2013.

My very last pictures from 2012:

 At a wedding on Saturday night. 

 Tea party afternoon on the last day of the year, complete with spring dresses. 

This guy turned 8 months on the 28th, but I snapped this one yesterday. 

NYE. We put the kiddos to bed early and hung out at home with a few friends over. 

2012 was such an exciting year for us---we moved, had a baby {boy}, and went on our first big family vacation. It was wonderful,  but I'm excited for this New Year, for a slower pace, and to just relish in the every day.

I do like to set goals for myself for the New Year. Sure, I'd like to be more organized, tone up my body, eat healthier, save more money. But ultimately, none of that matters in the end to me, my true desire is grow in my relationship with my Maker. To love Him well and His people. To make my goal more concrete, I'm starting to read She Reads Truth, an online daily devotion for women. I'm also going to start journaling while listening to the sermons at church--I tend to absorb more when I write stuff down and can revisit it. I'm also reading The Story, it's the Bible as one continuing story--this is not to replace the Bible or my daily Bible reading, but to just help me further understand it. Lastly, I want to read the Bible more in front of my children. I want them to see Christ through me. It helps me feel accountable if I share these things.

On a related note, I've heard the best news for the entire year. While eating lunch today, Audrey looks at me and says out of the blue "I believe in Jesus because I'm going to heaven. He is in my heart." I talked to her more about that and what it means. She's only 4, but she loves Jesus. I'm so excited to watch her blossom, to learn and grow. On Sunday, while driving home from church she said "Jesus is with me always. Even when you are not with me or daddy isn't with me, Jesus always is." She inspires me and challenges me and humbles me. Each of my children do. I'm so thankful I get to experience my children loving and learning about Jesus.

it's a new year.

We were able to slip away for the night on New Year's Eve with some of our closest friends. We have hung out every NYE for the last four years. Now that's pretty awesome, especially considering we all have kids. I slipped on my sparkly top and heels and even hit the dance floor. You can't stop this 21 week belly from busting a move. I've been known to break it down on the dance floor even at 7 months pregnant.

{Side note: I went to get a trim last week and ended up getting about 4-5 inches cut off. I have super healthy hair now, but I would be lying if I said I didn't miss my long hair.]

I can't believe it's January. And it's 2012. No seriously, I sound so cliche, but really. This is the year our baby boy will be born and hopefully we sell and find a home that we will be in for a very very long time.

Do you do New Year's Resolutions? It seems nowadays everyone likes to call them goals. Whichever way you want to call it, I like to always refresh at the beginning of the year and reflect back on things I would like do more or less of. I just looked over my goals from last year; looks like I need to revisit them throughout the year, some I think I accomplished others I definitely did not. This year I have a couple of goals in mind--one of the main things I would like to do is be more purposeful. More purposeful with my kids, my husband, my family, and friends. To spread myself a bit for someone else. Send that card for no reason. Deliver a meal to a friend in need. Leave cookies on a doorstep. Play with my kids. Like really play. Put down my phone and play. Sounds silly, but I get so distracted with technology. A quick second here and there and it adds up. Another goal of mine is to be more savvy with our money. I used to be really good with being on a "Dave Ramsey" budget--using cash for everything. But I have definitely slipped. Mainly with online purchasing. I get so many great deal-sites delivered to my inbox everyday and trust me, it is so tempting. Time to get back on a budget. I would love to be completely debt-free (besides a house payment). We aren't far from it (silly student loan), so I know we can do it.

And my top goal: to eat a dessert from every local restaurant in in my town. Which pretty much goes against everyone elses goal to get fit. What can I say, I like to go against the flow.

So, tell me what are you looking forward to this year? Have you set any goals?

goals.

I kept going back and forth about writing a post about my goals for 2011. I think mostly because then I am somewhat accountable, and one of my biggest faults is that I'm scared of failure. [Just like with my Etsy shop I just opened.] But who am I to tell my children to dream big, if I don't.

So, here are some of my goals or thoughts that have been traveling through my head in the last couple of days...

I want to get better at photography. Hopefully take a class and really get to know my camera. I would LOVE to learn how to use Lightroom. [Does anyone know of an online class I could take?]

Start crafting more. [Gah, I hate that word, crafting.] Which may entail setting up a little area for me that is inspiring. Because right now all my art stuff is stuck in a closest in Naomi's room. And of course when I think of creating something is when she is sleeping and I can't go in there.

Embrace being a child of God. I want to really dig into the Word and know Him. I'm tired of surfacing over things with my relationship with Him.

One of the biggest things I want to do is to complain less and worry less. But be grateful more.

So, those are it. My goals, or whatever you want to call them. Oh wait, I almost forgot about one more. I'm joining the bandwagon and I'm going to say it, I want to lose the baby weight. Which is going to be challenging because I love food. Especially sweets. In fact, a Ghirardelli wrapper is sitting right next to me. [Boy, is that chocolate good.] I also have this problem that if I eat a salad for lunch I reward myself with a coke later on. Which basically means they cancel each other out and I get no where. Also? I'm obsessed with McDonald's fountain Coke's. [If there was an addiction class for McDonald's Cokes, I would join.]

Now here is where you tell me you are also obsessed with McD's Cokes or cupcakes or Jelly Bellies and share some of your goals for 2011. Mmmmkay.
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Why did I mention Jelly Bellies? Now I want some.

First Photo.

12:19 a.m. First Photo of 2010
(my husband and I are on the far left, btw- you can click on the photo to see it larger, if you dare)

To ring in the New Year we spent a lovely evening playing lots of games and drinking margaritas with some of our closest friends. We laughed and laughed. It felt good. We haven't done something like that in a long time. Audrey was asleep by 8 and her Gamma was at our home with her.

I can't say it enough, we are so blessed. 

Happy New Year's to you!

My No-New-Year's-Resolution-Resolution.

It's only appropriate that I reflect on the past year, right? And think about all the wonderful things I plan on doing in the coming year, right? Because you know I have a list going in my head. Exercise more. Or at least exercise, ahem. Eat better. Or at least don't eat two desserts a day, just one. Stay on budget. Or at least don't hit up Goodwill more than once a week. Spend less time on the computer. Or at least spend a shorter amount of time wasting my precious me time searching design blogs [Although it's really not wasting now, is it? I am being inspired, and that's what matters, right?] Do more cooking. Or at least try a new meal recipe once a week.

And the list could go on an on. But, when it comes down to it. I won't keep to it. Let's just be honest. January and February may be fabulous in keeping to my goals. Then March hits and I will still be depressed because of the cold weather that should be spring and I will go back to my old ways.

But there is one thing that I plan on doing and can do. All year. I'm not even going to call it my New Year's resolution. Because it shouldn't be. It should begin today. Right now.

I want to love deeper.

It's funny how when you get older and you realize how important relationships are. [Oh, and trust me, I feel old today. My 14 year old sister insisted that I do not take her into the bowling alley today. You can just drop me off. You don't have to go in. Really. You can stay in the car. Then when I walked inside with her anyway, she kept asking me to leave. Whatever happened to me being the cool, older sister? Now I have the role of the embarrassing mom. I even wore my hip fur vest and bangs today. Oh wait, maybe that's what embarrassed her. Oops.]

So here's to loving deeper and building better relationships. Forgiving. Trusting. Asking for forgiveness. Talking. Listening. Hugging. Loving. To my family, my friends, and even the stranger on the street.