2014 - Simplify

I laughing right now - all of it is directed at me. I do this EVERY year, write a post about my goals and plans for the coming year. Only to look back on it and either realize that I was being completely unrealistic, OR am a complete failure. That is the thing about lists or goals - you either pass or fail - because we all know that if I did accomplish a few of them but not ALL of them it is still failure. In my eyes anyways.

Why do I want to live like that? I HAVE NO IDEA!!!! But goals are essential for success - I'm just not that good at attaining them.  And so this year's goal is to simplify. Simplify everything. I will continue to do what is necessary for the needs of my family but my lists will get shorter, my expectations of myself will get shorter and I will choose to not feel defeated if I fail in my attempts.

Looking back, 2013 was a great year! A year of changes, a year of contentment for us. Many fond memories were made, and many good things happened. I am extremely grateful for the blessings.

2014 is a mystery to us. An adventure waiting to begin - and I get to begin this new adventure tomorrow. So many gifts are waiting for us in the new year. I get to welcome a new niece and am so excited to kiss her sweet face! I will participate in a work and witness trip to Africa in February and look forward to seeing what God has planned for the lives of his people. Rhett will start kindergarten, Addie will start 4th grade. We are planning on selling our house and either building or buying in the South Nampa area. I hope to return to work and teach kids. The horizon looks promising and I'm so excited to be who I am and where I am.

Bring it 2014 - I am ready for the adventure!

Rhett's favorites 2013

Favorite Phrase or words: “Ahh, nuts”

Favorite Food: Cheese Pizza

Favorite snack: apple slices, fruit snacks

Favorite candy: lollipops

Favorite movie: Frozen

Favorite TV Show: Scooby Doo, Garfield

Favorite book: Dragons Love Tacos

Favorite game: Skylanders Swapforce

Favorite toy: domino rally

Daily Activity:  Rhett is in preschool two days a week for the first part of the day. When he’s at home he likes to watch movies, play the Wii, play with his legos or play on the kindle

Favorite Restaurant: Chapalas

Favorite activity with mom: Color

Favorite activity with dad: Play Skylanders

Favorite activity with Addie: Play house

Chores: keeping his room clean, helping fold laundry, help with Solomon

Friends: Chade, Sawyer, Owen, Eliott, Libby, Emma, Claire, Truett, Zack, Ledger, Kennedy, Kate, Aaron

Nicknames: Bruiser Boy, Rhettster, Rhett Man, Bubbies

Birthday: We were in Disneyworld for his birthday this year. We enjoyed a fun vacation and then when we came home he wanted a skylanders birthday party. I made the cake and we had the family over to celebrate.

Favorite Place: Disneyworld

Favorite thing to do outside: Play in the snow, Jump on the trampoline, swing

Favorite color: blue

Favorite Christmas present: Skylanders Swapforce

Favorite Advent activity: indoor Nerf war

Other moments:

*

* Rhett did better in swimming lessons this year. He was a bit more brave and graduated to a bigger class.

* We spent a lot of time at the cabin. He had fun throwing stuff in the river, trying to shoot the BB gun, playing in the mud and in the river, venturing down to beaver beach and roasting marshmellows around the campfire.

* He began preschool this year. He goes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-12pm. He goes to Messiah Lutheran preschool and he seems to enjoy it. Libby and Emma are in his class so he has a few friends. He is a fast learner and can already write his name, knows all the letters and their sounds and colors in the lines better than most. We just need to work on his “classroom” behavior skills and he will be all ready for kindergarten.

* He enjoyed our family trip to Disneyworld and was brave enough to go on most rides. His favorite was Space Mountain. We conned him into going on Tower of Terror and from then on he was scared of most everything – whoops! He LOVED Disneyworld and was able to fight Darth Vader as a Jedi.

* He recited the Christmas story again this Christmas at the Christmas Eve Service and did sooo good! He said every word, without messing up and his voice was crisp and clear. We were so proud of him.

