Ringing in a New Year {2016}

As has become our tradition, we ring in the New Year at home in our pajamas with some sparkling beverages.  We also celebrate the New Year earlier than midnight Eastern Standard Time.  We like to celebrate at 9:00 p.m. our time with Rio de Janiero.  

We reused our old hats this year, and I made the little sparkly year banner to use for Mattox's weekly pictures. 

Mattox was not pleased with this little photo session.  Picture taking has gotten a lot more difficult since he is very mobile and hates sitting still.  

Big brother Evan tried to hold him but that was a losing battle. 

Celebrating with Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Watching the New Year's fireworks. 

Mattox loves computers and cords. 

Brody loved his sparkling beverage. 

This little guy just thinks he is grown now.  Sigh. 

Toasting in the New Year.  Cheers!

"What??? No sparkly drink for me???"

Brothers toasting. 

2015 Highlights

It has become a little "tradition" of mine to recap the highlights of my year.  I do this for a couple of reasons.  When we spend the majority of our days doing the seemingly mundane, less glamorous, and repetitive tasks of day-to-day life, we often feel like we haven't really accomplished much with our lives.  In this day and age when we look at the "perfect" social media lives of our friends and associates and think how great their lives are while we are folding another pile of laundry, changing another dirty diaper, or fixing meals for these little people in our lives, we often forget that we are only seeing the "highlights" of other people's lives.  People aren't as apt to post pictures or write comments about their mundane lives.  Similarly, when I get to the end of a year, I would be more apt to see the sum total of my year as a never ending cycle of days spent performing the everyday tasks that are so quickly forgotten.  The great memories made during each year would be lost to the depths of my computer hard drive or to some dusty old photo albums on a shelf.  That is one of the reasons I love this blog.  I can look back over my year and see the great memories we made each month.  When I rely on just my memory to catalog our year, I would mostly see the many days of exhaustion and remember feelings of "unaccomplishment".  However, when I start preparing my list of the highlights from the year, I feel uplifted and accomplished when I remember all the good memories we made together.  Those are the feelings of hope I want to carry into a new year.  I bet you could make a similar list of the great highlights from your year too.  I challenge you to look at all of the great memories you have made and all that you accomplished this past year and hold onto those feelings of accomplishment when you find yourself feeling "unaccomplished" or "unworthy" of the glorified lives out there on social media.


January

We rang in the New Year. 

Got a peek at Mattox at 30 Weeks.

Brody and I embarked on our journey of preschool at home. 

We celebrated our favorite daddy's birthday. 

February

We celebrated a special Valentine's Day. 

We got our first snow/ice storm of winter. 

And another little snow day. 

Evan attended his first Blue and Gold Banquet and was awarded his Wolf badge.  Sadly, this was one of his last events with his old Charlotte troop. 

And made it to the final week of pregnancy with Mattox. 

March

Mattox arrived!

We moved!

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with these little Leprechauns! 

Brody started his very first season of T-ball. 

One of the highlights of the year was definitely meeting this dear blog friend.  I just hope we can return the visit very soon.  

Moving to a new town and not having friends around to help him celebrate his birthday was hard, but he was so happy to share his celebration with his new Canadian pal, Sam.  

April

Mattox celebrated his first whole month on the outside. 

We celebrated our first Easter together as a family of six. 

I was tickled pink to have this little Easter bunny this year. 

We took our annual Spring family pictures. 

Brody had a fabulous day celebrating his 4th birthday. 

May

We took Brody to Discovery Place Kids Rockingham for a late birthday treat. 

This little rainbow turned 2 months old. 

We enjoyed hanging out with Great-Grandpa and the Hudson clan for a fun family day. 

I loved celebrating Mother's Day with all of my babies. 

I felt pretty accomplished when I finally finished Mattox's nursery before he was 3 months old.  Still my favorite room in the house. 

We all enjoyed going to a Carolina Mudcats baseball game with Evan's Cub Scout troop, and Daddy enjoyed camping out with the boys that night. 

Going to the Air Show was probably the highest point of Evan's year. 

