2026 Goals

So I've found making a bunch of random goals I just HOPE to get to or work on makes it hard to concentrate on getting them accomplished. Instead, I made a list of things I do expect to complete and I'm so excited to see how things look when I'm done. So, here we go:

1. Work on my anxieties: I used to think I only got PP anxiety, but I've noticed I get it for silly reasons now (like if Larry is out and I have to take on all the kids by myself...there's no reason for me to be anxious about taking care of my kids!) and I'd like to calm down a bit. My plan is to think about why I'm anxious and what's the worst that can happen. Try not to plan things, but realize there can be fun in the things I don't control.
   
   
2. No more rushing things: I'm always looking at the next thing I have planned. I might have something fun planned for a weekend, and then the weekend comes and instead of enjoying the thing I have planned, I'm thinking of the next thing I have planned. I need to be in the moment more. This is going to include my walking. I've noticed I walk WAY too fast all the time, I'm not sure why, but I need to slow it down!
   
   
3. Enjoy more free/cheaper activities: less spending on family things (or do more at home), quit having to feel like I need to leave to have fun (I did A LOT of leaving the house and spending so much money last year, but by December I was done doing that if it wasn't needed and we ended up having fun on the days we just stayed home and did whatever we felt like)
   
   
4. Open our business and enjoy being business owners! This will be one of the most exciting things for our year! 
   
   
5. Go camping as a family: we had so much fun on our camping trip last year so this year I've got plans to go to Yellowstone and Moab and we'll have SO much fun in both areas. I'm so excited for these!
   
   
6. Attempt more dates with Larry: We did the two this year and they were fun. I still don't feel like we NEED them, but I know Mom really wants to watch the kids more so I might as well do some fun things with Larry and let her have fun with them. 
   
   
7. Get the house officially in order: I need to stick to my routines, quit making excuses, find something productive to do each day, and focus on what can be done.
   
   
8. Read more books this year than I did last year. Even if it's just by 1. I want to read more and make it more a priority.

All in all they should all be accomplished and I'll be happy to see how much better things are by December!

Happy New Year!

We had such a fun time celebrating New Year's Eve. I've been hearing a few different ways to celebrate with kids that go to bed before midnight and so this year I decided to do a Noon Years Eve party. We did one at the library last year, which was fun (but I did have a headache so that made it a little iffy) and they advertised they'd be doing it again this year, but they were separating it by age and they mentioned you had to have tickets that would only be available an hour before it started AND there would be limited availability. That sounded too stressful, so we figured out own would be better. 

As a bonus we had just gotten a bunch of games for Christmas, so I decided to bring out a tray for lots of snacks, let the kids have some soda (their absolute favorite treat), and we could play games all counting down to noon (still 12, but an earlier version). I also surprised them with a balloon drop that I did from upstairs into the living room. Larry had to work, but he made sure to come out for the countdown and watch their excitement. Overall, this was so much fun and I intend to do this in future years, we told them they could stay up till midnight with us once they were 10, but not before then, haha.

For Larry and me, after the kids went down, we put on our Naked Gun trilogy set we had been holding onto and did our usual playing games, eating snacks, and having fun asking "get to know you" questions. I love doing this every year, though I'm having a harder time eating all that I want (I have to stop even though I want to keep going haha). 

We're so excited to celebrate a new year, we talked about all the things we're looking forward to in the new year, plans we're making, goals we expect to achieve, and I just absolutely love having conversations like that. We have a great year planned! 

So happy end of 2025, and onto a new and great 2026!!