2012 was a fantastic year. We had ZERO big life changes this year so that was a plus. I figure I need to do a Top 12 Things I Learned in 2012 - just to make it interesting. :)
1. There is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything you want. I thought I understood this fact before, but 2012 really hit this point home. There were plenty of days I would stay up late to clean the bathroom or start one more load of laundry but somehow I kept finding more things I needed to get done. It is a never ending battle - one that I know now I will never win. I do what I can and do the rest on weekends with the help of Jason and the kids. Or at 4 AM after a quick diaper change and bottle.
2. I still enjoy changing diapers - even the nasty ones. I do NOT, however, enjoy having to pin my son down to accomplish this task. I give positive reinforcement when he sits still and we can get this job done quickly. I have started to keep a book or toy handy to keep his hands (and mind) occupied and this seems to help. I believe that diaper changing should be an olympic event.
3. We have the perfect house for entertaining. We have hosted family functions, holidays, gatherings with our friends and the house is just perfect for every occassion. I look forward to hosting many more events at our home in the years to come.
4. Busy kids are happy kids. Bailley and Preston were involved with softball, volleyball, band, choir, football and baseball and loved every activity. I can only hope and pray that their love for "being involved" continues as they get older.
5. Busy parents are happy parents. Jason has been busy with work, bowling league, golf league, fantasy football and house projects. I have been busy coaching boys basketball, helping out a bit at church, helping at Bailley's concerts, bowling league, golf league, fantasy football and keeping Jason's project list up to date. I only hope that 2013 continues to keep both Jason and I busy with more family activities than work commitments.
6. Some of the things I swore I would never do - I'm doing. I swore my bathtub would never have toys in it. "I want Harvey to get in, get clean and get out." HA! He loves bath time - toys or no toys -and who am I to hurry that along? We have a duckie, pig, a book and a tug boat in our tub, and I am sure by the end of 2013 we will acquire more toys for the tub. Also - I swore I would never let Harvey watch TV just to keep him busy- yet he LOVES "Super Why" so I let him enjoy an episode or two on occassion. I figure it is educational so a little bit here and there can't be all bad, right?
7. Speaking of simple pleasures - I'm not sure which one I like more - a nice, hot bath or a nap. Both are items we took for granted as children but as adults I'm sure most of us would enjoy either. I think in 2013 I am going to try to take more bubble baths and more naps...just not at the same time.
8. Date nights rock. Period. The end.
9. I want to encourage our musical kids as much as I can. Bailley plays clarinet in the band and sings in the choir. Preston is starting with the recorder this year and has expressed interest in joining choir next year. Harvey, well, he has all kinds of musical toys and plays a mean mixing bowl solo. The music nerd I am is in heaven being surrounded by such talent. I pray every day the kids never loose their love of music. I also hope to expose them to more types of music and give them every opportunity to share their talents.
10. You can never have "too many" pictures of your family. Check out our shutterfly site for proof of this. :) I feel naked without my camera and all 3 kids know what a photo junkie I am. I hope that someday they will look back at the collection of pictures I have and remember all the fun things we've done.
11. The older I get the faster time seems to fly by. I cannot believe next year Bailley will be in junior high and she will be driving in 3 years! There are parts of me that want time to slow down, but I also know that just won't happen. I just tell myself to stop and enjoy each and every day...because we won't get this day back.
12. There is a fine line between too much technology/social media and just enough. The DVR is still the best invention ever. Not only do we record programs for Jason and I to watch (all of our prime time stuff we don't get time to watch during the week) but I have found myself recording Super Why for Harvey so we always have an episode on hand. We even record a few shows for the older kids - things that come on after they go to bed - so they can watch them once their homework and chores are done. Free texting apps for ipods- not sure what I think about that yet. Facebook - more of a necessary evil than anything. Spotify - the best free music application ever. If you don't believe me? Check it out. Join up and I will share my play lists with you. I have play lists for Pep Band music, Comedy (explict and non-explicit) 80's music, Country music, Christmas music and so much more. The music nerd I am absolutly LOVES being able to listen to all kinds of music for free.
12a. Vehicle and home maintenance sucks but it is a necessary evil. This was a learning process in 2012 with the pool and the various new items in the house we did not have experience with in the old house. 2013 can only get better when it comes to this kind of project.
I know there are so many other things I could add to this list, but I am sure by now you are bored off your rocker. I thank you for reading my Top 12+ list. We do wish you a very Happy New Year - better late than never, right?
