Happy New Year 2015!

For months and months and months, I've been planning blog posts in my head, and ended up doing something else. It bothers me because I don't want to have a blank period of time in this journal that Maelie will refer to as she ages. She is currently enjoying reading the older posts and I fear she will be disappointed to have missed out on a part of her life that I will not have blogged about. As of right now, my last post is July... I will however back-post a few events/pictures, just to make sure they aren't forgotten. My camera also needs to become my BFF again! :) I guess I started putting it down a bit after many many many pics of hands trying to block the camera. Maelie is at an age where she doesn't like me taking pictures most of the time, and when she does allow me, they need to be vetted by her. Ah, the joyful days of just snapping pics of every single moment!!

2014 was a good year. A lot of changes, a lot of growth (literally in height for Maelie!) My mind is always busy thinking, researching, analyzing, etc... constant change is a recurring theme in my head!

November and December were particularly hectic. My colleague Nicole and I wanted to raise funds selling Christmas cards again, so it seriously ate up most of November (sale was in November) and by then I was behind in everything else Christmassy... but I made it. It did make me reflect though... those hundreds of hours making cards to raise money for charities, it did not give me as much of a sense of generosity as I would have expected. It seems as if I had to sacrifice my home/family/etc. My home was a mess for most of November and December. I was behind in all of my gift giving. This is not what I want for my family, so I will have to rethink my priorities next year.

With the business of November and December, and the general fatigue that the holidays bring, I also did not send out Christmas cards! I enjoy sending out cards to family and friends. I decided that I would make it a New Year event instead! So I started working on those yesterday.

I am working on my goals for this upcoming year. We have a few things we need to work on as a family, and I would truly like to excel at the fine art of decluttering!! :) This has been an interest of mine for years but I never truly got anywhere. I am a compulsive person by nature, so unless I get compulsive in getting rid of stuff, it's not easy to declutter!

My main goal though, which is a priority, is to stay in contact with people. Last year, I had a goal of mailing 2 cards a month. I did it. Mainly because of birthdays and Christmas. This year, I would like to go with that again, except maybe add one card (or letter, or surprise) to anyone. Everyone loves receiving something that is not a bill!

Another goal is to take more pictures and make more memories. Not easy with an almost teenager in the house to take pictures! Unless it's a selfie of course!

If anyone is reading this, what are your goals this year? What changes are you hoping and praying for?

Family holiday visit

On Boxing day we packed up and went to visit family for a week. Sadly, I barely took any pictures! I've truly neglected taking pictures in the past while. I tend to depend on my phone, but the pictures don't turn out well. (note to self.. take more pics in 2015!!)

Here are a few pics! both from my phone and camera.... But first, let me take a selfie!

I brought cookie tins for family and a few extras... they disappeared really fast!

The weather was kinda strange, and one day, it was so warm that the snow became sticky again! They kids went out and made a snow family! Meet Frosty, Crystal and I forget the last one!

 

 

We spent time at the mall, and the kids all got in the photobooth! I took a pic on the outside screen. hehehe When I was little, we didn't get to see ourselves prior to the picture being taken!!

 

 

Maelie of course worked on manicures :) Brennan and Nathan love getting some color on their nails!

 

 

More beauty regimens! Of course Maelie had to take a selfie with Jo!

 

 

Lucas, the typical teen!! :) Roaming the house to find cell service!

I only got this horizontal picture of Nathan! He was on the bed watching tv :)

 

 

Maelie and her sweet poofy friend Meggie! Meggie loves when Maelie visits!

 

 

My dad and Lucie... Maelie is pretty much taller than Lucie now! It's so fun to have pictures to compare how much she grew!

 

We had a fun week away and were also happy to return home. The best trips are always like that. Happy to go, happy to come back. Not so happy to have to go back to work!