Bad Mommy...

I can honestly say that this month I have just not been with it when it comes to getting any pictures of my littles... Either the camera wasn't with me or I just didn't feel like picking it up.  Call it a season of such laziness unfortunately.  But enjoy some of our recent frivolities... and hopefully there will be more to come soon.

ps - colored bubbles are now out-lawed at our house.... they are so stinking messy!

 **little miss is out growing her bike - we are thinking that for her birthday this year that might be the gift, so if you're wanting to get miss A a present this year (and no pressure on that!) consider instead of donating to the bike fund :)

Ice...

Today we headed to Shrek the Halls - also known as ICE...

Ice is a Holiday display set up in a local (very large) hotel.

As you may have guessed from its name, most of the display consists of ice sculptures - 

which were amazing in that 'how on earth do they do that' sort of way...

Jealous of our blue parkas?   

No worries... we didn't get to keep them, but they did help keep us warm :)

My cute nephew... 

I know Etta's eyes are closed but I just love this...

All ice... pretty amazing...

What to do when you're little one's mittens are in Michigan and you're headed into 9degrees?

Improvise of course.... so yes, yes those are socks... halloween, pumpkin socks. 

And you know what - they worked perfectly :)

Ailey on the Ice Slide...

Etta, totally toasty warm in her stroller...

After Ice, we hung out at the hotel for a bit... I didn't take too many pictures, but it was definitely  a perfect way to spend the last day before Ailey goes back to school...

my nephew...

New Years...

It seems every year brings more experiences, more layers, more character chiseling--a gradual metamorphosis into a better, brighter, and hopefully wiser being. And that fact alone makes new years thrilling. I whole-heartedly embrace 2012... and embrace all of what it might bring.


That being said - these are a few of the things I've learned this year.....

1. I learned after living in Michigan most of my life, I can love living in Orlando.  truly.

2. I finally learned, after a year of trying to grow my hair that it's not worth it.  
It's getting cut... pronto.

3. I'm learning to let go of the things that hurt me and embrace those things that encourage and give.

4. There is nothing so time critical that you can't stop for ten minutes and play with your kids.


5. Never to rent a truck from 'budget' moving company or a car... they'll squish you into a little-yellow-taxi-cab-clown-car or give you a truck you're afraid for your husband to drive all your worldly possessions in.


 6. I've learned not to push away uncomfortable feelings. Embrace them. Learn from them.

7.  Zumba is fun... embarrassing but fun (also see number 6 regarding such things)

8. Find things that make you happy. Do them. (see number 7)

9. I like to travel. But I like coming home just as much.  I never thought I'd say that.

10. I've learned the role of "spiritual guru" is a treasure. I have a few wise souls I run to when I need wisdom. They don't always tell me what I want to hear. And I love that.

11. It's okay to define the kind of mom I am as I go along. Above all, my girls will know they were loved.  (And according to Ailey that I care too much about how messy their hair is or isn't.) Truth be told they'll remember both of those things... but hopefully love over the other.

12. I need to keep learning. Pushing myself to ask questions. Read books. Google topics. Try something new. But not riding Ailey's bike because she asks you to, because you'll fall and nearly break your neck. (not, that I did that...)

13. Family is everything. Family is everything. Family is everything.

14. Friendship can get better with age.  I love my friends. I need them. (and I miss my northern ones terribly)  But friendship settles in better with age... I know what I need and what I can give.

15. I am a Harry Potter nerd.  done.  And although I suspect I'm a gryffindor, I am according to Andrew a slytherin... which I'm maybe not okay with.

16. Having a baby in no way glosses over or changes past hurt, but it has been incredibly healing for me... 

17. I've learned that quiet time can sometimes be sanity saving for both mama and child

18. Music is a part of me. I breathe in quarter notes. Music changes my moods, inspires me, motivates me, speaks to me. I've tried to dodge it, ignore it and get away from it... but it never seems to leave completely

19. *see below

20.  New Years is Special and deserves to be treated as such... celebrate it up.  

(BUT always volunteer to photograph the pool jump and not actually participate in it - it's coooooold.)

 cousins...

19.  Lastly, and perhaps most importantly...

I've learned I am not truly complete without Andrew.  I would claim independence as the day is long... but I need him.  I need the steadiness, the wisdom and the friendship.  Here's to another year of figuring out how to do life better together... 

What about you... what have you learned this year?