Evan also enjoyed going to Boot Camp with his neighbor friend, Ryan. 

We had a fun weekend celebrating Memorial Day and Grandma's birthday. 

June

Evan ended his first year of Cub Scouts and enjoyed lots of fun events with his new troop.

We enjoyed exploring Bass Lake Park in our new town. 

Mattox turned 3 months. 

Evan finished up the second grade.

Evan finished another great season of baseball. 

And Brody progressed so much in his skills in t-ball. 

We explored Historic New Bern, NC. 

We discovered Tryon Palace. 

We explored the beautiful Outer Banks of NC.

We celebrated our 12th anniversary and Father's Day at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. 

We learned all about forestry at the Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National Forest. 

We celebrated Mattie's 2nd birthday. 

July

Mattox turned 4 months. 

We celebrated our nation's birthday at a good ol' American baseball game. 

Evan started 3rd grade after a very short summer break. 

We explored more in our new town. 

August

Mattox turned 5 months. 

We met the Pack! 

We tried out a new splash pad in our area. 

We took Mattox's 6 month portraits. 

September

Brody and I made his 4th year of preschool official even if he will continue to be taught by mommy at home. 

Mattox turned 6 months. 

I celebrated my birthday with my sweet boys. 

We explored Historic Marion, NC. 

And the Historic Carson House. 

And explored inside a mountain. 

Brody played his second season of soccer. 

And Evan had another impressive year of soccer. 

October

Mattox turned 7 months. 

We enjoyed a later than usual trip to our beloved Myrtle Beach. 

And finally got our annual beach family pictures. 

Evan jumped back into Cub Scouts as a Bear. 

Our family enjoyed going to the State Fair. 

We had a really fun Halloween in our new town. 

November

Mattox turned 8 months. 

We celebrated cousin Grady's 3rd birthday. 

We had a great family Thanksgiving. 

December

Mattox turned 9 months. 

We kicked off the Christmas season. 

We decorated for Christmas. 

We visited Santa. 

We took our Christmas card pictures. 

We started some new traditions in our new town. 

We had a wonderful Christmas at home. 

Mattie celebrated her 3rd Christmas in heaven. 

Dreamy December {2015}

I could have titled this month "Dreary December" because of all the rainy days, but I wanted something more uplifting to remember a very memorable month.  The month was filled with lots of Christmas cheer and fun, but in my opinion, it was the ordinary days and the little moments that really were the most special.  This month was a big one for our little Mattox as he has really gone from being a barely mobile little baby to an almost toddler cruising around and trying to get everything he sees.  Christmas was so fun with him this year.  We also enjoyed having our biggest brother home with us almost all month.  Daddy worked a lot, but we still managed to make good memories with him too.  And with the end of this month, we will call our 2015 a good year and hope for even better memories and blessings in 2016.  Of course, it is always hard to top a year where you welcomed a special new addition to the family, but I know I am looking forward to my favorite baby stage this year.

As I sat in the glow of our new cheerfully lit Christmas tree at the beginning of the month doing my daily Scripture reading and writing, I thought this verse was very appropriate as it reminded me of the Christmas lights and that Jesus, the reason for the season, is the light of the world. 

I have really enjoyed writing my daily scriptures as having something tangible to show for my reading progress helps hold me more accountable.  If I miss a day, I know it and work extra hard to make it up and keep up with the writing.  The scriptures are very appropriate to the season.  I completed all of November's and December's plan and am continuing this new schedule this month.  I love filling up my notebook with great scriptures!

Brody and I pushed forward with a couple more letter lessons this month.  We did letter R for rainy day which was very appropriate given our weather lately.  However, I think we did the lesson on one of the few non-rainy days.  Ha!  I am also impressed with his letter writing progress.  He brings me little handwritten notes all the time with lots of letters written all over the page.  He is obviously retaining some of our lessons to memory.  He forgot the D in his name and added it to the end when I reminded him.  He wrote the E, F, and T on his own without any instruction from me.  He and Evan decorated their snowman bags from Bass Pro Shop's Santa's Wonderland. 

