2014 in Review

And....it's almost over.  Where did 2014 go?  Funny how I ask that question every year, but it seems to spin faster and faster...especially with a kiddo.  Regardless, looking back, its been a pretty cool year.  First, Christmas.  It was amazing.  We had one of those nauseatingly wonderful family holidays - from spending time together, playing with Santa's toys, building a snowman (in the 60 degree heat - that takes a miracle!) to too much eating and family cooking (and tweaking some traditions!!)

Reading with Aunt Lisa - the 'stache and snazzy big guy sweater!

Playing with drums Santa brought....so cool!

What do you bring a kid that has everything?  A snowman on a 60 degree day - Uncle Alan is magic!

Santa came!

No prunes, thankyouverymuch.

 The magic of the season.

 Polish (kinda) tradition....the Bochka Pierogie!

Awesome.  And the last few days have been consumed with leftovers, cleaning up, and gearing toward 2015, which, even though I know it can be done, will be hard to beat 2014!

I finished up my ride goal today, and am really looking forward to seeing how I can top 2014 fitness wise next year.  Santa brought me an activity tracker and I have some pretty cool ideas about how to make 2015 healthier and happier.  Stay tuned :-)

So how bout them rezzies??    I really enjoyed my goals for 2014 , and looking back, I think I did ok.  I DID NOT learn to curse less, and I need to seriously work on that one for this year with a little dude that's learning to talk!  But I did get out of my shell with a new kind of race (ultras) which I pretty much fell in love with.  Please don't divorce me, babe :-P  I also tried to work on a life balance and, with the help of my awesome husband and flexible boss, managed to run an ultra, a marathon, and a half ironman.  Success.  No PR's, but I seem to be settling into shape post baby just fine and I think if I focus on one goal in 2015 I can hit it.  What would that be?  I don't know.  We'll see!  House wise, we did really well this year - we went under 6 digits on the loan which is huge for us.  And, unexpectedly, we might be moving, which was not in the books!  Will be interesting to see what the new year brings!!

How was your year?  I hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating the new year tonight - we will be having a low key gathering again this year and can't wait to ring in another amazing year!

Tis the Season

Two weeks???  Yikes.  I'm not gonna lie - the last few weeks have been so darn bust at the seams busy that at night....I just kind of collapse after putting kiddo to bed, wrapping gifts, cleaning, and yes, sometimes working until 9pm.  Needless to say, its been a bit hectic, and I sense a good ole resolution coming up - I hereby promise to post once a week, come hell or highwater.  Truth is, sometimes I really am not sure if my life is post worthy or if anyone cares to read it, but as a writer at heart, I don't ever mind sharing the mundane if you don't mind indulging me :-)  (your mundane, that is.  As you'll see ahead, I feel my life is utterly magical, especially at this time of year.  And especially with my cute little Christmas elf to make the season ten million times more wonderful!

House update - We are still in limbo.  It's a b(*&#tch selling a house during the holidays, and even more so when you can't accept any contingent offers.  Needless to say, none of the offers have been non contingent, so we are still a for salin'.  Our contract is up for renewal January 1, so we shall see what happens.  In the meantime, we have done a massive de cluttering and going through boxes we shipped out to my mom's- the VOA loves us, and we have a nice pared down stash now, and we haven't even moved yet!  Score.

In other news, work.  Nah.  We won't go there.  Two words.  Stress Salad.  Moving on...

It's Christmas, baby!  Easily my most favorite time of year, Rob and Dad (and some helpers!) have been making merry.  We've done a little baking...

 Some gingerbread house making (we started out with 3 dozen gumdrops.  Rob gave excellent direction and decided that the gumdrops looked silly on the house - much better in his mouth).

 Santa decided Rob deserved his Christmas sled a bit early....

 And we made some snowmen handprint ornaments (yes, thats a PLAY muffin tin, not to be used for baking, mom, thankyouverymuch :-P)

 And some good old fashioned Christmas wonder.

Hard to believe the big day is almost here, but without a doubt, we have been making the most of the season!  All the best wishes from our family to yours, and have a wonderful holiday!

My (super big) black friday

So....hopefully you didnt tune in for black friday shopping tips.  Yikes.  To be honest, I usually do 99% of my shopping online, using ebates, found coupon codes from fatwallet.com and the like, and a bit of dumb luck.  I did most of my shopping pre Thanksgiving and had a really lovely Norman Rockwell wanna puke Turkey day - full ofrelatives, yummy food, laughter, and off color jokes (oh c'mon, it cant all be brady bunch).  Then my cousin (god I love that girl) decided we needed to go pre black friday shopping, so I did get to enjoy the merrimant of a zillion silly people waiting for the latest x box and dollar dvds....but since it was with my girl, it was all worth it :-P

Lovin' with Great Uncle Alan

I moonlight as a flight photographer....

Day after Thanksgiving...its all good.  Ate leftover turkey, cut down the tree....

 Bought a house.  Wait, WHAT??  Yep, you got it.  While most people were dropping 3 (or 4!) figures on flat screen TVs, Greg and I heard back on a house we put an offer in on on a whim.  6 figures later....its ours :-P  Its a 5 bedroom 2 bath home in Fairport, right on the canal and less than half a mile from our old townhouse.  I guess things do come full circle.  So, of course, less than 3 days later, with a moving truck full of stuff parked in my moms garage and all of the half finished projects now finished (figures).  7 trips to Lowes, one meltdown (it was me, I own it), this happened:

Of course, it's with mixed feelings we put the house up for sale.  We moved in here 3 months after we got married.  I found out I was pregnant in this house, we brought home Rob to this home, and my little kitty has a spot in the backyard.  We have friends here.  But Fairport....seems like the place we need to be.  And so, with the right offer and a hope that the sellers in Fairport don't get a better offer (always a risk!)  this is my life right now.  A perfectly clean house, a life box, and 2 bengal cats, a toddler, and a partridge in a pear tree all ready to leap up for a showing.  We had our first open house on Sunday (house went live Wednesday) and had a favorable response so....we shall see!  Never a dull moment, is there?