A New Year

We had a busy year in 2012!  

-We welcomed 3 new pets into our home (2 hermit crabs and a cat).  

-We visited my sister and her family and explored Washington DC.  

-We went to Disney World with a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old (we brought an extra adult so that we outnumbered the toddlers).  

-We helped family move from Atlanta to North Carolina and visited them a few times in both places.  

-We had that same family visit us on numerous occasions throughout the year.  

-Bub was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy and we learned just how many things contained dairy in some form.  

-We traveled from Georgia to California to visit family.  

-We had a small birthday tea turn into a party for 30 when Missy turned 3!  

-We mourned the passing of my sister and her family (and flew back to California for a month for the services and to take some time).  

-Missy got her ears pierced.  

-We went on our first family vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC.  

-We held Bub's birthday party just 2 days before Christmas.  

-We hosted both Christmas and New Years and had 10 family members come during a two week stretch of time (although not all 10 were here at the same time).  

And that list is just the big stuff!  

But... all things must come to an end, right?  2013 has begun.  358 days of uncharted territory to explore and make the most of!

We have a few goals this year:

-Slow down

-Simplify

-Be more "green"

Life can get so hectic for us, but one thing we have learned from this past year is that you never know what can happen and we need to really enjoy the moments we have.  In order to slow down, we are trying to simplify our lives.  This means less clutter, less stuff... just... less!  We don't need every gadget or every toy out there.  Less can be more, right?  We also want to become "greener."  When Missy was born, I began making my own all-purpose cleaner, but I want to expand that to laundry detergent and candles and other household products.  We also want to look at the way we live and see if little adjustments can be made to better use our resources.

All in all, we want to create a more healthy environment for our family, both emotionally and physically.

I mean, just look at these lovelies!!

  

How could you not want them to have the best life?  

I'm not saying that everyone should make the same changes in their own lives that we are making.  I think that what we are planning and dreaming for this year is what is best for OUR family.  Every family is different and has different goals... so what works for us may not work for you and vice versa.

I'm looking forward to sharing with you what the new year brings us!!


Until next time!

~Monica