I loved that picture of Evan holding his baby brother.  Mattox joined in a light saber battle.  Ha!  He will play so hard in the mornings that he will often just pass out on the floor wherever he is. 

Eddie and I got a little date night at his work Christmas party.  The NCFA hosted a dinner at Sullivan's Steakhouse in downtown Raleigh for the employees and Board members.  I was trying for a selfie picture of us which didn't turn out great.  I also tried to take a picture of Eddie and his favorite co-worker, Ms. Ann the office manager, but she refused to show her face for the camera.  Haha!  We do all love that woman, but Brody is her special favorite.   He makes her cakes and cookies and presents all the time.  

Ooops!  The boys got in trouble for fighting while Evan was home from school so I made them write some sentences.  Haha!  Brody loved it.  He wrote "I love Evan." five times.  Evan wrote "I will not fight with my brothers." twenty times.   Hey, they both needed writing practice anyway. 

My little Tom Cruise "Risky Business" baby.  He's so handsome in his sunglasses. 

He is just too sweet and cute.  I just love sleeping babies.  I was trying to get Eddie to capture the picture of him leaning back against me with his shades, but Eddie was a little too late as usual. 

The boys and I met Daddy for lunch at a restaurant close to Carter Finley Stadium where the Wolfpack play football.  The Coach does his after game talk here so the boys liked sitting at his table.  My future sports broadcasters.  Brody wanted Daddy to show him how to draw a mushroom so Eddie drew one for him, and Brody copied his and drew a bunch more just like it and colored them.  They looked like the mushrooms from Super Mario Bros. so I drew Mario for him.  Brody also enjoyed doing our Christmas countdown all month and putting Santa's beard on.  

After lunch, we took these peanuts to see The Peanuts Movie.  It was so good!  I just love that Charlie Brown!

Mattox got another little Santa visit at a local restaurant that does kids' eat free on Thursday nights with a magician/balloon artist and lots of fun.  Brody got a fishing rod balloon.  Mattox doesn't mind Santa as long as he doesn't try to hold him. 

Reading this month was a little slow.  I did read a James Patterson book which was kind of a sci-fi genre.  Brody also read Clark the Shark for letter S.  His Grandma read him "What Grandmas Can't Do" while she babysat him during Daddy's work Christmas party.  I thought Evan might like the book about Christmas in Austria as he likes to learn about new places.  I read a little, but it was a little dry and too encyclopedia like for us.  Ha!

At another kids' eat free place we frequent a lot that also does balloon animals and face painting, Brody waited patiently for his balloon dog and a Christmas tree tattoo on his arm.  He was very proud.  He also brought me this letter before Christmas that he had written to me.  It was covered with lots of different letters, and he said it said "Mommy has to be good to be on the nice list."  Apparently, I was not being good.  Ha!  Evan is just doing his usual sword fighting/ninja fighting/light saber fighting/any kind of fighting routine.  

Mattox spent one of his first nights in his crib this month and has been doing well sleeping all night in there.  After Christmas, he and Brody both enjoyed riding his new train.  He also enjoyed helping daddy "drive."

Mattox also got his first "real" meals this month.  He ate some spaghetti with us and loved it!  I love spaghetti faces!

We did S is for snow just before Christmas and were dreaming of a white Christmas.  Sadly, we got an almost 80 degree Christmas instead. 

Obviously Christmas wore these two out, and they were passed out on separate couches the weekend after Christmas. 

Brody loved this little Princess castle in the Disney Store.  Note the shorts the week after Christmas.  Sigh. 

There was lots of "Lego" building after Christmas.  Evan enjoyed Brody's K'nex building set and built this turtle.  Then, Daddy took it all apart to make Brody a big hot air balloon.  It is awesome, but I haven't take a picture yet.  Evan and I put his new battleship together which is pretty awesome and only caused minor headaches.  Evan helped Brody build his fire and rescue Lego sets. 

We took advantage of the nice weather after Christmas to help Brody master his big bike riding skills.  He has been insisting on using his toddler tricycle so I needed to get him more interested in the big bike.  He is doing great! 