* Rhett is such a sweet kid! He is hardly ever still, unless he is really tired, sick or playing on the kindle. He is a very active boy and we were excited to learn that he could play Upwards basketball this year. I think he’ll have a lot of fun! He does NOT like to hurt people’s feelings and is always giving me hugs and telling me he loves me. He is NOT shy and will talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. His dad and I don’t know where he gets that from – it’s not us! We are both introverts. He is mostly compliant and hardly ever argues or gets angry. We are so fortunate for that! I’m so happy to be able to be his mom. I look forward to the many fun moments we will have in 2014!!!

 

Addie's favorites 2013

Favorite Phrase or words: "literally", “Rhett, STOOOOOP”

Favorite Food: broccoli cheese soup

Favorite snack: orange creamsicles

Favorite candy: kit kat

Favorite movie: Frozen

Favorite TV Show: Mighty Men, Kickin It

Favorite book: Whatever After series

Favorite game: Clue

Favorite toy: Barbies

Daily Activity: She’s in 3^rd grade and loving it. When she isn’t in school she is drawing, reading, doing crafty things, watching movies or playing dress up with her American Girl or Barbies.

Mommy and Daddy love it when you: clean your room without being asked, are kind to your brother, giggle, draw us pictures

Favorite Restaurant: Olive Garden

Favorite activity with mom: crafts

Favorite activity with dad: basketball

Favorite activity with Rhett: play games

Chores: keeping her room clean, taking care of Solomon, helping with the dishes

Friends: Kenna, Brenna, Mauryn, Josie, Kinzy, Cinthia, Irma, Ramie, Ava, Charlize, Melina, Kate, Mia, Keylee, Hannah, Kendall, Tiffany, Emma

Nicknames: Addie Gracie, Addie Grace Face, Punkin Pants, Sunshine Girl, drama

Birthday: She decided to have a snowman party. She had 12 friends over and they made sock snowman, ate snowman cupcakes and drank melted snowman (water). They had a lot of fun!

Favorite Place: The mall

Favorite thing to do outside: play in the snow, jump on the trampoline

Favorite color: neon yellow, neon pink

Favorite Christmas present: Princess lalaloopsy doll

Favorite Advent activity: Getting a Christmas tree and decorating it

Prefers to wear: She wears pretty much anything, but prefers skinny jeans, cute shirts and her crocheted beanie.

 

Other moments:

* played her second year in Upwards basketball and really enjoyed it. She was the tallest on her team and made a lot of baskets.

* She also had swimming lessons again and did very well. Was not afraid to jump off at all – and is learning proper swimming technique.

* We discovered that she has a God given talent for shooting things. While we were at the cabin she was the best shot with a BB gun. Shooting many pop cans off of the target. Who knew?

* We enjoyed cabin trips

* I was able to go with her to Genesis camp this year. It was a circus theme.

* She began 3^rd grade this year – Her teacher is Ms. Perry and she really enjoys her. She still gets into trouble from not focusing but she gets good grades and we are very proud of her.

* We took a trip to Disneyworld with Jesse, Jeni and the kids and it was a highlight of our year. It was so much fun to have the kids at this age. The weather was a lot cooler and the crowds were a bit lighter but we’ve come to realize that Disney is always busy. We had a lot of fun!

* She was a hippie rock star for Halloween with a bunch of her friends.

* She really likes to take her headphones and listen to her music on my ipone or ipod.

* She enjoys reading and sometimes I will find her somewhere in the house reading.

* She is such a ray of sunshine. She can be a bit dramatic and unappreciative at times but for the most part she likes to please others. She loves her brother and gets him to do pretty much whatever she wants – she is very manipulative. They argue quite often but their love for each other is intense and it makes this mama’s heart glad. She LOVES to give gifts and will make them constantly. Much to my surprise she was actually asking for Barbie’s, and dolls this Christmas and I happily obliged.  Christmas was fun this year with her!! I’m so proud to be her mom – and look forward to the many fun moments that we will get together in 2014.