Recap and Resolutions

Here are my resolutions from last year, and here's how they panned out.

In 2014, I would like to...

- Serve God.  - God has placed a lot on my heart this past year and I have grown a lot in my desire to serve Him and care for others around me.

- Encourage and support Ryan in his Ironman training  - Well I am thrilled that I got to cheer him on during the Ironman, but the training season turned out a little different than expected.  With a reconstructive ankle surgery in April, we were sure his Ironman dreams were over.  The four months of recovery ended up being some much-cherished family time, and he had a phenomenal recovery. His surgeon gave him the go-ahead only a few short weeks before the half ironman.  He wasn't able to be as prepared as he would've liked, but being able to cheer for him through the half and full ironman only 4 and 5 months post-surgery was an experience I'll never forget.  I was SO proud of Him, and I actually look forward to him doing another one in a few years!

-  Finish the Parker Prep Alphabet - We finished year one or Parker Prep.  I ended up taking a part-time Reading Intervention position for the last four months of the school year, which made it a little tough to continue Parker Prep like I would've wanted.  Taking that position really made me realize that even though a Polar Vortex put a damper on being a stay at home mom, it was still the best =)  

- Work out 2-3 times/week.  -. - This goes in spurts.  Right now I'm hooked on doing High Intensity Interval Training workouts at home.  They're only 7-10 minutes, and the kids usually end up jumping around and climbing on my back during it, but it fits with our schedule, and I'm usually sore when I'm done.

- Save $$ - This is a little personal for a blog, but I'm happy with our progress =)

- Continue to share Usana and teach others about health and nutrition. - This could be a whole other post in itself.  Ryan and I went to the USANA national convention in August and it really just re-iterated the drive we have teach the importance of nutrition!  I've met so many awesome people, grown a lot, learned a lot, and helped a lot of people get back on the right track!

- Be a great friend and maintain the great friendships I have. - I am so blessed with an amazing group of friends, and I was able to make a lot more friends in Wheaton this summer.  Yay!

Not bad!

For 2015...

- Be used by God
- Go to the city (Chicago) more often
- Go to bed earlier, and learn to appreciate mornings
- Read a variety of personal development, faith-based, parenting, and marriage books
- Save $$
- Keep impacting lives with USANA
- Continue working through possibly starting a University Model School in the Fall of 2016
- Try new things - maybe Yoga, cycling, swimming - something other than running

Those could all have a long explanation written along with them, but given that it's already January 13, I think I'll stick with the short version. =)

Here we go!

Christmas With Family

On the morning of Christmas Eve, we had the kids open their presents from us before we headed out to my parents' house.  (We opted to take more video than pictures).

Parker loves this book, Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck.

He's been shaving in the morning with Ryan, so now he has his own set!

Adley did a pretty good job opening her own presents this year.  She got some nesting blocks.

They each opened some kitchen accessories, and then we pulled the blanket off of their new kitchen!

Christmas is SO much fun as parent =)  Adley got to work right away.  So cute.

Parker made some pizza.

After opening presents and eating breakfast, we drove out to my parents' to join my family for Christmas Eve.  We talked, played games and ping-pong, and then went to church.  After church we came home and opened presents.  My mom made Adley some super cute oven pits and hot pads, and Parker got a remote control tractor.  He was ecstatic!  

The next morning we went to Ryan's parents' house.  The kids got some great new farm toys,  and Adley got a pink Carhart!  So cute!  Parker also got a Lego Firetruck that he was thrilled about, and Adley got a shopping cart that holds a baby =) Lucky ducks!

The kids enjoyed some of Great Grandma Hachmiester's famous date cake.

Then we made Gingerbread houses.

Adley ate a ton of candy.  

She finally fell asleep after such a fun day.

And Parker, Nana and Ryan got to work on some legos.

What a wonderful time spent with family.  Thank you, God, for pouring your blessings out on us!

Christmas "Card"

I was feeling the pressure this year after such a cute Christmas card last year, but with a broken camera and my personal graphics designer in paramedic school, the iPhone picture in an email had to do.  Here are the "out takes."

And here's the "card."

Hello Friends and Family! Merry Christmas!!

This year, we are teaching our kids that Christmas is about getting. No really! Christmas is about getting. It's about getting Jesus!! We all know we celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born, but do we really take the time to think about what that actually means? Jesus, the Son of the one true God, came to earth in the humble form of a baby to be with US. That's why he's named Immanual - God with us. And not only was He with Mary and Joseph, the disciples and the people he encountered during His time on Earth, but he sacrificed His perfect life so EVERYONE can experience life with Him. 

May You and Your Family Be Wrapped in His Presence This Christmas Season!