Back to Blogging in 2023

 I'M BACK!!!

It's been quite a few years since I've blogged. 5 years to be exact. Life just got too busy with kids, school and everything else in between. Scott has missed me blogging and to be honest, I wish there were times that I did blog. I did write a few random blog posts, that I didn't publish, every now and then. I wrote a blog post when a kid had a birthday and I wrote about things that happened in the year 2020. That was more of a summarized post instead of detailed and I think that's the year the blog would've been interesting. The past is in the past though and I've committed to blogging again. Just once a week to start and see how it goes from there. 

I would like this first post to be about my goals and resolutions for the year. That way it can be something that I can look back on and see what I was able to accomplish. In past years, if we felt prompted, we would give our year a name. Last year's name was The Year of Change and while it had many positive changes, there were some that we wish didn't happen. We haven't done a family one, but I have a personal one and it will be The Year of Relationships. Intentional relationships.

Relationship with myself: I want to be kinder in how I see myself. I want to be brave in making changes that I want to happen (losing weight, fixing my teeth, etc.). I want to give myself that self-care time and make it intentional (not just staring at a screen, but reading, sewing, crafting, etc.). I want some of the goals that I put out there to be about me and what I want. I want to be more true to myself.

Relationship with family: I want a closer bond with my children. I want to be someone that they feel good to be with and hang out with (that being with mom isn't forced). I want to do more activities as a family whether in or out of the home. I want to be more intentional with my time with Scott and to make sure that I carve out that one on one time with him (more date nights, playing a game or talking after the kids go to bed instead of watching tv).

Relationship with friends: I want to focus and strengthen on those relationships that I feel are worthy of that. I'm done putting in effort to get a close relationship with somebody who just doesn't have those same feelings for me. I have a goal to hang out with 2 friends (old room-mates) once a month and hang with another friend twice a month. I think these play dates and girls nights will help in my bonding with these girls and I'm okay being just friendly and helpful to the others.

As I write, it seems that the main theme is to push out any clutter or noise that could prevent me from strengthening a relationship. I truly hope this can help make a difference in my happiness.

I think my next post will be about my projects for the year. I'm happy to be blogging again. :)

New Years Eve

We had a fun New Years Eve party at our house with family. We had a great spread of food and it was fun night of eating (way too much) and playing games until midnight. The kids didn't stay up until then and luckily didn't wake up when all the fireworks went off. Scott also put out a puzzle that people enjoyed putting together. It was a fun way to end off a pretty good year. Some highlights of 2017 include:

• Going to the Midway Ice Castles
• Going to the zoo a lot
• Our fence blowing down and getting a new fence and roof out of it
• Spending a weekend at Bear Lake
• Kylie completing her first year of preschool
• Scott being done with BYU (this isn't a happy highlight, but it is something that changed the rest of the year)
• Lots and lots of swimming during the summer
• Taking Scott to see Manchester United play Real Salt Lake
• Buying a swing set for $30
• Getting a nasty note from someone about our yard and getting great support
• Attending the Omer family reunion
• Finally getting professional family pictures taken
• Kylie starting tumbling
• Jordan turning 2 and Kylie turning 4
• Hosting Thanksgiving at our house for the second time
• Having a truly fabulous Christmas

My mom bought a raclette where you cook meat and veggies on top and melt cheese on the bottom and then pour the melted cheese on top of your food.

We had a chocolate fountain, meatballs, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, caramel popcorn, chips and dip and cookies.

We played Scum and Spoons.

Christmas Day

Christmas day was such a fun day! The kids woke up around 7am and we opened up stockings in our room. Scott gave me a wonderful gift of going to see my childhood boy band of the Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas! He always knows how to pull off a great Christmas surprise ( which is funny considering he really isn't good at keeping secrets at all). After stockings, we ate a breakfast of orange bread and egg nog.  Then we all lined up and headed downstairs to open presents! David and Kristene did a fun thing of making Santa footprints around the tree. The kids were in awe of seeing the footprints. Everyone looked at stockings from grandma and grandpa and then we dove into the presents. We were absolutely spoiled by family and were so grateful for all we were given. We had lunch, opened presents from grandpa Jack and grandmama Roberta and then left around 2pm to spend the rest of Christmas with grandma Becky. We showed up, had dinner and then opened presents. The kids were again spoiled by family. It was a wonderful Christmas full of family, fun and amazing gifts.

Jordan was so excited about the light sabers. It was hard to keep those secret since they're so big.

The traditional Christmas orange.

Love his look over Spider-man.

Me finding out about the concert.

Kylie trying some egg nog. It took some coercing to get her to try it.

It was a Christmas miracle that we got snow!

Jordan was satisfied playing with his toys in the middle of the floor.

He also went out to play with toys when he tired of opening presents.

This was Kylie's gift for finally being potty trained (yes, it's for real this time).

Christmas Eve

We spent Saturday, the 23rd at Scott's parents house and the kids made gingerbread houses and then we played minute to win it games in the evening. David and Kristene came into town the night before and it was fun to spend Christmas with them. We decided to spend the night since we were headed to church with everyone at 9 in the morning.

Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year and we went to Scott's parents church. I actually played my violin in a musical number with Dean, Nadine and a ward member. After church, we had lunch and then played games and did crafts until dinner. At night, we did a Christmas program with songs and Dean telling the story of Christ's birth. The kids were so excited about Santa coming that it actually took them a long time to finally go to sleep. We started to get a little frustrated, but then remembered that they were kids just excited about Christmas. It was fun to think back to when Scott and I were kids and how excited we got about Christmas and our traditions we had growing up.

Painting salt dough ornaments.

Playing a game of BINGO.

Grandpa telling the Christmas story.