New Year

We entered 2023 well rested. It's been years since we last watched the ball drop. I found it rather anticlimactic and frankly, I think entering a new year refreshed is better than powering through yet another expectation. Why race into the next thing when it's been another full year of non-stop energy? Greg did have to stay up past our bedtime to cheer for his Buckeyes. Both of us lamented the late start time and also the score. He saw the clock roll over to 2023. I did not. 

We got the kids another trampoline. They've missed the old one for over two years now. We assembled it on the driveway because the ground was saturated from all the snow and rain this week. We joked about leaving it there to give the neighbors something to complain about just before relocating it to the back yard where most would suggest it belongs. 

We spent New Year's Eve working on small projects around the house and reading through our weekly contributions to the "Tell Me Something Good" jar. I'm grateful we started this tradition when 2020 wrapped with "the worst year ever" mantra repeated everywhere. So whereas every year presents challenges, grief and pain, we also experience joy, silliness and gratitude. It's important to notice both. Since we naturally gravitate toward the negative, noting the smiles is imperative.

Some highlights from the year:

• Ty's baptism
• Austin's fan club singing Happy Birthday to him on multiple devices
• Ava's week of fancy dresses
• Soup at Cherie's
• Walk-a-thon with my girls
• Porch swing reading (documented multiple times)
• Early bedtimes are mentioned a lot 🙂
• Kristil's visit
• Seeing Devyn on stage
• Road trip with Kate
• Brunch with Erin
• Dinner on the deck (also mentioned repeatedly)
• Crisp new bed sheets
• Baby birds in our tree
• Morning walks with Austin seeking adventure
• Kenna's first teaching job
• Big family breakfast
• Tea with Anne
• Hearing Kate's laugh in a crowd
• Fresh peaches and blackberries
• Austin sharing a snow cone with a bee
• Brown county get away 
• Mimi mail
• Feeling valued at work
• Austin doing yoga dressed as a dinosaur
• Donut date with Ty
• Surprising Dad on his birthday
• Emmaus Walks
• Diesel playing in the snow
• Chili night as a whole family
• Dinner train date with Chris and Kristin 

Kate and Hagan were the only ones who went out for New Year's Eve. They had reservations for dinner at a local sushi restaurant but were still home before the partiers hit the roads. I will never like my people out and about on nights most celebrate with alcohol.

I haven't seen whatever you are watching on TV but I may have read the book you are considering. This year, I did a better job of documenting the titles I completed and was shocked to count ninety-two books on my 2022 list. If I'm being completely honest, this reveals a lot of life avoided. I escape when I read, hearing literally nothing in my world when my nose is in a book. It's not likely a common resolution, but I am cutting back on my reading for pleasure so I can better invest in not only my health, but also my relationships in 2023. 

Monday we lost Kate's sweet Pip. He was an unusual pet but a great one, none the less. He loved Kate and she loved him. All of us are pretty sad he is gone. I think we need to be done with small companions with short life expectancies around here. The grief these little guys leave behind in the kids who love them is pretty tough.

When they first arrived on the island, they had their measurements taken for a custom dress to be worn the final night of their internship. It's such a great keepsake from this incredible experience.

Erin has fallen hard for the Island of Zanzibar. Video chats have revealed a very calm and breezy Erin. She loves the people, the food, the group she is working alongside and says she may come home to get the cat but wants to stay. She is fully embracing the experience.

Kate and I slipped out for errands and prom dress shopping Tuesday. We enjoyed not only success on the dress front, but also a quiet lunch of soup and salad while out. 

Ty's stress level about school hit an all-time high this week. The transition after breaks is always brutal. He took full advantage of the trampoline as an outlet for pent-up energy each afternoon. 

A five year old artist drew a picture of me on her goal sheet. She needed to see what color my eyes were that day because she has noticed they change. I was impressed with her observation skills. 

Kate's return was also met with some anxiety. She finally conceded and eliminated the babysitting gig. She will only work one day a week at the gym for this final semester. With her course load and stress about the future, it's absolutely the right decision for now. I'm proud of her for doing what is best for her. 

Descending into Seattle 

Lauren, Taylor and Austin are enroute to Hawaii. They made both flights. The dog did too, which was a serious concern with temperatures in January. Austin asked me if I was going to cry when he moved. I lied. I assured him I was too excited about his pending adventures to be sad. I then gave him two jobs I needed him to complete. First, he needs to let his mommy take his picture on their adventures so she can send them to me. Second, he needs to make a list of his favorite things to do in Hawaii to share with me when I visit. He agreed to both. Then he told me he had a job for me too. He needs me to come prepared to help shake coconuts out of trees. I'll do my best. I hung up and cried.