Looking back on 2011

I know the New Year is still 2 days away, but I have been thinking a lot about things I want to pursue in 2012.

2011 was a year full of change and challenge for our family. We struggled with our house being on the market, I got a job at The Limited that lasted for a week, we loathed our apartment life, struggled with lots of sickness and ear infections, bought and sold cars, moved to a house, said goodbye to our dear friends here, finally sold our home, etc...

We also enjoyed trips to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, PA, and KS, family outings to the zoo, and a great pool at our apartment complex.

I found my goal list from last year and was surprised at what I did and did not accomplish.


1)Spend more time in intercession. This is still on my list, but is something I have definitely thought of more
2)Faithfully implement a preschool program with Aidan I did do some preschool at home with Aidan and then we were privileged to enroll him in preschool this fall
3)Love my kids and serve them no matter how I feel Something I am still working on
4)Be a better spouse Again, something I still need to continually work on
5)Start a ministry for young mothers This is still a goal of mine, but has been more difficult than I had imagined
6)Potty train Aidan Definitely checked this one off
7)Visit the beach with the kids We went to the beach twice!
8)Get Nora to take a bottle! Never accomplished this
9)Read more Still something I want to do
10)Develop my sewing skills Little by little I have been learning new things
11)Blog more This was about the same
12) Exercise and eat healthy foods to get in pre-children shape There has definitely been and ebb and flow with this one.
13)Serve more Always need to do this
14)Take a road trip Driving to PA counts to me
15)Start a business Yes, did that, but now I just need to work on growing it
16)Spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with family! :) Christmas with family!
17)Play/sing with Seth; write songs together Didn't happen
18)Sleep through the night I did get this opportunity a couple of times, but we are still working on it being consistent.
19)Run a 5k Nope
20)Find a more permanent home for our family here in SC This was a big goal and we did find a home that feels more like home than our apartment!


Well, I have been working on my goals for 2012 for awhile and spent a lovely time with my husband discussing some of them over breakfast this morning.

Home for the Holidays

We left SC on Dec. 18th to fly home for Christmas.

I say "home" because, well, even though we live in SC, I feel very much like "home" is still in Kansas. I don't know if that will change one day, but having our family and connections here just keeps me from feeling all the way at home in our new life away.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend Christmas here because last year we could not.

We had a good trip. Long, but we made it without pulling out too many hairs. Nora was a typical 15 month old--wanting to get down and walk all over the plane instead of sitting.

We've been enjoying cold weather, warm drinks, playtime with cousins, and evenings relaxing in each other's company.

Can't wait until tomorrow morning...Christmas is sure fun with little ones.

Family Fun

Seth took the day off work yesterday. It was a lovely day of being together as a family. 

Aidan had his little Christmas program at preschool and we all went to that. Then played outside (the weather here has been insanely nice). Then naptime (which was only 1/2 successful in our house due to consumption of cookies and lemonade at school). Then we drove out to Chick-fil-a  in Five Points and then to Edventure Children's Museum for Family Night. Aidan has been asking at least 2-3 times a week to go back to the museum after we went the last time (5 months ago!). They both had a blast, especially Nora, who wasn't walking last time. 

Nora eating ketchup with a straw :)

Aidan's favorite place to eat!

He had the entire suit on and kept sliding
down the pole. He would have done this all night!

Nora "grocery shopping." She was so
 confused at first by all the fake food.

15 Months

Okay, little one, you are no longer a baby, but a busy toddler...where have these months gone?

You were sick for the entire month of November with a horrible ear infection. I thought you were never going to be the same again. It was a rough, rough month and probably the worst I've had with you. There were lots of sleepless nights, days of crying, Dr. visits, and yucky medicine.

But, we made it through somehow and we are starting to see that sunny side of you again. And, oh, how we have missed it!

You are still an awesome eater. You seem to prefer foods that are more diverse in taste. You scarf down dinners of sweet potato quesadillas, spaghetti, and soup like it's the best thing you've ever had. You are still not a big fan of veggies, but you will eat frozen peas because it feels good on your swollen gums. Your new favorite snack is popcorn. I was reluctant to give it to you at such a young age, but you pleaded and pleaded and have since had it several times.

You are starting to run fast, climb on things, and even try new things (like jumping). You still have yet to figure that last one out though. I can usually count on you to get up and down from the couch okay (something I could never trust Aidan with at this age). You are also good about actually sitting on chairs and not standing. If we find you standing, you sit down when told.

You are getting to be really good at following instructions. I am amazed at your ability to understand us, but you seem to be very attuned to what is going on around you.

One huge thing we have been working on with you is putting yourself to sleep...and weaning you from nursing. We haven't been 100% successful with either, but there is slow and steady progress towards these. You still wake in the night and need to be comforted sometimes, but most of the time you put yourself back to sleep. You are starting to drink more from your sippy cup and seem to be accepting of less nursing time, but you still ask for it often.

My favorite thing you did this month:
When I went to pick you up in the nursery at church, you saw me and smiled, but went and got your diaper bag out of the cubby, put it on your shoulder, and walked towards me. I love your little grown-upness.

You are a blessing and joy. You make us smile with all your little giggles and you love every one so much. You are so social and sweet and say "hi" whenever you see other kids. I love the sweetness of this age.

I love you!

Mama

My two little bakers!

We made gingerbread men this morning. It was fun rolling out the dough, getting flour everywhere, and decorating them with raisins and chocolate chips. Nora kept eating the raisins as we decorated, but she helped too! It is our Christmas tradition to make gingerbread men, so we got started a little early this year. We leave for Kansas in just 13 days, so I'm trying to get in some of our family traditions before we leave.

Holiday Parading!

We had a very busy weekend! On Saturday morning we went to a parade in downtown Columbia. It was so much fun even despite the fact that it was a little chilly. The kids loved the marching bands and floats and they had some great little performances too. It was about 2 hours long and the kids did great. They were intrigued the whole time and I had packed lunch so that kept them really busy too. I was super bummed that I brought my camera and then realized I had 2 dead batteries. 

Then, last night we went to another parade in West Columbia. This was a parade of lights and was a little bit shorter. The weather was actually quite nice despite my warm attire. I think it was low 50s and we ended being a little overdressed. The kids loved this one too, but Nora didn't sit as well for us. And, I got my camera batteries charged, even though it was a little dark for taking pictures.

I love this time of year!

Felt Christmas Tree

So I got this idea from Pinterest and thought it would be a fun way to let the littlest one in our family help decorate a tree. She actually really does like it and it was super easy to make. The only problem I have is that she keeps trying to pull the tree down. :)