Milestones: 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016 Year in Review!

December 2015

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
I'm not sure......I don't feel like it was a huge year of 1sts.

2. What are your New Year's Resolutions?
(these are more goals for 2017)
start and complete Gavin's baby scrapbook.
Continue reading at LEAST a book a month
run 3 5ks
more one on one date nights

3. What states/countries/cities did you visit?
Las Vegas, Nebraska, Tulsa-OK, Beaver Lake-Arkansas, Breckenridge/Denver-CO

4. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Matt's office groundbreaking and opening
Eric Church concert at Redrocks

5. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Reading 52 books.

6. What was the best thing you bought?
Concert tickets
Shuffle board table

7. What song will always remind you of 2016?
My T-shirt-Thomas Rhett
Can't Stop the Feeling-Justin Timberlake
Baby Got Back-Sir Mix a Lot

8. What are some favorite memories of 2016?
Golf
Vegas!
Summer Pool Days
Colorado trip

9. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercise regularly-we struggled to keep at it.....we slept in a lot, only averaging about 3x/week.
More one on one time with Matt. We did a lot of group activities, and while they were all FUN, we need more time to ourselves for sure.

10. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sleeping instead of exercising.

11. How did you spend Christmas?
with my family in Nebraska

12. What was your favorite TV program?
Scandal, Blacklist, Outlander, The Americans, This is Us, Designated Survivor.

13. What was the best book you read?
Roses-Leila Meecham, Calling Me Home-Julie Kibler, It Ends With Us-Colleen Hoover,

14. What was your favorite film of this year?
Me Before You, Finding Dory

15. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
39-We were in Omaha for Memorial Day weekend, so on my birthday, we spent the day at the zoo, then had a delicious dinner with birthday cake at Mom and Dad's house. Kristin and I got to share our birthday this year!

16. What is the greatest lesson learned in 2016?
With our busy lives, we HAVE to take time for ourselves and have some down time. It's hard, but when we are all going different directions, we need to re-center.

17. Captivating news stories of 2016?
Presidential election, ISIS, Olympics in Brazil

18. Quote a song that sums up your year.
"Humble and Kind"-Tim McGraw
Hold the door say please say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got moutains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

19. Any final thoughts on 2016?
It was a great year in so many ways, but a really hard year in other ways. We are so fortunate to have amazing friends near us to support us and count on when we have needed help.

20. What do you look forward to most for 2017?

Gavin starting Kindergarten!!!!, Turning 40 on a vacation!

December 2015

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Christmas 2016!

Santa came! New Chiefs jersey for Mason, Osmo for Gavin, new Wii game for Logan!

and a new iPad for them all!

the Osmo was the hit of the day. It's really cool!

Christmas was also chiefs game day.

Finally opening gifts in the afternoon....they were so patient!

and a family game of Pie Face.....

Merry Christmas!!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is here!!! Made the journey to Mimi and Grandad's house, and are all set for Christmas!!

Mason has had his nose stuck in Harry Potter since Thanksgiving. Couldn't wait to see if Mimi had book #5. She did!

Hanging those stockings...

Cookies...

Love for Mimi!

Ahhh...kids are in bed. Night night!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

A little hiccup on Christmas break....

*sigh*

Any delusion I had of making it through 3 boys without a broken bone was shattered the saturday before Christmas. Logan was jumping on our 1 foot high mini indoor trampoline in the basement while Matt and I were doing our workout in the same room. Gavin tried to climb on, bounced off Logan, and fell on his arm. He cried pretty good, but we thought he was more mad than hurt. Fast forward about 10 minutes when he was still crying, we figured something could really be wrong. Thankfully Matt's new office has X-ray and saved us time and $$ in an ER. The fracture was pretty plain to see on the film. Distal humerus fracture. Boo! Matt splinted it at the office, called an orthopedic surgeon friend and and made an appt for Monday. Now the wait to see if he needed surgery. Apparently quite of few of these types of breaks are displaced, and while his wasn't on initial X-ray, that could change. Poor guy.....was feeling a little timid and sad, but thankfully not in too much pain.

Come Monday....NO SURGERY!!! But he won himself a Royal Blue cast for 3-4 weeks.

Super brave dude!!!

He was very particular about who could sign.

Thankfully it's all healed and cast is OFF by now, but NEVER a dull moment with this one!

Monday, December 19, 2016

One more Christmas tradition....

Gingerbread house!! I made them all collaborate on doing one-good for the problem solving skills they seem to lack so often.

They did a great job!

We attended a cookie party where Santa made an appearance. Would you believe Mason was the only one that would pose with the guy in red? Gavin wanted nothing to do with him, and Logan was far too busy eating cookies.

I think we're ready for Christmas!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

White elephant and lights tour!

Our friend Tijen planned a lovely limo lights tour for the kids! They were so excited to ride in a limo!

l-r: Tucker (5), Drew (9), Brady (9), Lydia (7), Logan (7), Gavin (4), Mason (9), & Dock (9)

Then we ditched the kids at one house with a sitter, and came back to our house for soup, a white elephant gift exchange, and some shuffle board on our new table!

The ladies before we got all comfy and cozy!

The guys...I promise they had more fun then they appeared to here....

Sometimes staying in and snuggling on the couch beats dressing up and going out!

The tiny hands and 'Merica hat were the hit of the party.

Although this was what Matt and I ended up with. Pretty funny if you ask me! We did eventually figure it out.....Red Lobster. Barf. lol!!!

It was a really fun night with a LOT of laughs!

Monday, December 12, 2016

Fall basketball!

Fall basketball is almost wrapped up if you can believe that. Mason's team has done pretty well. For *most* of their players, basketball is not their strongest sport; they have some growing and developing to do. They are a really fun team to watch when they're actually doing what they're supposed to do. They've only had one loss in league play. They did participate in a tournament which was a GOOD eye opener for them. Made them realize there is a whole other level they could be performing at. Mason is TOUGH on defense. For being the 'non-aggressive' kid for so long, he really goes after it in basketball. I wish I could capture his face because he SERIOUS!!! Mad-dog in full effect!

well deserved rest on the bench for a minute....Dad usually gives him pointers on his breaks.

Logan's team has come along this season too! The difference in being on the older end of their age bracket is huge! They need to work on actually passing the ball, but they've improved so much! Only 1 loss this season!

As for this non-basketball mom...I'm may be getting the hang of it, a little! The other moms on Mason's team like to rib me a little for not quite catching all the fouls and whatnot....but I'm learning! This girl was raised on football!