Happy New Year!
Its gonna be a big year for us, and we started off in a big way so far- for some of us anyways.
New Year’s Eve was about as wild as it could be for the parents of a 10 year old and 4 year old. We were in deep sleep by 9:45.
However, we got to spend a few days at the beach with our small family, and then were joined by some friends for a few days. The weather was solid, and no matter how many times I tell these kids “only get your feet wet”, they always end up soaked. You know what? as long as a change of clothes is available (and it was), who cares?
There is a place that does an annual “dropping of the shark” for new year’s eve. It used to be pretty popular, but slowed down quite a bit during covid. They used to do a “shark drop” at 9pm for kids, and midnight for everyone else. Now, they only do the 9pm for kids, and this was the most crowded it has been in a while- it was great. Rosie loved being able to “stay up late” with some friends:
It was a great couple days to just hang out and relax. Almost all the kids are out of diapers (except for Millie, and we love Millie), and the kids are a lot easier now then they were just 2-3 years ago.
As soon as we got back from the beach, Taylor went to Miami. It was part of her turning 40 with some of her best friends since- forever.
So for three days with the kids, who were sick of each other after a never-ending Christmas break, the best I could come up with was to take them to an ACC basketball game, and watch Wake Forest play against NC State, in Winston Salem. I got some cheap tickets, but the fees are nuts.
The game was great, and the girls fell asleep HARD on the way home- maybe the first time Rosie fell asleep in the car in 5 years.
What else is there to do with two kids that have spent too much time together over a never-ending Christmas break?
Go to church. The service was great, over too early, and way, wayy before going home, at least one of the two girls asked, “What else are we doing today?”.
The answer to that question was, “A whole lot of nothing. It will be a very, very boring day.”
It snowed. We played. We painted pictures and got creative. My mom came over to visit and played a game of memory with Mercy. The day slowly moved by. And then there was a snow day after that so both Mercy and Rosie were out of school for yet another day…
On top of everything else, I have been working through some new year’s resolutions since Rosie pointed out how big my belly was in a picture during our trip to New York. She wasn’t wrong, so I have been working out a bit, and trying to eat no carbs, dairy, or sugar (basically, eat only meats, vegetables, and fruit). Not following a specific diet, but cutting out all carby/starchy foods and alcohol to see what happens:
I started doing intermittent fasting too, which is basically limiting eating to only 8 hours a day. For me that means after dinner, wait 16 hours to eat. So far, I lost 6 pounds in 8 days. I think I would rather be happy and full though…
Meanwhile Taylor was in Miami and it looked like they were having fun:
These four have been friends since the beginning, and they all have a big 4-0 birthday, and combined it all to do a short trip to Miami Beach together.
It looks like they had a blast-paddle boarding, pool, and…not children.
Im kidding of course- I am glad they got a chance to get away. Taylor does an endless amount around the house keeping us going, so it is great she got to get away with some of her besties- they are an awesome group, and it is good for the soul to reconnect.
Even though I pictured Miami Beach to be something wild, it sounded like there is a lot to do around the area.
Anyways, the year is off to a roaring start, and Taylor and I both have big birthdays and an anniversary to look forward to this year. Buckle up!