Making 2014 count

Making 2014 count

A new year signifies new beginnings, closing doors and opening new ones, and as always, achieving new goals. This year the word I choose to enhance my goals is strength. I want to strengthen my relationships; with my husband, family, and friends. I want to strengthen my knowledge in the work place by seeking more knowledge and start studying and pass my next certification. And of course strengthen my faith.  I want more physical strength by being more active.  

Is it funny that in order to strength relationships I need to do less? Rather than coming up extravagant activities or plans, I'd rather make it a point to plan a simple ones like a picnic and chit chat. I want to go on afternoon walks with my husband, no phones, no iPads, no tv, just us (and our babe in the stroller). 

I will start studying for my certification and hopefully set a test date in the next couple of months. With each day of studying my knowledge will strengthen. I will consistently go to bible study and hopefully attend more Sunday services and in turn gain strength in His word. 

The squeak of my wannabe jogger stroller will be ignored and I will go for walks  and get outside more.  I constantly feel like I can start my day without a shower, make up and regular clothes. I need to get over that and be fine with staying in exercise clothes all day. Hopefully i will gain physical strength from these outdoor activities.

2013 Review

 2013

January: We ran in the new year by going to sleep early and got an SUV.

February: We sent out Valentines. Went on a road trip to Mammoth. And I (along with others) threw one of best friends a baby shower and no, I did not make those cake pops.

 March: We celebrated St. Patty's Day and Easter. I got to cuddle with my friends new baby. Tucker turned 30. 

April: We celebrated my brother's 30th. Went to an Angels game. Went to the beach. And had some family time.  

 

 May: Celebrated my first mothers day. Went to Arizona and Easton went on his first boat ride. Took Easton to the pool and the beach. 

June: Easton went to Disneyland. We went to a wedding. My little sister got engaged. I turned 27 and we went on a Duffy Boat cruise in Newport Harbor. 

July: My little sister turned 25, we visited her and went to a farmers market. Easton started walking. Went to an old town 4th of July parade. We went on Vacation to Idaho and Easton had his first night in a hotel. 

August: Flew to New England to visit family. My baby turned 1. My cousin came to visit and we went to the San Diego Zoo. We finished Easton's nautical bathroom. We went to a rodeo. 

 September: We celebrated Labor Day poolside. Easton got his first haircut. We went to Arizona and spread Tucker's mom's ashes and had a memorial. Easton rode a horse. 

October: Easton and I went to Massachusetts for a girls weekend. We went to a pumpkin patch with friends. We went on a haunted hay ride and played in fall leaves. We also dressed up as a scarecrow family for Halloween. 

November: We took photos for our Christmas cards. Celebrated Thanksgiving with family. Went to a Christmas tree lighting. 

December: Decorated the house for Christmas, toddler style. Had our 5th annual Christmas party with a hot chocolate bar. Made ornaments and celebrated all month long. 

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve our family did our traditional appetizer and desserts for dinner, amazing as always! It was great to spend time with family and exchange some gifts before the big day! 

Easton spent some time watching Mickey, with his snowman cup in his new "pirate cave". Doesn't get much better than this for our little guy!

The gifts for our family exchange and my parents!

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 Having a red door really pays off this time of year...doesn't it?

My sister and my sil enjoying a holiday cocktail! They were delicious!

Our Very Own Merry Little Christmas

Merry Little Christmas

He woke up from his nap and came down to a living room set up for him

Our Christmas Post is before our Christmas Eve celebration because that is the way it all went down. Since our work schedules didn't really allow us to have our little family Christmas on its own day, we did it before Christmas Eve celebrations began. It was magical. Easton couldn't have played the part any better. He loved each and every gift we got him. He squealed, clapped, and ran around. It was great! 

The gifts were wrapped and his play house carefully put together

 As seen in the pictures below he was pretty excited and he kept saying "Ohh". He might not know what Christmas is all about but I think he got the feeling when he started opening his gifts!

After playing in his little house he opened his alligator! He ran around the house with it, as seen below!

He got a John Deere remote control tractor for toddlers. Can you just feel his excitement!!

I think he and his Dada will enjoy this toy for sure! After he opened all his gifts we packed up and headed to my parents for our traditional Christmas Eve!