2015 Re-cap Goals. Update. Laugh.

Goals for 2015.

1. Lose the last bit of baby weight and keep it off this year, possibly forever.
   My body has been in a constant up and down lbs. battle since mid 2009.  Pregnancy, baby, pregnancy, baby, weight loss, baby, better weight.... to be continued.
   
   This did not happen.
     
2. Declutter the house, one room at a time.
   Now that we have reached the 'last baby' stage I feel like we will be able to gradually remove things that are no longer being saved for 'later.'  I will also be able to remove my 5-6 size range wardrobe and focus on a smaller selection of clothing.  Advocare and exercise will help.
   
   We are working on this, but have made major progress this year!  Onto the last phase soon!
    
3. Finish decorating the living room, buy new couches/chairs, and paint that room.
   Finally.  We have lived there for almost 3 years.... long enough to have painted the rooms.
   
   Yeah, no.  Put that on the new list of 'honey-dos'...
   
4. Become a Mary Kay sales director by April.
   This will require multiple steps, but it is a goal... with a deadline.  And that deadline opens up so many other doors that I can barely stand it.
   
   Not that one either. but MAN, I'm ready for it.  This year.  Is.  My.  Year.
   
5. Organize my home office and my 'room' at the house.
   The craft room/office/crap room needs a face lift.
   
   Done.  Next, paint.
   
6. PLANT FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES.
   
   I planted flowers.  Half done.
   
7. I want to unplug myself once a month for a whole weekend and just be Carrie the mom, the wife, the cook, the cleaner, the house keeper.... and not respond to calls or texts or emails or any social networks. I feel like doing that in spurts makes me rely on that a lot less to entertain myself.  I look forward to it.
   
   I think this needs re-evaluation.  I did spend more intentional time in 2015, but I don't think I'm satisfied with the things that happened
   
8. Disney fund growth.
   Deposit a consistent amount monthly into the account for our 2016 trip.  :)  I'm hoping for a February or Spring Break trip!
   
   I depleted the fund for our LAST minute trip at Thanksgiving.  Give me a minute and I'll load those pictures..
   
9. Establish a fitness routine that I can maintain with my mommy lifestyle.
   I am 100% certain this will mean me buying a treadmill or something before it happens because I'm not going to the gym.  I am also 100% sure this means I will be exercising in the early morning hours because that is the best time for me.
   
   This did not happen.  At all.  I actually QUIT the gym.  I have GOT to work on that.
   
10. Actually complete tasks I start.
    
    This is going to be a LIFE LONG GOAL and nothing I will accomplish in 2016 either...

Overall, I need to work on setting attainable goals and creating a plan to achieve them.  I have great goals in mind, I just need to work on my plans to make them happen.

The ducklings

This.

This picture.

It is my favorite photo from the summer of 2015.

My precious ducklings on the way to our pool for swim lessons.

I love them and I love our summers together.

Showtime!

It was the end of the school year for Hayes and Libby.

Performance time for all!

Songs and dances are always amazing!

Love our preschool.

Love our friends.

My girls

Did I mention that as soon as we got back from North Carolina we ran real fast to my aunt's house for a giant family gathering with our cousins from far away?  

This diva took her time playing and enjoying a cold beverage.

Though, she takes her time doing pretty much everything.

And this diva is just TOO happy to function normally.

I tell people all the time that she's not a real baby.

She's not.

She is this happy about 90% of the time.

I love being their momma.

I love their spunk and their HAPPY.

Last NC

Have wolf ears... will travel....

Last stop, GA rest area.

What is this bizarre water pump thing?

I got this mom.

Libby perfecting her pose with the giant bulldog.

Chubby baby with bulldog.

Here momma.... take my picture with this awesome doll.

Wait, what is this?

Coloring on the Cabbage Patch Kid table.

Next stop... Babyland General in Cleveland GA....

NC: Wolf Lodge

Our last leg of the journey to NC and back consisted of a trip to The Great Wolf Lodge in NC.  We stayed at the Concord/Charlotte location.  It was an awesome experience that I would recommend to any family!  I would recommend that you wait until all children are above the age of 3 for height requirements and restrictions on rides.... but it was STILL FUN!  

We had a few slides that we could all ride.  There were a few obstacles that the children could climb as well.  Spencer enjoyed the floor fountains and the slides that were her size.  

Libby pretty much enjoyed everything.

Hello there.

You are my size.

We can be friends.

I had to beg a stranger to get our picture.

Daryk and I are the only people actually looking at the camera.

Awesome.

This is only 4 hours from home and we are thinking about going again and taking my mother in law.  She can participate with the kids and watch them play.  Everything was zero level entry with no stairs, so she would be able to enjoy it!  

Amber

In case you wanted to know what 15 years of friendship looks like...

2 years in a college dorm.

3 marriages--2 are mine.

4 cities... those are hers....

5 kids--3 for me and 2 for her.

a handful of forgotten messages and a couple of random thoughts.

a few road trips to see concerts and boys that we shouldn't have....

during college... not recently.

And finally, a reunion in NC while traveling.

Funny, God has awesome plans that are so much better than our own.

Shortly after our visit Amber called me and couldn't speak because she was so distraught.

Come to find out, her mom was really sick and she needed to come to GA to be with her immediately.  I offered our home for her and her family as long as they needed it.  She came and stayed with us for a whole week.  I got to cook and entertain the children and help.  It was lovely.  Catching up with an old friend is so much fun.

Sadly, her mother passed away about a week after she left and went back to NC.  I was able to be with her again and enjoy her family along with her dad!  I'm so grateful for a relationship that picks up where it left off, no matter the distance or time or space or life that gets between it.  God was able to use our bizarre reunion for a connection that was needed.  

I love my friends.

NC 4

Special requests fulfilled this week.  Wrapping up our summer trip to NC this week...

I'm only about 6 months behind with my blogging....

No big deal.

Here are the highlights from our beach trip this summer...

Libby and Hayes are fearless-ish of the ocean.

It was fun.

Spencer has not a care in the world except bolting STRAIGHT to the ocean.

Also, a problem...

Copious amounts of sunscreen needed for the day.

Packing up our lives to go an hour to the beach is NOT a huge feat!