Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 A year in review

2014 A year in review

10th annual year in review.

What did you do in 2014 that you've never done before?
Had my 5th child. While I have had babies, I have never had 5. Ha!

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
My only resolution was not to have any, and I kept that. I am going to stick with that one. Same as last year... and the year before... and the year before that... and the year before that... and the year before that. Gosh, I am good, I have kept this every year! Feels good not to fail.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Me... and lots of other friends. Gosh, it seemed at least one of four were having babies. 

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, I lost a dear friend from church, Connie Threlkeld. She was also a mother of 5. 

What countries did you visit?
Ha, this is becoming a funny sad one. The one year I do make a out of country trip, that's the year that I fear might be because something bad happened. 

What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
Play therapy certification. But I am not in a big rush about it. It's not something I have to have. 

What date from 2014 will remain etched in your memory and why?
January 5th, the day Ridlee was born. She was so small, but the birth went so perfect and fast. 



What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Ridlee. Nothing else compares.

What was your biggest failure?
Officially saying goodbye to this question. I debated last year. I just don't like it. I really don't think there were any failures. Maybe set backs, but not failures. 

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, fairly healthy year. Even got the superior rating on my life insurance. 

What was the best thing you bought?
Ridlee... ha! No seriously kids aren't cheap.

Where did most of your money go?
Kids. Decaf coffees and clothes. 

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ridlee!

What scripture is a theme of 2014?
Oldie but goodie. Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to hurt you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

Compared to this time last year are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Happier
b. Thinner or fatter? Much Thinner. About 50+ pounds worth. 
c. Richer or poorer? About the same. Fine by me. 

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Always spend more time with my family. Same every year and year before, but I will say, we spent a good amount of time together. I like the balance I have with my work and home and I am very grateful to have it. Reading. See below. 

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet and phone. 

How did you spend Christmas?
At home, which is what I prefer. Christmas day here and then the families on both sides came up this past Sunday to celebrate both Christmas and Ridlee's upcoming birthday. 

Did you fall in love in 2014?
Technically before her arrival but it was full force when we saw her. Lil' Miss Ridlee. 

What was your favorite TV show?
Got into a few more this year. Still like Supernatural, but also Once Upon a Time and American Horror Story. 

What was the best book you read?
I don't think I read any really good books. Not many novels. Read a lot of kid books thanks to Heston. Maybe I should add that to my do more of this year... read good books. 

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2014?
No huge developments here sadly. 

What did you want and get?
Ridlee. 

What did you want and not get?
Play therapy certification but patience getting it has made it less pressing. 

What was your favorite film this year?
Only got to go see a couple of movies this year. The last was the last Hunger Games installment. The other was Lucy. It's been a sad year for movie watching. 

What did you do on your birthday?
I believe we got dinner to go and stayed home. Steven did get me a cake. We had also just celebrated our 15th Anniversary! I guess that was another big thing this year. 


What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Does moving to Hawaii away from the cold count? Otherwise I was good. I wish Connie hadn't left us. But God has his plans and I feel guilty for questioning it. 

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Somewhat trendy and cute. I bought more clothes than usual when I lost all the baby weight and more. 

What kept you sane?
Still the same. Alone time, family time, sleep, massages, church, and working out. Same every year. I did start getting more massages now that I have a great massage therapist/friend. I need to get more hair appointments though. 

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I am gaining more respect for Angelina Jolie. 

What political issue stirred you the most?
I try not to get too stirred by much. Doesn't mean there wasn't much going on. 

Who did you miss?
My family and grandpa that I don't get to see much in Oklahoma. And friends there too. 

Who was the best new person you met?
Ridlee! It really wasn't much of a contest this year. 

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
I am working on more self control when I get inpatient. While this goes hand in hand with patience it's how I handle it that can sometimes be frustrating. I am learning to just take a step back and realize when I have no control that there is nothing I can do to give me that control. 

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Going to keep the same from last year and the year before.
Peace Train by Cat Stevens (although someday's it feels more like Crazy Train by Ozzy would be more appropriate)
Now I've been happy lately, thinking about good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come
And this year I am adding a new question...
What is something shocking that happened this year?
Can you believe gas is below $2 a gallon? Around her it's as low as $1.86. Never thought I would see that again.
Until next year!
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Monday, December 29, 2014

Family Christmas and birthday fun!

This last Sunday both of Steven and I's family came up to celebrate Christmas and Ridlee's birthday. It was actually sunny for once and Steven got to cook out. I spent the whole day before baking and making her smash cake and other stuff. The smash cake failed so I decorated a regular round cake. When it came down to eating it she saw the cupcakes and started lunging for them. So needless to say she got a cupcake instead. 
Some highlights...



Her peacock cake!







His new slide Nonnie got. He loves it.


So does Ridlee.


Yes, he passed out like this.


Checking out her birthday presents.






Ridlee eating her cupcake.

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Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas 2014

Each Christmas is special. This one is particularly special as it is Ridlee's first Christmas, despite her almost being a year old. That and the fact she is "quite possibly" my last child. Sigh. 

Here are some highlights from today and yesterday. 

This one was actually from Sunday, right before church. She made it to church in the dress and then had to take it off because she couldn't walk in it. 



Worn out from the festivities.




My new Mother's ring, Steven got me. Apparently they are hard to get with 5 stones.


Her first gift on Christmas morning. 





It was a beautiful sunny day. Honesty the sunny Christmas' are my favorite. 



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Friday, December 19, 2014

Gage is going to be published!

His art teacher emailed me the other day congratulating him for being chosen to be published in a art book! She had him entered and I didn't even know about it. So proud of him!

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Officially crossed over...

From crawling to walking more.
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Friday, December 05, 2014

Ridlee is 11 months old!

No really! Seriously how is she 11 months already? How is she a month away from being a year? Please slow down!






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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

11 years! Happy birthday Kieran!

11 years ago I became a mother to a daughter. Some of those years were trying. She had quite the temper at 2 and 3. Luckily she grew out of that. Her stubborn streak is the same, but more aligned to using it for good. She is probably the most creative and expressive child I have ever met. Her writing ability by far exceeds mine. While I may have an imagination, I was never good at getting it in writing. Luckily she can and could be an author now, to which I am contemplating. 
Today she wanted to go shopping for her birthday. Already at that stage where clothes are what she wants. Then she wanted to go eat at Wendy's. She had her dad make her a sopapilla cheesecake for her cake and she even ate a piece for breakfast. Her one present to unwrap was her yearly birthday doll. This is her unwrapping it saying she knew what it was all along. 

Happy 11th Birthday Kieran! Love you!
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Tuesday, December 02, 2014

The problem solver!

She got that lid on there like a boss!
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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Vintage birthday parties and Christmas trees!

Why? Because I want to put it all in one post. 

We had a great vacation week. Well, I say we, I didn't get the full week off. We did the Thanksgiving thing here and then Friday headed out to Oklahoma to do the girls (Kieran and Zoe) party on Saturday. The vintage pie theme went over well and they both said they want pie every year. We can do that!







We finally got our tree up. It's our first real tree. After last year's horrible fake tree, I said I wanted a real tree this year. Heston and Kieran helped decorate it with me. I love it!




So far Ridlee doesn't care that it is even there. 


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