My 2017 New Year's Resolutions

My 2017 New Year's Resolutions:

1. To Appear Like I Have My Sh*t Together

We'll see how long this one holds up, but you know those moms who appear to have their sh*t together?  Their clothes are all clean and wrinkle-free, they smell nice, their makeup looks great, their hair is cute and clean, they have a smile on their face, and they have one little purse or bag that has everything they need in it...no matter the number, age, gender, or mood of their children.  I'm not usually that mom.  I am dropping paci's, looking for Lambie, stuffing receipts back into my purse, and digging for hopefully one single penny for my daughter to put into the money slot at the checkout line.  I thought trying to have my sh*t together may be a little harder than just appearing like I do, so we'll start with that.

2. Fancy Up My Home 

I want to always update and decorate our home until we are happy everywhere we look, and I'm not to that point yet.  If I set goals, I'm more likely to get things done, rather than if I just generally decide to do something.  So, my first goal is to paint and decorate our Master Bathroom, and I'm really excited about it!

3. Thoroughly Embrace Motherhood

I've done a really great job so far with this.  As Farrah is getting older, her demands are changing, she hollars for me the moment I leave her side (she's the Stewie Griffin who hollars "Mama, Maaammma, Mom, Ma, Mama...), she knows exactly what she wants and needs it at that moment, i.e. play with the water in the sink, take the lid off the sippy cup so she can play with it, take off the baby doll's jammies, etc. etc. etc, I have to remember sometimes to get back into the mindset to stop worrying about the few dirty pots and pans that can wait to be washed and spend time with my daughter.

(Keane embracing fatherhood.  He swings her longer than he wants to swing her, she tosses her up more than he wants to toss her up, because she loves it and these are the moments that we'll miss the most.)

4. Master Anxiety

My goal is to stay on top of stress.  To not let it prevail.  If I begin to feel stressed because I really do want to wash the dishes in that moment, when the house keeps creating a mess of its own somehow, when my schedule seems to have me on the road more than at home or with my family, or when we are out of groceries and making a meal plan or a simple meal for that matter seems exhausting, I need to find a way to relax whether it is to take a hot bath, read a book, watch a movie, or have my own quiet time.

(perhaps some ice cream will do)

5. Increase my Prayer Life (Possibly Build a War Room)

I read the book and watched the movie War Room recently.  I have also been encouraged by my sister a lot to really improve my prayer life, and I have a lot of improvements that can be made from the mere bedtime prayers I try to pray each day.

6. Tap Into My Inner Child

I never want to lose my sense of wonder.  I am vowing to do some things that bring out the child-like laughter and spirit in me.  I want to go on an adventure, have a movie night in a fort, jump on a trampoline for hours, camp out on the trampoline, go for a bike ride, or perhaps go roller skating!

(a cute picture, just because)

7. Have At Least 6 Dates with My Husband

Once every other month, at the very least, is not too much to ask.  We really enjoy our time together.

8. Be Prepared for Holidays in Advance

It seems like each year, I am always telling myself that next year I want to be more prepared for the holidays, specifically Christmas and birthdays.  I can't handle last minute planning or shopping, and I want to have gifts purchased a month or more in advance.

9. Improve Work Attire

Simple, yet important.  I specifically need new work coats/jackets and hope that a little at a time, I can improve my collection of professional work attire.

10. Focus on the Happy

Sometimes life feels stressful, and I want to remember to focus on the good.  We oftentimes have to share holidays and weeks and weekends with the big kids going between our home and their moms, and we drive and arrive to their schooling, sports, or social events without them and/or leave without them, or we miss out on important things they aren't able to tell us right away or aren't sure how to, but I want to embrace what we do have: the times that we do have with them is special and we always make efforts to do fun things, have projects, work hard, earn money, make memories, play games, and have good quality family time.  I want to focus on those things.

 

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We celebrated my family's Christmas on Saturday (New Year's Eve).  I had a great time giving and receiving gifts (I got a letterboard, dustbuster, baked goods and a sleeping-bag style blanket made by my momma, a gift card, socks, and a toothbrush from my parents and brother, and a cocker spaniel ornament with Tanner's name and years engraved, a paid haircut and color, Glennon Doyle Melton's second book, and a makeup eraser from my sister and her family), enjoying a delicious and beautiful brunch hosted by my momma, and then some of us played the Escape Room board game (Kimberly gave to Kollin, and my parents gave to Kimberly!).  Then we ventured to our home to bring in the new year.  My brother spent the holiday with his girlfriend, Brooke, but then he joined us afterwards since we stayed up playing Cards Against Humanity until about 3:00am!  We shot off a potato gun after midnight, and we all hugged and clinked our glasses, and happily welcomed 2017.  Farrah even was awake to bring in the new year; however, McCoy feel asleep about 45 minutes before midnight.