooking together, snuggling, riding bikes, having date nights, exploring the outdoors, and laughing until our bellies hurt! 2014 is the year of LOVE!

We spent part of New Years Eve covered in vomit! Poor little Cal was sick. Nana shared in on the fun while we were at the matinee movie. We thought he had gotten car sick when we dropped him off. We were wrong! Bless his heart! We did manage a little photo booth fun. We snuggled and watched the ball drop in New York City. Then, we went to bed. Happy New Year!

A side note: We gave Cal and Caroline their last bottles yesterday. That's right, no more bottles in our house! I realize that they are 2 and this should have happened a year ago! It's hard to totally move out of the baby phase! They have 2 goals for this year: No more bottle and potty time!