It's Time for a Change

I've grown to love the idea of a new year.  When I was younger, it just meant staying up till midnight, maybe going to a NYE party, but it was no big deal.  As I get older, I feel like it's a great time to assess the past year, and make new goals for the new year.  I laughed looking back at my 2014 resolutions.  When I wrote that, I was thinking, "If I get most of this stuff done, I'll really have it together."  Reality is that I accomplished about 1/3 of that list, and had I been able to cross everything off my list, that alone wouldn't have been the scale to base whether or not my year was successful/happy/good.  I'm learning. 

Earlier this month, a friend, who is my christian mentor, posed this question to me, "Who is Haley, other than a mom?"  I really didn't know how to answer that.  Every part of my being has been consumed by this one role in my life.  When we dove in to the subject further, I began to see how I was substituting areas in my life {that could bring great value} for artificial things.  This friend asked me when do I take time for myself, to hang out with my friends, and to do things I enjoy.  I really had to think about it because none of that happens often.  She suggested I've let social media  (because it is a quick way to stay in touch with lots of people) substitute real one on one time with friends.  As much as I hated to admit that, it's true.  I used the excuse I didn't have time to get out, it was hard with all the kids, Kevin's work schedule never synced well with friendly get-togethers, so albeit, I accepted "keeping up" with people for real friendship.  I'm taking social media out of the picture for an indefinite amount of time this year to force myself to make real friendships and take care of existing friendships.  Progress.

I also have a 100% record of making best friends that move away.  It's inevitable that distance makes the friendship distant too, or that's the way it has always seemed to be.  Instead of making another friend that would eventually move away, I stuck with my pattern of staying at home and did what's comfortable.  I'm happy to report that in the first 3 months of the year, I'll be seeing 3 of my best friends that have moved away.  Progress.

When I have free time at night (or during naps), I'll waste the time looking at magazines, watching tv, or browsing some of the apps on my phone (pinterest, craigslist, or the internet).  I say wasting time because I get nothing out of it.  It occupies my mind for the time being, but it doesn't feed my soul.  I understand not every second of my day has to be productive and my body and mind need time to rest, but I want to challenge myself this new year to use some of that down time to work on hobbies I enjoy.

Looking back to who I saw myself as before I had kids, I use to take pride in my appearance.  It's debatable whether that pride was unhealthy and artificial, but lately I've grown comfortable with the dirty pony tail and pjs look.  10 years ago you wouldn't have caught me ever looking that way for very long.  I want to make myself physically and emotionally healthy and stronger.  I don't want  to feel guilty about spending time to get myself ready.  That may mean sacrificing sleep on my end, but I don't want to be a frumpy mom that blames my frumpiness on having kids.  My kids are four of the best blessings I've ever received, so I want that reflected by the way I look, the way I talk, the way I carry myself, and the way I do every day life. 

Here are more substituions I've made...

• Well thought out meals and healthy foods --> Quick, easy, fast food that quickly gets expensive as a result of little to no planning
• A marriage that connects us spiritually, physically, and emotionally --> If we aren't arguing then everything is fine
• Plan for the day and be intentional -->  Keep everyone happy, and just keep going
• Daily quiet time --> A quick daily devotion is enough
• Being true to myself and the way God has wired me --> Trying to fit in and be accepted just for the sake of trying to receive someones approval
• Having a parenting plan --> Just trying to make it through the day

Please tell me you can relate with one of those.  I feel like I'm learning a lot about me, about what I want my life to look like, and what changes I need to make in order for me to live according to the purpose I was created for. 

2014 has made me aware, and I'm hoping 2015 can be a year when I start changing these things mentioned above.  I'm not going to get it perfect, ever, and I know that.  But I do know I can do a better job.  I can be a better Haley, which will make me a better wife, and a cooler mom (Hayden told me over Christmas break I was a cool mom ha!)  To wrap it up, my favorite Christmas gift this year was my new watch.  I really had no intentions of getting a watch, but I saw it, I loved it, and that old spontaneous Haley disregarded the price tag and thought it would be a great symbol to remind me that "It's time for a change".

Happy New Year to you!

Austin's 1st Birthday

We were all anxious to celebrate our baby's 1st birthday!  I was torn whether or not to take all our Christmas decorations down Christmas night (so it didn't still look like Christmas) but my mom told me not to and when I started thinking about it, I loved having stockings hanging up on my birthday.  I use to hide gifts and cash in my stocking.  I loved all the decorations and they just added to my birthday celebration!  I hope Austin grows up feeling the same way.  

He woke up around 8am and opened his gits from us. 

We spent the morning cleaning and cooking and getting ready for his party.  He laid down for his morning nap around 10 and didn't wake up till after 2!  Kevin had just returned home with his birthday balloons.  It was time to get him a bath and get him ready for his party!

Because there wasn't much down time on Christmas, I didn't have a chance to make his cakes the day before like I did for the other kids.  I made funfetti and strawberry cupcakes and his little smash cake was funfetti. 

The cousins enjoyed party hats and balloons!

For dinner I made vegetable soup w/cornbread and white bean jalapeno popper stew with fritos.  Soups were definitely the way to go!  We had all eaten big/heavy meals the last several days, so soup on a cold day was perfect! 

The siblings and cousins all enjoyed opening gifts.  Austin didn't mind sharing the spotlight.  

