Embrace.

Ahhh, 2015. You have arrived with much anticipation. Matt and I toasted our traditional Chandon champaign (this time with orange juice ice cubes) to a year hopefully filled with exciting changes for our family. 

Whether or not these changes happen though, my 2015 will be embraced, any way it unfolds for me.

I have done some new years resolutions and then not. This year I wanted to try to improve my outlook more than one individual thing. 

I will EMBRACE whatever comes our way.

We can plan and dream and try our hardest, but sometimes life doesn't work out to the map you made in your mind. This doesn't mean there isn't beauty in it though; great, precious, time sensitive beauty.

I want to see all the beauty because it is now and will never be again.

I hope for a lot of changes this year and in the process I want to be present with my toddler and infant. Em is so interested in the world around her and is starting to reach for things, tracks everything and awkwardly brings objects to her mouth. I know her learning curve over the next few months, will be huge. J is a sponge, he just picks up everything and applies it. He is trying to learn his letters, especially those from his name, and his imagination is at an all time high that I know hasn't peaked. I want to EMBRACE all their development and tender time as kiddos. 

For all of my professional career I have been a coach too. For the first time I will be a coach with two kids of my own. Who know how long coaching is in my future. I have done it this long because I enjoy it. Despite the challenges it will bring this spring I will EMBRACE all that coaching high school athletics brings. 

Since I graduated college I have lived mainly in one place, changing that seems (although at times necessary) uncomfortable. If it works out, it will not be an easy process. Stressful and time consuming, but one that I don't hope to do often so I want to EMBRACE every smile and tear along the way. 

Some ideas to help me EMBRACE life in 2015 involve being more organized and present. My 2015 planner and lists (post-it notes and all) are going to be a big part. Next is eliminating social media before bed and in the early morning. Last is staying healthy....do you know that for the first year in my life (well since at least jr. high) I did NOT work out in last year (like, at all)!?!?! Most of the year was medical, some of it was exhaustion, and the other was just over all being more present to my kid and then kids. Well 2015, we are bringing back the sweat, and drinking more water, and eating more spinach and yogurt. 

Well, as for our actual new years celebration;

We kicked off the new year at a friends house where the number of kids is quickly creeping up to out numbering the adults. Although Jackson was battling some typical symptoms from a kid at day care in the winter, he still made it till midnight for the third (out of three) year in a row. With all the kids we wanted to be sure they had entertainment aside from us parents, so I put together some excitement for them. Each hour from 8-11pm each kid was able to open a bag that contained something that was sure to hold their interest for the night....yeah right, for at least five minutes ;)

There were fun straws, paper airplanes and stickers (the stickers were a way bigger hit than the plane), pull back cars, glow bracelets and ring pops. They were a hit overall and so worth the time. Next year I hope to find some things that they could interact together more with (are 3-4 year olds too young for games??)

Our little guy (& lady) slept a good chunk of the first of 2015. J keeps asking about going back for another new year party so I think he had a great kick off to his third year!

I wish you all a wonderful 2015. Embrace whatever comes your way.