Happy New Year

Wow, so am I the only one who feels like we just experienced a warp speed year? To look back on this year I visualize myself waking up from a sound sleep only to find myself in the middle of a busy intersection with cars racing by me in a million directions. Who? Huh? What the...... (think Quantum Leap here... that was my 2015)

Does anyone do New Years Resolutions? I used to laugh at people who asked what my resolutions were.... Uhhh, keep living my exciting fabulous life JUST LIKE THIS!!! And then I got older.... and wiser (so I tell myself) and I would face a new year and think OK... What CAN I do better? What are my goals? This unnamed "wise" year must of been when I started list making. lol. My husband is rolling his eyes as he reads the word "list" I assure you. I make lists of things I need to make lists of.

Example List: 

1. plan meals (which will be a list of days and meals.... that I never stick to)
2. make a grocery list
3. goals for while Dustin is gone (this turns into an unrealistic list that has to be broken down a few times, first into the week by week goals list, then the day by day list and then the revised "I haven't got crap done off that list so lets see what I can do quick with the biggest impact" list. haha!

The problem is I am a sanguine at heart with a little melancholy sneaking in on me .. HECK, I'm supposed to be cleaning house right now and here I am in front of my laptop! If you have seen UP (the adorable kids movie) then you probably remember the funny dog with the collar that helped him talk... well he was constantly distracted by spotting a squirrel. Dustin sees me get off track 10 times a day and he loves to say "squirrel!"

 Anyways...

 Ya, so what I learned by making New Years Resolutions is that it's all a mind game, right? I mean we are coming off the Christmas high of overspending & overeating (sometimes over-drinking) and we see a fresh 365 ahead and seems like a good time to grasp control of ourselves. It's like a faux fresh start, though I tend to look at every Monday like that as well! THIS year, I'm going to lose some weight or work out everyday or get organized or quit drinking or quit sugar! I am an overly vocal being and I'd like to advise those like me from making New Years Resolutions out loud. I mean all of those things are good goals but the second I say I'm quitting something like sugar, I know I'll find myself hidden in the corner of a dark closet with red rat eyes nibbling on a Snickers bar and hating myself for it! Organized?!? Oh please, I mean, filing is nice and all but I pretty much know which pile to look in for whatever your looking for, just don't touch my piles up! Lose weight? Who doesn't put that pressure on themselves!?!? Ok, so a few of you meat heads are looking for "gains" but you are not average human, so let's get that straight before the argument begins. When Dustin is about to head back to work we usually have a conversation that goes something like this. Me "Ugh, I am going to get back to working out while your gone this time!" Dustin, "Uhh ya.. me too for sure!" When we catch ourselves having this same disgusted convo now, we kind-of giggle about it.. we DO need to work out, we DO need to eat clean.. honestly though (premeditated excuse coming your way) we live our lives in 3 week increments and it feels like we should go out to eat and treat each day as if we are on a fabulous vacation together! haha! So maybe 2016 we will find new ways to stay-cation together trading enchiladas and margaritas for bike rides and fresh air! (ugh... maybe bike rides and a glass of wine..... nooo how about a glass of wine and fresh air! Now that is a resolution I can do! Good for me! I shall trade in enchiladas & margaritas for wine & fresh air!! Sometimes... )

So Christmas in Chattanooga was awesome! It poured rain for days so even though it was in the 70's it appeared to be cold outside and felt festive! Dustin knocked my socks off for those of you who don't know! Christmas Stockings have always been my favorite part of all the Christmas traditions. I like shopping for fun little goodies and the boys can't preshake and feel these items over and tell me they know what it is (ANNOYING, right?). Dustin gave me my ring in a Christmas stocking many years ago.... wrapped in masking tape!?! I seriously thought it was trash from Christmas past and mindlessly picked at the tape to see why it was hard before tossing it in the trash pile! I was clueless and shocked! Even after I saw it was a ring, I was like "what the...... look what I found!?!?" and then realized he was crawling across the floor to ask me to marry him! What a guy! So this year I kinda knew what all was in my stocking.... because I pretty much gave it to him to put in it! lol. So I'm like, "ooooh, wrinkle cream! Ohhhh, a new lipstick! yay Santa!" and then I realize one of the things I pulled out was foreign.... it was a key fob! I got a new car in my stocking!!!! I have NEVER had a new car! I was raised in the car world. My dad had a used car dealership and it was inbred into me that a new car was for fools! "Just flushing money down the toilet the second you pull it off the lot" And then my dad got older.... and he started buying NEW CARS! haha! I'm sure he was still coming out ahead somehow because he's pretty smart like that, but every time Dustin and I toyed with car shopping I couldn't swallow the idea. I mentioned in a past email I got a 2007 Jeep Commander (instead of a new car which we shopped for) I love it and it was/is reliable but I realize I was kinda fearful in it, if I heard a weird sound I would park it and drive Dustin's truck until he got home because I was scared to breakdown in a town where I barely know anyone to help me!!! Anyways, taking me out of the purchasing process was as much of a gift as the car and the second I sat in it I felt so cared for and safe! Sometimes Dustin asks me to take care of things and I get the deer in the headlights haze.... like WHAT?!?! I'm not capable, you need to do that for me! Well his work doesn't allow me to be that "kept" of a woman, plus I'm annoyed at myself when I act like that. So often I have to push past my fears and usually end up quite proud of myself. This car made up for all those times I felt thrown to the wolves for something I was uncomfortable doing on my own haha... I cried every time I drove it for the first 3 days! Seriously! Well I'd start out crying and then it would turn into laughing because I couldn't believe I was crying again! It was such a smart and thoughtful purchase for our family at this place and time!!! The car itself frighteningly smart too! I could seriously push a button and it will steer itself inside the lane! That's kinda scary, right??? You might be next to someone in a car like mine who is facebooking while their car is steering itself! Yikes!

Let's not even talk about what I got Dustin because it all sucked in comparison (obviously), the PLAN was we would not blow a bunch of money on Christmas and get our conex purchased and delivered up at the "ranch" as well as our new garage for here at the house. Well, I followed the "plan" and he did not! haha! Peyton got a big boy RC car and a very cool futon for his newly remodeled bedroom. Nick got new exhaust, a new starter and a windshield wiper motor installed on his truck as well as some fancy work boots. Everyone's hearts were full of joy & we did a crab boil! On Christmas Eve morning Dustin took the boys hunting while I baked and cooked all day for our Christmas eve smorgasbord feast, which we think will be an annual tradition. It was hard being so far away from all of our friends and family but this move has strengthened our family bond for sure.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and I want to apologize to many of you who did not get a Christmas card from us!!! I meant well but I could not find my new address book so I was limited on the ones I had and THEN I ran out of stamps so I still have a stack of filled out cards with no stamps sitting in one of my "organized piles". You will just have to make a New Years Resolution to forgive me if you did not receive one! 

No pictures this email because..... well... I'm supposed to be cleaning house. haha! I'm dieing to show off Dustin's hard work in Peyton's new room too and I need to get pics and he needs to clean his room! So... pics to come next time!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year to you and your family!

Much love!!