A New Year.

2012.

Time is flying by. This is my fourth year blogging. I love looking back, seeing how the kids have grown, how I have progressed.

There are lots I hope to accomplish in the future. Some of those things include:

• Work on myself - I want to exercise more. I am pretty comfortable in my skin. But I need the emotional benefits of exercise. And the time by myself is pretty nice, too. I also want to (and need to) figure out some things that I am still working on from 2011. I hate to bring it in to the new year, but alot of it is still on my head. And since I am working on myself, it will be part of my personal work.



• Making time for myself. I always thought that if I took time here and there for ME, then I was not a good mother. And I have figured out that an hour here and there makes me even better.



• Read more to my kids. I am so tired in the evenings, all the time, really, that I don't read alot out loud. Face it, when you talk to kids all day, the last thing you want to do at home is read to your children.



• Be a better wife. I hope that I become more organized and better at this working full time/cleaning the house/cooking dinner thing. I am just not that good at planning meals and balancing everything. Dinner is important to Dave. I am not that impressed with it. Also, he likes to watch that goofy moonshine making show and ice road truckers. Maybe I can stay awake to watch it with him.

These things, by no means, are Resolutions. These are things just for me that I hope to improve on. Here we go.

Goodbye, 2011.

So, this year is finally at a close. I am so happy it is over and I am ready for new beginnings.

In 2011, we had lots of snow days and lots of days out of school.

• David had shoulder surgery in January. We were all so happy for him. I started my student teaching and had a wonderful time. I got a new room added on to the house and new furniture!



• In February, Eli turned fifteen and we went to Gatlinburg for CYC with seven kids!



• In March, the girls left and my family fell apart. This alone set the tone for the rest of the year, for both myself and the little kids. We had to find a new normal and we still struggle to understand why or how. This was the first "loss" that the kids had ever faced and is probably the closest thing to death (without it being the actual thing) that they will ever experience.



• We spent April walking in a daze. I think that Easter was in April.



• In May, I graduated from college and turned thirty six. My family gave me a great party and I was surrounded by those who love me.



• In June, Tripp turned six and I got a summer job teaching SPED and found out that I loved it!



• July was our long awaited week at the beach. Then, I got hired to teach 3rd grade.



• In August, my new job started. Eli went on to 10th grade. Emma started 2nd and Tripper went to kindergarten.



• In September, Emma turned eight years old. We were all busy with adjusting to school and my full time job. I got my first "big girl" paycheck!



• In October, we had a wonderful fall break and enjoyed a great night of Hayride Trick or Treating with a great group of friends.



• November brought my new sweet niece Adaline Fowler, a special celebration for my wonderful father in law, and our first Thanksgiving at home. Black Friday Shopping was a bust.



• December gave us a thirty eight year old Daddy! Ha! We also got two weeks off of school for Christmas break.

So I guess that we could say that 2011 was a life changing year. I am hoping and praying that 2012 will bring more answers, blessings, healing, and love. I am thankful for my family, the security of my home, the knowledge that I have people who love me, a wonderful job, great co-workers, and a chance to make a difference.

In Between.

After a wonderful Christmas, we are now ready for a great New Years celebration.

What does that leave us with? The week in between.

It is time to take down decorations, shopping is over. All that is left is a mess of toys that don't have a home just yet. We know that there is another celebration time coming, we are just waiting it out.

I really dislike this week. It is sad for me, it makes me anxious. It always has. There is so much to do. So this week, we are staying at home, getting things ready because we are going to The Wilderness in the Smokies for New Years Eve! How exciting is that! We have never been before and the kids are super excited about swimming and playing in the water.

As for Christmas, the kids were happy. We have Nurf guns and bullets floating around. We have American Girl dolls, and clothes everywhere. Eli is wearing his new North Face jacket all over the house. Dave and I got new chairs for our dining room table. And new Asics :)

So now, lets make it through this in-between week. I am starting my teaching list for next week. I am ready to get back in the swing of things.