Happy New Year - 2017 recap

As cliche as it is I love starting off the new year with good intentions, goals, resolutions, all that jazz, but come February they mean nothing anymore as they've most likely been forgotten, I've set too high of standards for myself or reality sets in and I've realized my goals just don't fit with our life. But, this year...THIS year...is going to be different.

New Year's eve I vowed to myself that the only thing I really HAD to do the next day was to fold the laundry, but the rest of the day I was going to to do absolutely nothing. Lay around in my pajamas all day, watch movies, play games, do my puzzle, snuggle my family and that's it. But, we ended up showering and putting actual clothes on (ugh!), going out for lunch, getting groceries and spending too much time at Best Buy picking out a security system for our home. We had also purchased a few book shelves for the girls' bedroom's and assembled them and helped get them set up in their rooms, made dinner, started hooking up our security system and as I finally laid down for bed at 9:30 - an hour later than I had wanted, I said to Adam...we need to slow the fuck down. Yep, the eff word is necessary here for emphasis. I told him case in point today..we were unable to just do nothing. Our lives are so darn busy that we don't even know how to just sit and relax anymore. On top of all that I even got the laundry folded and put away and only took one hour of the day to watch a show with the girls.

Adam and I had a long talk about 2018 and what our intentions are for change, personal goals, family goals, ect. We not only need to think about them, but say them out loud, write them down, revisit them every month, hold each other accountable. We know we're not perfect and there are going to be days, weeks, even a month or two where life just takes over, but our focus will be on each other, our family and SLOWING DOWN.

I really really want to be more intentional with my time, take more pictures, write things down....which is why I'm going to try to blog again. Not for any other reason than for myself and to document our year.

And because 2017 was such a huge year for our family in many ways..I need to do a quick month by month recap. Hang on for the ride...

JANUARY:

As we have for the past few years, we rang in the new year with our crew of friends. We went bowling and then ice-skating in the Budde's back yard. Our friends Bryson and Mike turned 40 and we celebrated with a surprise night of fun at the Hard Rock Cafe in the MOA and a Comedy Show. Alexa had a choir concert at the middle school. Adam and I took a 5 day trip to Puerto Adventuras, Mexico for our friend Isaac's wedding. My mom stayed with the girls. The girls' dance teachers, Amanda and Lacy, came over while we were gone to do the girls' hair and make up and took them to dance at the Farmington Community Expo. Adam and I were super sad to miss it.

FEBRUARY:

The girls made t-shirts to celebrate their dance teachers, Dana, being 10 years cancer free. We attended the Sock Hop at Lilli's school. The girls participated in Innovate Dance Event at the Coweles Center in Minneapolis and danced for the Burnsville Chamber's 80's themed party. Lilli had a field trip to Edinbourough park and did a musical performance there. Adam and I joined Beach Body. We went to Albert Lea for Andrea's bridal shower. Alexa Lynn got on the A honor roll! We went to Elbow Lake for our nephew Finn's baptism.

MARCH:

The girls had their Companie Kick Off for their dance season. We went to Albert Lea for Isaac & Krista's wedding reception. The girls had a dance competition in Chanhassen. Alexa and Lilli's tap dances competed for Best In Show - Alexa's Tap "Sing Sing Sing" won. Lilli won a lunch with her dance teacher Aubrie in a silent auction. Aubrie brought her and Ellie McDonald's at school. We kicked off Spring Break with a night at a hotel in Minneapolis with the Beissel's. We donated our Bonneville to Kars 4 Kids and bought a new Toyota Highlander. I named it Lola. Lilli's class started making props for their class musical performance.

APRIL:

We pranked Alexa on her 1/2 birthday by putting her cellphone in a plastic juice container. The girls had another dance competition in Burnsville. Alexa got a terrible stomach bug and wasn't able to dance the 2nd day. Adam's mom ended up coming in the middle of the night to watch her while I took Lilli to the competition and Adam left for Indiana for work for 4 days. Lilli got the bug on Easter which didn't allow us to go be with family. Instead we stayed home and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Lilli's class performed their musical, Twinderella. The girls had dance pictures taken at their studio and a companie sleepover. Jolene and I took Alexa and Taylor's dance group to Burnsville Center for a shopping trip. Alexa was Synergy's Student of the Month and Student of the Month at Dodge.

MAY:

Adam and I took a 4 day trip to Las Vegas with our friends the Sharps, Buddes & Beissels. Adam's mom stayed with the girls and took them to the Art Show, where Alexa's pointe shoes were featured. The girls had their final dance competition of the season in Hopkins on Mother's Day - the guys grilled for us ladies outside the competition. My parents came to visit for my birthday weekend - Memorial weekend. We went to a Loon's soccer game, a Twin's game and to Physcho Suzie's for dinner. Lilli had an end of year field trip to Skateville with her class.

