NYE, Installment 10???

We've been doing this so long, I've started to lose track of how long it's been.

Has it been 10 years already? That seems a little insane.

But it never fails to impress - it's one of my most favorite days of the year. A year done, spent with our dear friends, great food, lots of laughs and champagne for the masses. Our little group can create a big bang, what can I say!

Alas, sickness and over-tiredness led us to leave an hour early - so the last few moments of the year were met with quiet and just the four of us...but we're so grateful to have friends who give us a pass.

Happy 2017 - catch you on the flip side!

Year in Review

Whoa, it's here. My annual write up of what's all gone on with the world on on our side of the street. My year in review.

It's a new street this time. The third street since I started writing this blog. It's a new house with new friends and new neighbors.

And still lots of the old friends, too.

It was a year of personal growth for Hubs and me. We took time to investigate us...what happens when I'm anxious...what happens when he's over-stressed. We looked at what it means to be us and how that comes together. Insightful - somewhat challenging - a little painful - and truly rewarding.

I love this guy and I love being married to him.

Which got us to 10 years this year. How did a decade of "I DO" go by so fast? He's my other part. He's my people.

We celebrated 10 in Atlanta to start - cause y'all know that while my BFF is mine....he adores her, too. And her husband. And we had a ball. And then we took the party to Europe - with our friends- and traipsed from one side of the Med to the other. We waited 5 years for that trip and it was ahhhhmaaazzzing. Oh, let me tell you.

We lost some friends this year - because life just takes those turns. We've said to good bye to friendships - and hello to more. We relish in the fact that we evolve. Because the good Lord does grant us people that add so much to our lives - front yard, back yard and all the yards in between.

We took some family trips - we found new adventures with passports in to Canada - and the hopes of what could come in the year ahead.

The kiddos started a new school. I wish that it was all roses and sunshine, but God also gives us some good challenges to show us what we're made of - that we can rely on his blessings. We can find peace in a culture of anxiety...we can find joy under pressure. We can get surprised at all we learn from church (which I did) and all we learn from listening and sharing.

But it is in the moment of "now" that I find that I really did soar. My wishes tomorrow night will talk of finding my happy spot.

I'm tickled to say the girl I remember - being so full of joy - she's coming back. If 2016 was the year of being a duck and letting it go, then 2017 was going to be all about breathing in and out. And dang, if I didn't get it better.

Not right. Right is too hard.

But I got it better.

I hiccuped along the way - but don't I always? I lost my voice and my desire to write for a while. I can't say I've found it all back. In fact, I found Instagram, and I like it. It's pushing me back to photography, which I like. But the joyful me who laughs more than she cries...she''s back. Ahhhh.

So.

It's not the year in review I thought I'd write - because I'm hitting the end of 2017 in probably the most peaceful, zen-like spot I've ever been.

Old dog still learning more new tricks?

Heck ya.

Now, if I could figure out how to cover up my grey hair....ah, a project for the year ahead!

Just kidding. Mostly.

But to my children, who I do honestly write all this for - I love you. I'm so proud to be your mother. I love what yo bring to my life.

And 20 years from now when you're doing NYE on your own somewhere - I hope you have a solid group of friends to share the day with. I hope you make wishes and hopes for yourself - written down on scraps of paper, tucked in envelopes to be read the following year. I hope you have great food, good music, a full glass, many toasts, a wiser heart and a mind open to what ever life may bring you. I hope that has you turn from 2037 to 2038....you stop for just a moment to count your blessings, thank God daily for them, that you live generously and with compassion. That you'll learn from your mistakes and never stop trying. You are wholly and dearly loved.

You are my sunshines...here's to 2018.
Love to all,
Me.

Comfort People

To some, it's comfort food - to me, it's comfort people. The BFF here -with her kiddos - and it was just a pleasant, happy, everyone-got-along, good time.

I'm just  happy clam when she's here.

Her Birthday

KK has been 7 for about a week, but she's been planning a little party for at least a month or two.

Let's be frank, parties scare me.

I can throw a good one for adults. For kids? I'm nervous they'll hate it or give me grief or I'll forget something.

