My Annual Recap of the Year!

2015 Recap

Happy New Year!

1.     What did you do in 2015 that you've never done before?

(In no particular order...)

~Taught Ombudsman Basic Training several times
~Put down a cat that only I had owned
~Became a Mom to 3 kids
~Turned 30
~Was named the National Education & Patriotism Chairman for NWCA

2. Did you keep your New Years Resolutions & will you make any this year?

For 2015, my goals were:

1.     Blog more often! I really sucked at this until this fall, so I'll say it was accomplished, though late in the year.

2.     Use my iPhone less when my kids are around! FAILED miserably!

3.     Be open to the changes that will be occurring in our life in 2015 (this is a life changing year for us. I will divulge more as it happens.) I didn't do it with the most grace at times, but I did accomplish this one!

2016's goals are:

1. Use the iPhone/iPad less when my kids are around. I am keeping this one to try again.
2. Potty train Julia
3. Continue the blogging, because I've found it makes me happy.
4. Yell less.
5. Slow down & don't rush all the time.
6. Push past discomfort.
7. Don't put things off w/o good reason.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Well I gave birth and I am pretty darn close to myself. I also had some friends give birth too.

4. Did anyone close to you pass away?

My sweet Gracie cat passed away in July. Several other friends lost pets this year as well...it was a hard year for pets it seems. 

5. What countries did you visit?

No outside countries again this year. Avery and I have decided we're going to Canada in 2016 though.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you didn't have in 2015?

Last year I said a house we own. It unfortunately didn't happen, so I am saying a house again. We'd really like to own our own place.

7. What date from 2015 will be etched in your mind & why?

I've got several this year after having none last year.
January 5, 2015- Finding out I was pregnant with Benjamin
July 10, 2015- Gracie passing away
August 25, 2015- Benjamin was born
October 19- Avery started his civilian job. I was so unbelievably relieved that day!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Not sure I had one. Obviously adding another child for sure....also weathering through some very significant life changes.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't think I had anything I feel was really a failure.

10. Did you suffer injury or illness? 

Extremely uncontrolled asthma during my pregnancy and an emergency c-section. 

11.  What was the best thing you bought?

Another Erin Condren Life Planner to start 2016 off right!

12.  Whose behavior is worthy of celebration?

Last year I said the Pope and again I give him the honors! Fantastic world leader who is not just talking the talk, but actually taking action.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?

I can't just narrow it down to one this year. So here's my list:

1. Politicians not willing to work together for our greater good.
2. ISIS...for obvious reasons.
3. Hillary Clinton for her email scandal. Completely inappropriate to violate OPSEC that way.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent/moving/changing houses

15. What did you get really, really, excited about? 

Benjamin, new Ombudsman & new Navy spouses getting it right, and planners!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2015?

"Forever and Ever, Amen" Randy Travis
"Hope in Front of Me" Danny Gokey
"Dangerous (feat. Sam Martin)" David Guetta
"Your Love Never Fails" Newsboys

17. Compared to 2014 were you ___________ in 2015

a. Happier or sadder? I hate to say this, but because of stress/hormones etc I was often sadder.

b. Thinner or fatter?  Fatter technically b/c of pregnancy & still working to get that weight off.

c. Richer or poorer?   Poorer

18. What do you wish you would've done more of? 

Blog sooner in the year. I didn't blog about my pregnancy really at all. 

19. What do you wish you would've done less of? 

Yelling

20. How did you spend Christmas? 

I took my babies to Mass on Christmas Eve, then we ate pizza at home as a family. On Christmas Day, we woke up and opened gifts. Then drove down to Portland.

21. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you this past year?

I can't think of anything. 

22.  Did you fall in love in 2015?

I stayed in love with my husband and fell in love with our littlest boy.

23.  What was your favorite restaurant?  

 Oak Table (I only went once, but I loved it! Can you tell I don't get out much? Haha!)

24. What was your favorite TV program?

I didn't have one. We cancelled tv service in May. 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate in 2015?

 Not that I can recall.

26. What was the best book that you read?

1. "All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
2. "The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship" by Jeffrey Zaslow

27.  What was your greatest musical discovery?

I didn't have one.

28.  What did you want & get in 2015? 

Things to turn out alright with all the life changes we had and they did. 

29. What did you want & not get in 2015? 

A house we own, but it's okay. We'll do it in 2016

30. What was your favorite movie of 2015?

Did I see any movies this year?? You all know I never see movies. I saw "Woman in Gold" at the theatre. It was interesting. 

31. What did you do for your birthday & how old did you turn?

I turned 30.  I spent time with my husband, newborn baby, the big kids and my Mom at home. It was a really fantastic day as I recall.