However, he did love his bat mobile car and had no intentions of sharing and that made for a sad little cousin!  Poor Olive.

After gifts, we sang him 'Happy Birthday' and he poked and tasted his little smash cake.  His first go around with cake (for his 1 year pics) wasn't very successful, so I was happily surprised when he dug in and ate!

I didn't remember to put his hat on when the cake eating started {darn it} but I was happy I did get a picture of him wearing it!

He had a great 1st birthday and we are so thankful for this little guy!

Christmas 2014

Here's a look at our Christmas!
(FYI:  Austin wasn't feeling great the days leading up to Christmas, and everyone started getting colds.  Two days after Christmas, Allie and I sat at the MEC center for 3+ hours waiting to be seen.  She had a fever and ear infection.  I have a feeling we will be going back to the doctor for someone else before the year is over!) 

The kids always enjoy eating what I bake but I figured Hayden and Allie were old enough to start helping me decorate what I bake!  I piped on icing and gave them both sprinkles.  I showed them how I sprinkle and told them to do the same.  They did pretty good!

Kid tested - and approved!

 Christmas Eve we had Kevin's parents over to celebrate.  The kids wanted to skip dinner and go straight to gifts, but we were party poopers and said no!  I made beef tips in brown gravy, parmesan mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and crescent rolls.

The kids all loved their gifts.

We didn't get many smiles out of him!

Hayden was modeling the Christmas hat that sang "jingle bells."

This is how Santa left our family room on Christmas....  By the fireplace were personalized monograms to hang above their beds {and those were more for me than them}.

A kitty purse.  She also got a baby doll, baby stroller, 2 books, and an ornament.

Austin got a big music toy set, a stuffed puppy, a pounding bench, an ornament, and books.

Austin and his doggy!  Hayden got the red scooter Austin was sitting on.

Hayden also got 2 Pokemon cards he's been wanting.  He was thrilled! (and books, a binder to put his pokemon cards in, and an ornament!)

Krissy got this cute little bear wearing a dress, a baby stroller, an Elsa & Anna baby doll, books and an ornament.

This is where the pictures stop.  We spent Christmas lunch with Kevin's family and extended family, and spent Christmas dinner with my family.   It was a busy, but Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

Wishing you joy today and always!

Love, The Devines

Weekly Happenings - December 19

• Did I really not post last week?  I know I typed up something... maybe I hit delete instead of publish?  I remember typing about my birthday.  It was on the 7th.  We started the day out slow, then ran errands, ate lunch at Jason's Deli (and we've already gone back b/c we enjoyed it so much), got a pedicure, ate some turtle pie, and spent the evening with my little family.  I got flowers, accessories, jamberry nails, clothes, cash, gift certificates, and a "climbing clip" (I think that's what they are called) from Hayden.  It was a great day!
  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  

  
  

• I've spent most of the month in the kitchen and I have no complaints about that!  I've tried many new recipes for dinner, and I have every good intention in the world to blog about them, but I never seem to find the time!  New Years Resolution maybe!?  I need to share them though because they have all been keepers!  I've also wanted to spend time baking for other people.  Kevin took a haul of food into work yesterday, and Hayden's teacher and bus driver have been given sweets too.  I would like to still bake for my neighbors & friends, make sugar cookies with Hayden and Allie, and do a couple Christmas crafts early next week.

Here's a run down of what I baked up this week:
Sugar cookies

Gingersnaps

Gingerbread men

Buckeyes

Snickerdoodles

Caramel Corn

• On top of gearing up for Christmas, I keep thinking in the back of my mind that I really need to be planning a 1st Birthday Party too :-X  It's going to be thrown together, but I know it will be great.  I'm trying to keep the food on the simple side, and remind myself that Austin will enjoy anything we do, and obviously he won't remember any part of it, so I don't need to stress about it!
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

• Hayden got some recognition for his great year of popcorn sales at the pack Christmas party on Tuesday.  His name was on the t-shirt for selling over $1,000, he received a gold medal with his name and total sales, and he was recognized by the council's popcorn chair person.  She told us he ranked #17 out of all the scouts in Southwestern Indiana and Southern Illinois (which consists of 132 packs, and our pack alone has 87 scouts).  We were proud of him :)
  
  
  

  

• Hayden also had his first sick day of school.  I was told Tuesday evening that 3 kids were out in Hayden's class due to the flu.  Hayden woke up Wednesday morning dry heaving and I just knew that spelled trouble.  I called the office and said he hadn't thrown up yet, but I wasn't even going to chance sending him to school - and I should have because he ended up being just fine!  Not sure what caused the little mishap that morning, but I'm so thankful it wasn't the full blown flu right before Christmas.

• The last highlight I want to mention is on the 18th we decided to start weening Austin off his bottles.  We went to two bottles a day and the kid didn't bat an eye.  He's drinking milk out of a sippy cup like a champ and eating literally everything we put in front of him (and anything he can get his hands on - which includes what his sisters don't eat!)  Our plan is when this last container of formula is gone, the bottles will be gone too!  That will probably happen this coming week!
  
  
  
  

The girls are doing great, getting along most of the time, and tend to keep me smiling all day! 

Check back in throughout the rest of the month and I promise to have some more frequent posts!  Lots going on around here that I want to write down and remember :)