My Goals for 2013
1)
Read my Jesus Calling Devotional daily - This started out well, but sorta fizzled out. I did read it a bunch when we took the girls to CA and it helped me keep sane. We also read it a bit during the home selling process.
2)
Lose half of my baby weight gain (i.e. 30 pounds) - This started out strong. I lost 20 lbs in the first quarter. Even with slow down I was on track to complete this goal until we sold our house and moved. I stalled out at 25 lbs down and actually gained 5 back during the moving / settling in / Holiday process.
3)
Organize my house - With selling the house this actually pretty much got accomplished. Unfortunately some of the quick fix organizing resulted in tossing things in a box to deal with later, so there is that...
4)
Read at least 4 books this year - This definitely did not happen. I may have started 4 books (not even sure about that), but I didn't finish a single one.
5)
Do more activities like crafts and stuff with my girls - Accomplished and still working on it...
Honestly, I'm really dissapointed that I didn't achieve #2 and I've spent a good bit of head-space beating myself up about it, but I'm done with that. Pointless and destructive.
#1 was at least somewhat fruitful. I definitely reach for the Word when stressed which is good. Now to just stay in it all the time...
#4 I just shrug my shoulders at and know that someday...
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Christmas 2013
So we are one of those families that has about four Christmases. So come along with us on our Christmas Spree!
Christmas Eve Eve - Extended Family
Unfortunately I have no pictures from this evening. I just didn't even think about it. It was a lot of fun. Olivia toddled about a bit, got held and fawned over by almost everyone, and enjoyed opening her gifts. Naomi had a blast running around with everyone, hanging out with her cousins, opening gifts and stealing a car. Okay, so it wasn't a real car. She hijacked an RC car that one of her cousins got. She loved it so much!
Christmas Eve - Dinner with Emily, Alex, Terah and Nick
We were privileged to get to host Christmas Eve dinner. We cooked up a beautiful tenderloin with a mushroom wine sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and spicy cheese bread. Olivia was feeling really clingy so we didn't manage to get it served at the time that we had planned on, but it was delicious nevertheless. I did think to take some pics this time.
Christmas Morning
We've begun the tradition of reserving Christmas morning for just the four of us. We stay in our PJs (except Olivia because her diaper leaked over her matching Christmas PJs) and we enjoyed a leisurely time opening and playing with gifts and eating breakfast. Comically, Naomi zipped right past her Santa gifts and went right over to a gift that she'd gotten the night before and apparently had been dreaming of all night.
Christmas Dinner
My mom and stepdad came over and we had a lovely dinner and opened gifts. They also helped assemble one of the gifts that Santa apparently had some difficulty delivering assembled (a Cozy Coupe). Good times and pics below...
Our last Christmas was delayed since my brother Derek was sick, but we had a great time a week later and it was kinda nice to get to hold on to Christmas a bit longer. Here are some pics...
Oh and we had one final little mini-Christmas opening the girls' gifts from their Grandpa Ken and Grandma Gloria (they live MI - UPers). (Please ignore the state of Naomi's hair - it was a very laid back kinda day).
It was a great Christmas!
Christmas Eve Eve - Extended Family
Unfortunately I have no pictures from this evening. I just didn't even think about it. It was a lot of fun. Olivia toddled about a bit, got held and fawned over by almost everyone, and enjoyed opening her gifts. Naomi had a blast running around with everyone, hanging out with her cousins, opening gifts and stealing a car. Okay, so it wasn't a real car. She hijacked an RC car that one of her cousins got. She loved it so much!
Christmas Eve - Dinner with Emily, Alex, Terah and Nick
We were privileged to get to host Christmas Eve dinner. We cooked up a beautiful tenderloin with a mushroom wine sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and spicy cheese bread. Olivia was feeling really clingy so we didn't manage to get it served at the time that we had planned on, but it was delicious nevertheless. I did think to take some pics this time.
Nick's AT-AT Imitation
He was so excited about his new toy!
The girls loved playing with their new stuff.
Christmas Morning
We've begun the tradition of reserving Christmas morning for just the four of us. We stay in our PJs (except Olivia because her diaper leaked over her matching Christmas PJs) and we enjoyed a leisurely time opening and playing with gifts and eating breakfast. Comically, Naomi zipped right past her Santa gifts and went right over to a gift that she'd gotten the night before and apparently had been dreaming of all night.
Christmas Dinner
My mom and stepdad came over and we had a lovely dinner and opened gifts. They also helped assemble one of the gifts that Santa apparently had some difficulty delivering assembled (a Cozy Coupe). Good times and pics below...
Our last Christmas was delayed since my brother Derek was sick, but we had a great time a week later and it was kinda nice to get to hold on to Christmas a bit longer. Here are some pics...
Oh and we had one final little mini-Christmas opening the girls' gifts from their Grandpa Ken and Grandma Gloria (they live MI - UPers). (Please ignore the state of Naomi's hair - it was a very laid back kinda day).
It was a great Christmas!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Lots of Updates to the Blog
I've done a lot of blog catch-up.
So, in case you've missed it, here are links to all the retro posts, just click on the title of each post:
Olivia's Birthday Invitation
Naomi's First Haircut
Fall Festival 2013
College Football Season
Pumpkin Pickin' Playdate
Halloween 2013
Selling Our House
New House
Another Fun Day at the Zoo
Bye Bye Pacis
I'm hoping to get the rest of the way caught up soon. :) I love having this has our family's little digital scrapbook (and printing out a hard copy book each year), so I'm determined to get back on it.