32. What's one thing that would've made 2015 more satisfying? 

Probably nothing! It really ended up being a good year.

33. How would you describe your fashion in 2015? 

I'll go with preppy again. I didn't change my style.

34.  What kept you sane? 

God, my friends, my Mom, doula and a fantastic team of doctors during my pregnancy.

35. What celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?  

I loved Bindi Irwin...what a neat gal! Russell Wilson is up there too.

36. What political issue fired you up the most? 

I'd rather not say to avoid any upset with friends. I don't really get political. I keep it very private.

37. Who did you miss? 

Friends that moved thanks to the military,

38. Who was the best new person you met?  

I can only think of people I'd already met, but got closer to. 

39.  Tell us a lesson 2015 taught you:

It taught me patience above all else.
I also thought we weren't prepared to get out of the Navy and I was so pleasantly surprised to see that we did things the right way, had our ducks all in a row etc. Our experience/transition was much much easier because we were ready.

Catching Up! December delivers!

Sorry, sorry, sorry! We traveled on Christmas day and I just couldn't get back here until now! How was your Christmas? Ours was very, very nice!!
Christmas Eve we did our usual go to Mass thing (where I didn't get a picture this year...😟) and home to eat pizza. It was awesome! We got up leisurely the next morning, I made cinnamon rolls and we ate breakfast in between opening presents. Then we cleaned up the house, packed up the car and headed to my Mom's in Portland, Oregon. Where we then opened more presents and had a lovely ham dinner! (Have I mentioned I LOVE a good honey baked ham at the holidays? I asked my Mom and she delivered. Thanks Mom!)

Day 25: Morning! 

Gifts galore! Benjamin loved the mayhem!

Day 26: Grateful

I'm grateful for God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

Day 27: Nightime 

I am ready for bed, my kids are all asleep in their beds and the house is quiet!

Day 28: Words

A craft project I did several months ago. It's maps of all the places we've lived together and where we each grew up spliced together on canvas. I adore this one.

Day 29: Sky View

I don't have a picture for this one. It's grey winter in WA. The sky view from my house is not pretty.

Day 30: Your Winter Wonderland 

It snowed on Sunday. Our first of the winter and possibly only of the winter here. Of course I took no pictures, oops!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!

Day 24: Favorite Part of Christmas Eve

I love Mass at our church. This year we are all set with plans to meet Benjamin's Godparents (and all of our kiddos adoptive Grandparents) and sit together. Avery will drop us at the door and we'll go in.

They aren't very cooperative with pictures at Mass. We'll give it another go this year.

Then we come home, eat pizza, put cookies out for Santa and get ready for bed.

It's only noon here as I write this post and I know the kids are very excited already. The Mail Carrier dropped off a box and they were so thrilled to get one on Christmas Eve!

All About Me: Christmas Edition!

Image found here!

So I told my Planner Buddy Pamela to do this holiday survey that I found on Skinny Meg and then I didn't do it when I said I would and now she's done it so I have to do it. Whew...how'd you like that sentence?!? Good thing no one scores/grades my blog!

Have you started your Christmas shopping? Yes, it's all done, wrapped and stashed in my craft room under a sheet.

When do you put up your tree? Usually the first week in December. I wasn't motivated to do the tree this year so I believe I stalled into week 2 of the month,

Are you a Black Friday shopper? YES Ma'am! I love it! I am not insane like some of the people on the news, but I do go and shop. I find it fun...it's not for the deals, it's for the fun of being with loved ones. This year since I was sick so I scaled back and didn't really enjoy it honestly.

Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? I'm going to be honest here and say I hate traveling at Christmas. I do when it's necessary, but I don't do it very positively. (Sorry Mom!) To answer the question: I have traveled at Christmas and I will be traveling this year. 

What is your funniest Christmas memory? Does the obnoxious trip home from St. Louis to Hawaii in 2009 count?? Oh wait...that wasn't funny, it was a damn nightmare. Okay..funny you say.....I can't narrow that down to just one, but my funniest memories at Christmas were when I was in my early teens and my much younger cousins would sometimes fly into Chicago from Portland. I loved playing with them. There's a picture of me getting a super cool stereo for Christmas and my cousin Ethan is holding up a Pikachu bath toy I'd gotten him that he was excited about. I love this for a few reasons, but mainly I love that he photobombed me with a simple gift that I got him. 

What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time? White Christmas. There's no contest!

Do you do your own Christmas baking, what's your favorite treat? Hahaha!!! Umm...that'd be a big, fat N O! Which is sad because my Mom and my Oma always did cookies.

Fake or Real Tree? I grew up with real, but then when I got older my Mom got a fake tree and then we lived in Hawaii and there was no way I was dragging one of those bug laden trees into my house. (Disclaimer: I don't know for sure if the real trees shipped onto the island had bugs. I just assumed.) So yes we've got a fake tree.