JUNE:

Alexa and her friend Aubrey were invited to a private ivivva party at the MOA. The girls had their last day of school and their dance recital. We spent lots of time at Lebanon Hills swimming at the beach and paddle boarding. We attended several MNUFC Loon's soccer games. Adam and I went to the Gay Pride Festival in Minneapolis. We had a family date night and played mini golf at the Sculpture Gardens in Minneapolis. After a couple years of practice, Lilli landed her front handspring on the trampoline, which earned a trip to Cherry Berry.

JULY:

We went to a pool party at the McCabe's to celebrate the 4th and then walked the Apple Valley Freedom days parade with the Budde's for Culvers. I took Lilli on a solo trip to the Apple Valley Water Park. We had a dance group swimming party at the LaBeau's. Found a house we liked which prompted us to do some major renovations on our house to get it ready to sell. Let the girls go to the Apple Valley Water Park with friends, by themselves. The girls took summer technique classes at dance. We put our house up for sale. It sold in 12 hours. Bought a new house in the Parkview Ponds neighborhood!

AUGUST:

Lilli attended and Alexa taught choir at VBS. We went to Flekkefest in Elbow Lake. Shopped for furniture for our new home. The girls had dentist appointments. Went to the Dakota County Fair. Went to Festival of Father's at North Commons. Went to the 10th Anniversary pool party for All Stars Montessori - the girls' old childcare. The girls had intensive week at dance and companie team try outs. Lilli made Glitter Stars and Alexa made Super Stars. Went on a camping trip with friends at Zumbro Falls. Lilli had back to school assessments with Mrs. Kelly, we did back to school shopping and Alexa had open house at her school. We closed on our old house and moved into our new home on August 31st.

SEPTEMBER: We settled into our new home. My mom came to help Adam and I paint the whole house (took us 2 1/2 days). Went to a dance conference in Burnsville. Alexa started 7th grade and Lilli started 4th grade. The girls' dance season began. We had many house parties celebrating our new home as well as many house projects. Adam judged a BBQ ribs contest at one of his parks. Linda and Dre came to visit. Went to a few H.S. football games. Alexa received her 1st pair of pointe shoes.

OCTOBER: Alexa turned 13 - a TEENAGER!! She got the new iPhone 8. Lilli turned 10. I brought her lunch at school, she got a new bike and all her friends came over for pizza and to make their homecoming shirts. Adam took all the kids to the homecoming football game (it was raining but they insisted on going - Adam was the only brave one to take them). Had the girls' birthdya party at Dodge pool and a sleepover afterwards. Alexa and Kenzie started their duet at dance. Adam went to Brainard for 4 days for work. Alexa's bracelet was chosen for the H.S. Art Fair. Lilli lost her very last baby tooth and got a very special visit from the tooth fairy. The girls went to Sever's Corn Maze with the Sharp's. My parents came to visit and we went to the Harvest Festival at the Dakota Village and MN's Largest Candy Store in Jordan. We picked our pumpkins from a roadside farm and took Fall pictures of the girls in the backyard. It was PINK week at dance. We watched the Sharp girls for a week while Stacey and Bryson went to TX for a friend's funeral. Alexa and Adam went to cousin Joey's confirmation in Albert Lea. Alexa was the Hulk for Halloween and Lilli was a baby. They trick or treated with neighbors then met up with friends for Craig's birthday.

NOVEMBER:

Celebrated Fall birthdays with our friends at the Bourbon Butcher. Lilli was chosen to sing at the Veteran's Day program at the H.S. Surprised Adam with friends over for his birthday. The girls made videos of what they're thankful for for leadership at dance. Adam and I hosted an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party for our friends - our first "couples event". Alexa and Mackenzie started their duet practice with Coach Kris. I went with Lilli and her class to a pre-screening of the movie, Wonder, in theaters. We boxed food at Feed My Starving Children with our Synergy Family. The food went to the Dominican Republic. Celebrated Thanksgiving with my family at my grandparents. Went Black Friday shopping with Craig & Michelle. Had Friendsgiving at the Budde's. Adam and Alexa put up Christmas lights outside and Lilli and I decorated inside.

DECEMBER: Took a 10 day family trip to Punta Cana Dominican Republic for Andrea and Cesar's wedding. Lilli performed in her class play, Mother Goose Comedy. Celebrated Christmas with my family at the Sunwood. The girls had their Christmas parties/gift exchanges at dance. Did our annual Christmas light scavenger hunt. The girls went with their friend Emily and her family to Bentleyville in Duluth. Made our traditional homemade pizza. Made hot cocoa and donuts for the girls I carpool to school in the morning. Went to Christmas eve mass with the Budde's and to their house afterwards for a holiday cocktail. Celebrated Christmas morning at our new home and went to The Greatest Showman in theaters with our friends Chuck, Tammy and Emily at the theater. Confirmed our trip to New York in June of 2018 with the Beissels.

I have spent the last few days of 2017 really reflecting on our year. It's one for the record books for sure and one we certainly won't take for granted. Adam and I worked really hard this year and made a lot of very fun memories with family and friends. Our big one being the purchase of our dream home. We can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for us!