Evan got some use out of his Christmas present and enjoyed shooting some hoops with Daddy. 

He's getting so good, and we had to move the goal up as high as it would go to be a challenge for him.  It is supposed to be a Lifetime goal, but he has already maxed out its height.  Of course, at least he can't dunk yet.  Ha!

Mattox enjoyed being outside too...and with no pants on! 

For one of Evan's last days off for Winter break, we headed up to Raleigh to spend the day with Daddy.  While he worked, we went to the bagel shop we last visited over a year ago before Mattox was born on a particularly cold, winter day.  The day wasn't nearly as cold, but we still enjoyed our bagels.  Mattox even got to try some.  I was enjoying my coffee until Brody knocked it out of my hand and spilled it all over my white shirt.  Sigh.  I managed to clean all of the coffee out of it in the bathroom and had to wear a wet shirt until it dried.  Sigh.  

More pictures of the cuteness of Mattox begging for more bagel.

We visited Daddy's office to see Ms. Ann after Christmas.  She let me take one picture of her with the boys.  Mattox showed off his crawling and exploring skills on the long hallway.  Ms. Ann gave the boys a giftcard for Christmas so Brody wanted to draw her a picture as a thank you note.  Evan wrote her a thank you note later.  

We ate lunch with Daddy at a local Chinese restaurant close to NC State where Daddy and I ate while in college.  It was a different Chinese restaurant then.  Sadly, Daddy saw on the news yesterday that the restaurant caught on fire.  Mattox loved his chopsticks.  After lunch we headed to the movie theater.  Evan and Brody can't wait to see the new Kung Fu Panda movie. 

But we were all excited to see Star Wars:  The Force Awakens.  I loved how this little theater mostly frequented by college students was decorated so festively for Christmas and for Star Wars.  It is a small local theater and not a big chain.  I loved the new movie, and its main female heroine.  It was about time for a real female Jedi hero.  

Brody found the way to the Grinch's lair.  

And I just loved my Instagram post summary of the year.  Baby Mattox was definitely the highlight of our year. 

And we all enjoyed toasting in the New Year with some sparkling beverages.  Happy New Year!

2016 Theme for the Year: Don't Worry

I am not a resolution making person...probably because I usually fail at keeping them.  I hate feeling like a failure so I just usually don't make them.  Of course, I always have hopes and dreams about the future and what I hope to accomplish in life.  I always hope that a new year will bring many good times and memories.  Our sermon at church today was a good reminder that making ourselves a strict list of resolutions that we worry about accomplishing all year is not what God wants for us.  He doesn't want us to worry.  He wants us to trust him to supply for our needs.  In Jesus' very first sermon on this earth, he told us:  

 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  

And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'  or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

I don't know about you, but I am a worrier.  You name it, I worry about it - my husband, my children, our future, our finances, the world.  Most of these things are beyond my control.  My worrying about them changes nothing.  Jesus knew us intimately.  He knew that we would want to take matters into our own hands and would have trouble trusting in God to provide for our needs.  That's why his first sermon to us was this important reminder.  He didn't tell us to "worry less."  He told us not to worry AT ALL!  Yikes!  That's a tough one.  But he promises us that God our wonderful and loving heavenly Father will supply all of our needs.  I don't know about you, but a life without constant worry and stress sounds pretty heavenly to me.  Like Jesus said, does worrying add even one single hour to our lives?  On the contrary, worry takes many hours from our lives.  Our preacher said most people probably worry an average of 14 hours a week.  For me, that's probably a low ball figure.  How many precious hours of my life am I wasting on worrying instead of living life to its fullest and appreciating the blessings God has bestowed?  So my "goal" this year is not to waste a single minute on worrying and to try to trust in God for all our needs.  I know this is a lofty goal for an imperfect worrywart like myself, but you know what they say...Go big or go home!

So although I am not going to make myself a bunch of resolutions that I would just stress over and worry about accomplishing, I do hope that with God's help, I can do more of these things this year:

Blessings and Happy New Year!