What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done? Mom of 3 under age 4 and so far I haven't panicked ever during Christmas. In fact the kiddos asked me what we're doing tomorrow and I said I had no idea b/c everything is done.

Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve? No, but last year I did put their kitchen together on Christmas Eve...that was not much fun. This year I was more on the ball or rather they got smaller gifts from Santa.

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas? Opening presents. I love seeing the kiddos faces.

What Christmas craft do you like the best? This year I seemed to not like any of them, because Benjamin was not the most cooperative dude which made doing his hand print ornament & his footprint ornament pretty difficult! 

Christmas music? LOVE it!

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Not a big egg nog fan. I like hot chocolate though.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I didn't really have a plan for this, but last year I started not wrapping the Santa gifts and think I'll continue that. 

Colored lights on the tree/house or white? I don't have a preference.

Do you hang mistletoe? Nope!

What is your favorite holiday dish? Cookies (not made by me obviously...hahaha!!!)

Favorite holiday memory as a child? I don't have one that I can distinctly think of....is that terrible? 

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I never did until a family at church did so my Mom let me do it, likely to silence the child complaints. I haven't let me kids do it yet. Last year I did the Christmas pajamas for them, but they weren't all that into it. This year St. Nick brought them the pajamas so they could enjoy them all month. 

How to you decorate your Christmas tree? Quickly! This year I had Julia's help and that was just pure hilarity! 

Snow? Love it? Dread it? Love it! I learned to drive in it and just think it's fun. That said people in WA make it a bit stressful since they aren't good at driving in it.

Can you ice skate? I haven't in YEARS! 

Do you remember your favorite gift? I've got 3 gifts that I remember as my favorite. One was when I was a kid and I got my barbie camper. I LOVED that toy! Another was my big stereo system. And last year getting that Erin Condren planner. I don't know what it is about that planner, but I haven't been that excited about a Christmas gift in ages.  Another one I just thought of is baby Benjamin...I was pregnant with him last Christmas and didn't know it. He is my gift though. God knew I needed that baby boy. 

What's the most important thing about the holidays to you? Being with family. My Mom has never missed a Christmas with me and I am beyond grateful! I am also one of the few military spouses in the world whose husband has never been deployed on Christmas. He's missed more anniversaries than I can count, but Christmas he's always been here. I don't forget how lucky I am for that.
Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Let's be honest, everyone loves receiving something. But truly I love to see people's faces when they open a gift from me and they are excited by it. I am dying for the kiddos to see what they got this year. As the kids get older, it's more & more fun for me. This year they (Matthew & Julia) both really understand.

Scarves and cookies

Drum roll please....it's DAY 23! The theme is scarf. So I've gotta be honest here. I like buying scarves, but then I rarely wear them. Obviously growing up in the Midwest, it was cold & snowy in the winter, so I wore them. Then I never wore them in Hawaii. Now that we're in WA, I don't wear them that often either. BUT back when we first arrived I just KNEW I'd wear scarves again. So on Black Friday 2012, I saw a fleece houndstooth scarf in the Target ad and I HAD to have it. It's a lovely scarf that normally sits nicely rolled up in my coat closet.

I unrolled it just for you!

Today the kiddos and I spent time decorating sugar cookie Christmas trees. I cheated, b/c baking is not really my thing, and bought a cute cookie kit from the Commissary last night. It was perfect as it included cookies, 2 colors of frosting and sprinkles. Easy done!

I am so excited for Christmas. I'm dying for the kids to open their gifts already.

Peace on Earth & Pizza!

I had my photo for yesterday uploaded and then I don't know what happened. Oh wait I know...I tried to go to Hallmark the week of Christmas and got stuck in the horrendous traffic! 

Day 21: Peace

This is a Christmas card I am giving to a sweet little old lady who attends our church. She's been gone for several weeks b/c she broke her pelvis. We've missed her and can't wait to give this card to her on Christmas Eve.

Day 22, today: Tradition....

On Christmas Eve our tradition is Mass and then we get Take 'N" Bake pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner. Probably not the most exciting thing, but with kids and needing to get them to bed it works. 

Tree Topper: Star of Wonder

I had a great day! How was your day? I went to Mass, saw most of my favorite fellow Catholics and Benjamin escorted me to a Christmas party. 

Day 20: Tree Topper! Growing up we always had a star as a tree topper, so imagine my upset when I first got married and couldn't find a star tree topper in Hawaii. I made do with an angel until finally finding our star here in Washington after Christmas in 2012.

Please forgive the atrocious picture. The star is leaning on the tree and refuses to stay fixed.