Happy New Year!

Farewell to 2013, an amazing year all-in-all, and welcome 2014 with a 365-page  book that has alot of blank pages.

How will I fill those pages?  To begin, I plan to have a routine and I plan to limit myself.  Now, that sounds like I am going to have a lot of blank pages left a year from now.

I have to disagree, as I plan to limit the activities that take over my life.  When I found myself this year with no time to even read a book, I decided it was time to make some major changes.  I stepped back from several organizations that I have given time to, quit my second job and promised myself I would make time for myself.  It helped that I have some health issues that pushed me to these decisions and slowly I am on the path to recovery.

I was then able to take time to meet friends for coffee, write a novella and get back into crocheting.  Those are the pages of my 2014 book.  Friends, me and family (not necessarily in that order--family always comes first).

We just finished with the Christmas crazy.  We traveled to both grammas this year, spending time with family at each stop.  It was great fun, as I got to spend time with my brother and his family and enjoy the wonder of a 3-year-old's Christmas excitement.  She was so excited about each and every present, didn't matter if it was the Minnie Mouse jammies we got her or her Minnie Mouse toys (or any of the other toys she got from Grandma--I'm just biased about what we got her).  The excitement and enjoyment of unwrapping gifts (I personally drive my family crazy by carefully opening my gifts and not destroying the wrapping paper.) is something I completely enjoy and this is the only time I wrap nearly every gift. 

Then home for a family Christmas celebration and time with my dad, who was "stuck" in Hawaii and then Seattle and missed us while we were back home.  We started new traditions this year, touring the Christmas lights in the valley and then church on Christmas eve and then a quiet day at home Christmas day.  We had finger foods and the boss smoked a brisket and some pork in his new smoker.  We had gifts opened quickly and the kids seemed happy (although one gift for each of the girls didn't arrive until the next week).

The day after Christmas we headed north and celebrated Christmas with the boss's family.  I think it nearly drove my kids crazy to have to wait from Thursday until Saturday to open gifts, as both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law had to work and she works days and he the afternoon shift.  Having to watch the gifts under the tree had them wondering and begging.  They again loved their gifts and we had a great time with Tink's crayon maker and Dizzy's bracelet maker.

Now we're trying to get back into normal and in a few days will begin to re-form the routine that was fractured early in November.  The girls are back in practice, as the first gymnastics meets are coming very soon, Bean is itching to get back to school and work some more hours at his job. I'm just ready to find a schedule, make time to do this blog regularly and decide on a new crochet project (once I finish another headband and flower).  I also have sewing projects but I will be happy if I can stay on top of scout vests/sashes as they get patches.  It helps that I do a few other girls' vests as well, since it forces me to not procrastinate and lose patches.  I need to find a "proper" wool blanket for Bean so I can start sewing his patches on from 4 years of Boy Scouting.  That'll be a project and a half!

Here's wishing you and yours a great 2014, blog topics will be my kids, our new food project (more food, less food product) and how I find ways to reduce stress.  I hope to have more fun and laughter in my posts as well, 3 kids tend to provide  me humor most of the time.