Annual Report

I don't know if I can even call this a Christmas letter anymore. But, hey... better late than never!

Board breaking

Jackson had a private session with his karate instructor and broke two wooden boards. (He's about a year away from his black belt already.) These pictures are too cool not to share.

Butterfly kick

Front kick off the mini trampoline

Baby it's cold outside

 

It's been cold. Maybe the coldest weather I've experienced.  While training for my new position, they sent people home early given how bad the weather was getting. Freezing rain is the strangest phenomenon.  It's too cold to go outside unless you absolutely have to. Time for lots of board games, movies, reading and hot hardy soups.

These ducks & geese hang out on the golf course at the corporate center where I work year round. Aren't you guys all suppose to fly south for the winter? It looked miserable. The ducks were bobbing their heads into to the snow trying to get food.

Costco

My brother & sister in law gave us a Costco membership for Christmas. Lord help us, that place is dangerous for my pocketbook. It's a good exercise in self-control! In all seriousness, I'm loving it. I'm saving a ton of money and planning meals weeks in advance. I especially like all the healthy options and pleasantly surprised with the amount of organic options. My family especially likes all the samples.

Bread on a cold night

I've always been curious as to why the phrase is, "single digits" rather than, "single digit" when the phrase itself is to point out the fact that there is only one number as opposed to two or three. Although, once it gets below a certain point it all feels the same to me. 

Mother nature has been quite deceiving lately. Blue skies are great until you have been outside for more than 20 seconds and can no longer feel your face. I am all the more thankful for the heater in my car, the fireplace in my family room and hot showers these last two weeks.

I just took a loaf of banana bread out of the oven. Homemade bread tastes so much better when it's really cold outside for some reason. 

Little things we take for granted

Our washer broke. It actually caught on fire! Thank god my brother & his wife were here at the time. I don't even want to think of other outcomes since I was at work and my kids were home.  Just another opportunity for us to go over our family emergency plan. I've also since installed a smoke detector in the laundry room!

I have a whole new appreciation for my washing machine after washing my family's clothes by hand in the bathtub. It was gross. It only happened once... before heading to the laundromat. I love my family, however washing their unmentionables is where I now draw the line. I am thankful to live in an era with electricity and appliances.

Ashleigh is 15!

 What is your favorite color? Purple

What is your favorite animal? Unicorn

What is your favorite food? Sushi

What do you want to be when you grow up? Makeup Artist

What is your favorite book? I don't have a favorite right now

What is your favorite song ?Anything by One Direction

What is your favorite TV show? The Walking Dead & The Office

What was your biggest accomplishment this last year? I got the part of Juliet for this years play

What is your favorite season? Summer Why? There is no school

Where would you most like to go for a vacation? England

What is your favorite thing to do? Hang out with friends

Where do you like to go for dinner? Simply Sushi

Who is your best friend? Kylee 

This year, Ashleigh had a sleepover with her best friend on her birthday. Her favorite home cooked meal for dinner; chicken noodle soup, including homemade noodles and chocolate cake with raspberry filling (with sparkler candles of course). She is getting a room makeover (pictures to come later) from me, which she got 5 years ago when she turned 10. How time flies! And she got some hair supplies she's been wanting from the boys, Russell & Jackson.

 Happy Birthday baby girl!

Promotion!

I was hating my job. I would dread getting out of bed in the morning knowing I would be spending a big chunk of my day doing something I didn't enjoy. The boss I loved moved to a different department. My new boss made my job more frustrating than it ever should have been. We got a new department manager and everything we had been working towards for the last 3+ years changed. Only to have it all change back again within months because of all the headaches and problems our new process was causing. I was ready to throw in the towel. It's an amazing company to work for but my stress level and being unhappy was not worth it. The second my alarm went off my anxiety was through the roof and was making for some rough mornings.

Then, something amazing happened. I took a leap of faith. After working on the credit card side of my company for almost 7 years. I applied for a job on the banking side. A position opened up that usually needs years of experience however, they were willing to train the right people. Who knew, I would be one of those people. I was promoted. I'm about half way though training and I love my job.

I almost didn't apply. It's scary to try something new, especially as an adult with a family to support. Life is too short to be unhappy. The stars aligned, my prayers were answered, good karma coming back to me.... it was just perfect timing. Between my family and my kid's dad and step mom.. we have been able to pick up my kids while I am in training (which is full time) and without their help, I would not have been able to take this new position. I am very thankful.

New Years

The kids spent New Years with their Dad's side of the family playing games and having fun with aunts, uncles & cousins. So, Rusty and I got to hang out with the "grown ups" this year...sushi style.

Some were better than other's at cutting sushi rolls. Hahaha!

Standing like "men"

First picture of 2013