happy 2015

Whew, it's been a long, long time since I've come to this space.  Time to dust it off and make it my place again.   It's been way too long since I've written or shared or created or visited.   Time to turn things around in the new year.

It is still very difficult to understand how in goodness gracious it can already be 2015.  Weren't we all just freaking out about Y2K and all that would happen when 19 turned 20? 

There is much to look forward to in the new year.  This year will bring some monumental birthdays [the K-boy will be a teenager!], some healthier lifestyle changes, some heartbreaking firsts without Mom, two kiddos in middle school, a summer road trip [hopefully], some home improvements and ... some laughter, some love and some happiness.  

Of course, I don't know what all will happen this year, but I'm looking forward to it being filled with HAPPY. 

I'm focusing on happy ---- happy heart, happy home, happy health, happy kiddos, happy us, happy mail and happy year.  

I'm looking forward to what the new year has in store.   Bring it on, 2015!

Happy 2013!  A little belated, I know, but life just has not slowed down enough for me to sit and write.  I miss it.

How can it possibly be almost February?  Already. 

I haven't even documented January.  I have not even started on my Project Life album for this year.  But, I shall not let this slip of time discourage me -- I will get it started.  I have to.  The kiddos enjoyed our album last year and it is such joy to see their faces light up as they flip through the album. 

Our last month, in a handy dandy list so I can refer back to it when I catch up my month's creative documentation.

• We outgrew my little white car.  Finally.  Already.  It was time. We purchased it a week before the K-boy was born, almost 11 years ago.  Now, we have us a smooth family van.  I thought it would be difficult to move from a small car to a huuuuuge one, but it was an easy transition.  And we all love it. 
• Our van got a christening --- a road trip to Colorado to visit my brother, sister-in-law and finally meet our nephew, little B.  He is just the most darling thing ever.  The kiddos enjoyed their time with the baby and miss him dearly.  
• We played in the snow and the kiddos went to ski school at Granby.  The K-girl skiied and was a natural at the sport.   The boy learned to snowboard and did extremely well, though, he also did an extremely good job at scaring this momma with his speed and quick turns down the slope.  Not for the faint at heart. 
• We experienced some very cool things on our trip --- the highest elevation of Leadville, Taos' beauty and the river gorge, -22° temps in Alamosa, a yummy donut burger at Crave, ringing in the new year with my brother and family, seeing my baseballin' nephew and taking in lots of beautiful southwestern scenery.   Love.  
• The kiddos both received awards for all As the first semester of school.  So very proud of their hard work.  
• The K-girl started gymnastics and the K-boy is on the waiting list for karate. 
• I've decluttered bits and pieces of our home, though it is still full of chaos.  The bill-paying desk has been revamped and the closet is a little emptier.  Must continue the purge through unnecessary items in our home.   
• I have chosen one little word for the year.  Make.  More on that in another post. 
• We have been enjoying the springlike weather, though I am not ready for winter to be whisked away by the next season just yet. 
• I've been busy creating projects for Doodlebug and have really been enjoying the process.   It's all about the process and enjoying each little piece of cuteness. 
• We've made a family goal to visit 13 mostly-new-to-us state parks in 2013.  This past Sunday we visited our first park, Mother Neff State Park.  Coincidentally, it was the very first park in the state's park system and it was very rightful that we visited that one first.   We took a nice, leisurely hike to the rock tower and cave and throughout the park.  Twelve more to enjoy.

Surely, I am missing much of our ins and outs of the month.  Family busy-ness as usual, but still trying to enjoy the little moments.

 Making this a good year.

one little word

Each year I am inspired to choose one little word in which to lead the year.  Lead, guide and grow from one little word.

fo·cus   
/ˈfoʊkəs/ Show Spelled [foh-kuhs]

noun
1. a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity: The need to prevent a nuclear war became the focus of all diplomatic efforts. 2. Physics . a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation, meet after being refracted or reflected. 3. Optics - a. the focal point of a lens. b. the focal length of a lens. c. the clear and sharply defined condition of an image. d. the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: in focus; out of focus. 4. Geometry . (of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve. 5. Geology . the point of origin of an earthquake. 6. Pathology . the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes. 

verb
7. to bring to a focus or into focus: to focus the lens of a camera. 8. to concentrate: to focus one's thoughts

This year, I want to concentrate mostly on our little ole casa de chaos and those loved ones that live within. It's all about family, home, me and, of course, crafting. Focusing on those few things will allow me to live lighter, brighter and happier.


Deep breath, it might be a wild ride!

this month's RE list.

repurpose.
Sew a pillowcase or cover from the hub's dress shirt.
Make t-shirt artwork for the K-boy's room.

recycle.
Finally take the collected aluminum cans across the ways. Profits will be split [unequally since we've been collecting for the boy longer] --- Cub Scouts and Daisy Scouts.

refocus.
Set small goals and mark them off the list.
Paperwork -- child care, taxes, home inventory, insurance.
Plan date night with the hubs.
Make Valentines goodies.

remember : slices of life

If you're here for the Karen Foster Design sneak peeks, scroll down a bit!  You don't want to miss out on the projects and giveaway chances.   

Today, I captured some slices of our life.  Life at home.  Things I want to remember.

 

 

 

 

 

Strips of fabric sewn together to become a new scarf.  A pile of happy scrappy things waiting for my next visit to my craft desk. A box of crayons being used to complete a scouting project. Colorful bracelets and a glittery scarf that once dolled up the K-girl. Laundry day.  Sweaters for warmth on a damp wintry day.  Fresh towels.  Boxes of the K-boy's favorite toys. 

It's the little things that I love to notice about our home and family life.   I want to record them and remember them, for me and for the kiddos.

remember : kiddo karaoke

Tonight as the hubs and I peeked into K-girl's room, we saw this scene ---- one cute K-boy singing into the microphone, belting out lyrics from Big Time Rush and a sassy K-girl dancing on the bed, flipping the ends of her short bobbed hairdo.  Both were looking at themselves in the mirror. 

Did they see the same fast-forward peek into the future as I did?  

It was almost as if I was staring into a crystal ball looking into their teenager years.   I just hope that in those years, they will remember these carefree days of their childhood and the smile it brought to my heart.  

I realized, too, that they are growing up way too quickly and I want to remember and recall every moment of their youth. 

one little word.

re • _________

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Repurpose. Regift. Recall. Restyle. Retell. Refill. Rearrange. Remember. Refocus. Regain. Reread. Resale. Restructure. Rethink. Record. Relook. Relearn. Review.

And in the end I will feel:

Recharged. Rejuvenated. Reenergized. Revived. Rejoiced.

Inspired by Ali Edwards [again and always!] : one little word.