It is a new year. Once again, I'm not sure how we got here so fast. Some days, I'm not sure who these once so little and needy people running around my house are. They seem so big and independent. Now that we are fully entrenched in the 21st century, I see blogs everywhere. The ones that speak to me the most are usually posted by friends on Facebook. My first thought is always, "why didn't I write something like that?" After contemplating why my blog hasn't gone viral, I then started thinking about the year in review, and I came to this conclusion - it is hard to look back on the significance of certain moments until they are more than a year behind us. Take 1997. At the end of the year I would have told you that some big events included starting a new job at MCI, finally ending things with my college boyfriend, meeting some great new friends, and starting to date a coworker. I did not know in January of 1998 that 1997 was the year I met my husband (the MCI coworker I was dating). So when I asked my children about highlights from the 2013, they gave great answers, but who knows what the importance will be later in life. I guess we will have to wait to see. Here are some family events and highlights from the year. If you know my kids, you'll know who said what:
"Vacations, making the gymnastic team, having a 2nd grade teacher who gives out candy, 5th grade, Minecraft, yoga certification, playdates and sleepovers with Rose, camp, summer break, the pool, right now"
Here is my looking back list of things I accomplished (good and bad) this year:
We survived the start of middle school and the logistics of riding the bus to a temporary home for the elementary school. A year after the death of my boss, I started a new job (yikes!). We painted the living room (by we, I mean Rob). I exercised lots for the 1st part of the year, and not so much for the end. I ate kale. I had a mid-life crisis and started wearing make-up. I yelled too much. I walked all the time, often with my son. I started blogs in my head every few day, but almost never found the time to write them down. We shopped for living room furniture (we didn't buy any). I cried with my child and held his hand tight when he had to get an IV for dehydration. I gave things away. I recycled. I ate tomatoes from Rob's garden. I spent time with my grandmother. I bought skinny jeans (a sure sign that the trend is about to change.) Our family started attending the best church service (the gathering at 5:05 at Glenn). I rejoiced in the realization that we now have many family traditions for our not so little family. I stayed in my comfort zone. I celebrated with my children as they turned 7, 9, and 11. I did not celebrate turning 41. I had an old fashioned sleepover with my childhood girlfriends who are also my adult girlfriends. I read every day. I drank alot of coffee.
So there it is, a summary of our year. I hope to yell less and laugh more in 2014. I would love to take myself less seriously - my kids seem to have mastered that trick. I would like to take up yoga, maybe Charlotte will teach it to me. I want to embrace and enjoy the chaos of my children because they are growing up way too quickly. Of course, 2014 will include a few lattes. Happy New Year!