So, in case you've missed it, here are links to all the retro posts, just click on the title of each post:
Olivia's Birthday Invitation
Naomi's First Haircut
Fall Festival 2013
College Football Season
Pumpkin Pickin' Playdate
Halloween 2013
Selling Our House
New House
Another Fun Day at the Zoo
Bye Bye Pacis
I'm hoping to get the rest of the way caught up soon. :) I love having this has our family's little digital scrapbook (and printing out a hard copy book each year), so I'm determined to get back on it.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Bye Bye Pacis!
We are now a pacifier free house! Yippee!
Let me start with an ode to Paci:
Paci, oh how I've loved you. You were so very useful for calming my sweet little ones (at least as long as you weren't missing). You saved my sanity on multiple occassions. I'm so glad you were invented and I don't care who wants to judge me for using you. You were a godsend. But those days are over and so we must bid you a fond farewell.
Yes, I'm silly.
We had long ago restricted Naomi's paci usage to just the crib and had recently done the same for Olivia. Naomi had been quite attached to hers though I new she no longer "needed" it and I could tell that Olivia was beginning to develop an attachment as well. It was time to get rid of it all around. I just wanted to rip off the band aid with both kids at once and be done with it once and for all. Plus, I suspected that if I just took Naomi's away, she would just go retrieve Olivia's and it would just cause drama.
So here is a breakdown of how it went for each kid:
Naomi
Age - about 2.75 years old
Temperament - A little on the spirited side
Method - The Paci Fairy - We decorated up a box to put the pacis in and place outside her room at night. We had talked about the Paci fairy coming to take her pacis to babies in need and leaving her a treat in return. Once she could explain it back to us, we figured it was a go.
Results - Night one, no issues. Morning one, yay for her Paci Fairy loot! Night two, she asked for her pacis, we reminded her where they went, she went to check Olivia's bed to snag one of hers (proving to me that I know my girl pretty well, she's resourceful), and she had some slight bedtime issues. Night three, she asked and we reminded her but really went pretty well. At this point, it's all good.
Olivia
Age - about 15 months
Temperament - Tends to be more laid back
Method - Mostly just cold turkey - We did the paci fairy with her as well just to be consistent and so Naomi could see that Olivia was giving hers up too. Olivia was too young to really get it though so really it was just a cold turkey and deal with it kind of thing.
Results - Several nights and naps of crying for several minutes before giving up and going to sleep. Basically, it just plain sucked for several days, but she was over it by the end of the week.
So, there you have it. All in all, it wasn't too bad and I'm glad to have it done.
If you're planning to get rid of Paci's soon too, then good luck to you!
Oh, and PS, another idea for older toddlers (like Naomi's age) that I really liked involves taking the pacis to the store and using them to "buy" a cool toy or big kid item like a tricycle, bicycle or scooter type of thing. They pick out their thing and give the box of pacis to the sales associate. I heard of this idea after we'd already gone down the paci fairy road, but I think I like it slightly better and is especially good for those parents who steer clear of all things "not real" like Santa, tooth fairy, etc (clearly, I'm not one of those parents, but I have several friends who prefer that and I get it and respect it).
Let me start with an ode to Paci:
Paci, oh how I've loved you. You were so very useful for calming my sweet little ones (at least as long as you weren't missing). You saved my sanity on multiple occassions. I'm so glad you were invented and I don't care who wants to judge me for using you. You were a godsend. But those days are over and so we must bid you a fond farewell.
Yes, I'm silly.
We had long ago restricted Naomi's paci usage to just the crib and had recently done the same for Olivia. Naomi had been quite attached to hers though I new she no longer "needed" it and I could tell that Olivia was beginning to develop an attachment as well. It was time to get rid of it all around. I just wanted to rip off the band aid with both kids at once and be done with it once and for all. Plus, I suspected that if I just took Naomi's away, she would just go retrieve Olivia's and it would just cause drama.
So here is a breakdown of how it went for each kid:
Naomi
Age - about 2.75 years old
Temperament - A little on the spirited side
Method - The Paci Fairy - We decorated up a box to put the pacis in and place outside her room at night. We had talked about the Paci fairy coming to take her pacis to babies in need and leaving her a treat in return. Once she could explain it back to us, we figured it was a go.
Results - Night one, no issues. Morning one, yay for her Paci Fairy loot! Night two, she asked for her pacis, we reminded her where they went, she went to check Olivia's bed to snag one of hers (proving to me that I know my girl pretty well, she's resourceful), and she had some slight bedtime issues. Night three, she asked and we reminded her but really went pretty well. At this point, it's all good.
Olivia
Age - about 15 months
Temperament - Tends to be more laid back
Method - Mostly just cold turkey - We did the paci fairy with her as well just to be consistent and so Naomi could see that Olivia was giving hers up too. Olivia was too young to really get it though so really it was just a cold turkey and deal with it kind of thing.
Results - Several nights and naps of crying for several minutes before giving up and going to sleep. Basically, it just plain sucked for several days, but she was over it by the end of the week.
So, there you have it. All in all, it wasn't too bad and I'm glad to have it done.
If you're planning to get rid of Paci's soon too, then good luck to you!
Oh, and PS, another idea for older toddlers (like Naomi's age) that I really liked involves taking the pacis to the store and using them to "buy" a cool toy or big kid item like a tricycle, bicycle or scooter type of thing. They pick out their thing and give the box of pacis to the sales associate. I heard of this idea after we'd already gone down the paci fairy road, but I think I like it slightly better and is especially good for those parents who steer clear of all things "not real" like Santa, tooth fairy, etc (clearly, I'm not one of those parents, but I have several friends who prefer that and I get it and respect it).
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