Alas, it was time I sucked it up and let her have a little party. With 2 friends from school, my BFF and her two and our family friends that live down the street, we decended on the bowling alley and...wait for it...

everyone had fun.

Parents included.

Maybe I'll do it again.

We'll see!

Welcome Back to Our New Home

They're here! They're here!! We've waited all month - counted down the days - to the day after Christmas, to find our beloved Atlanta friends up from the balmy south to a full-on 9 degrees. 

That's a whole lot of joy that just arrived in our house!

Happy Christmas

With the snow coming down in buckets, our family still made the pretty-close trek to our new home for a meal and presents. Poor little niece got ill, so our festivities ended early, but alas, we still had a good time opening some pretty awesome gifts and digging out of the snow. 

It's a wonderful time of year for some - not all - and for our friends who find this day with heavy hearts, we see you. We pray for you. We send our love near and far. And we hope for peace to find its way to you.

Happy Christmas, one and all.

Santa, I Know Him!

One of my favorite lines: "Santa, I know him!!" 

We've probably got this year - maybe one more - with the man in the red suit. He's still going to deliver, but the magic will be more developed and understood. The joy will remain. 

But tonight, we celebrate the fact that he is en route. We've got our sugar cookies to overload with sprinkles and our plate to put them on. And if we remember milk and carrots, then that's a bonus. 

It's Christmas Eve, 2017. It's starting to snow - we served at church for the first time - and as a family. It's chilly and glistening and gorgeous and calm and bright. 

We've got heat. We've got food. We've got gas in the cars, socks on our feet and presents under the tree. We've got Christmas blessings all around us. 

And in our usual tradition, it will be A Christmas Story (for the first time with the kids) and then White Christmas with a fire and Christmas lights. It'll be lovely. And we'll sing praises to the Savior, born in a manger; a King to save the world.

These Hooligans

Every year, they don't fail to impress me - they get bigger, but they still love their younger cousins. They get busier, but they always find the time. They get more mature, but they will still play. 

They have patience and kindness - and each year, when we celebrate Christmas and slow down the chaos of the week, it's one of my favorite times.

The 12th First Date

Each year, we celebrate. Each year, we laugh at how I baited him and he fell in love immediately. Each year, we toast to the fact that we get better. 

I'm such a lucky lady.

School Parties

The end of school for 2017 is here - the last day in our new class, new building, where we are starting to feel like we fit in. A little bit.

With the 11th hour on the very last day right after a winter storm warning, we snuck in one holiday party with lots of good humor...and with it in the record books, we're home now for 2 full weeks - with dadda! Let the fun begin!

A Few More

Just a few photos of the girl and her cake - because that's a lot of joy!

Happy #7

Oh my sweet baby girl, here you are at 7 already. Wasn’t I just lamenting that you’d never arrive? That I’d be pregnant forever?

You’re a negotiator. You’re persistent and diligent. You’ll concentrate better than most kids I know – but you’re service oriented, too. Acts of service still remain your love language.

You’re a hugger and a giggler – you’ll pump your hands up in the air with glee. Your sweet little girl voice comes out and you’re just a charmer.

Oh, but help us if you’re sad. Those alligator tears come and pour down those apple cheeks, just killing us. Well, most of the time. The other times, we look at you exasperated, as you’ve got Broadway in your future, kid.

You’re adapting well to school, everyone likes you, you’re making friends and you’re excited to have play dates with new neighbor girls.

You’ll chase your brother and keep up.

You’re getting pickier with your food – which drives me nuts, but girl, you’ve got some good opinions. And then all at once, you shock me senseless and declare how much you love something.

You’re reading now, and doing math, and remembering your library books on Wednesday and that gymnastics is on Thursdays. You’ll mother anyone, correcting them if need be.

As always, you remain a delight to us all – you are Daddy’s little girl and a fantastic little sister. You’re our pudding pop, sisselfriss, baby girl and lambie pie. You’re our KitKat bar, our KK and the light of our life.

Happy #7 angelmuffin.

I love you forever, I like you for always. As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.

Family Christmas

Kala Christouyenna from the Greek side of the family!