december recap

I am sad to see December go because I enjoy this time of year so much, but there is something so thrilling and rejuvenating about January.
 
It's the end of December, and I spent this month: watching my girl grow (she turned 3 months this month); fitting in as many festive activities with my family as possible; celebrating Jesse's birthday, my birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas. Needless to say, it was a hectic, but always magical month.
 
This month I am happy that I was able to accomplish some of my December goals.
 
This is a rundown of them.
 
★Embrace the present moment & be flexible
As always this is difficult for me and something I don't think I'll ever be able to cross off. I tend to be one of those people that thinks and plans ahead and forgets to appreciate the here and now. I especially want to remember to enjoy the present while Juli is still so little. I spend my days rocking, nursing, changing diapers, sleeping little to tend to her, making meals for my girls, cleaning up the never ending mess with little ones. The days are hectic and unbelievably busy, but there is beauty in the everyday. I want to embrace the beauty, appreciate the loveliness of the moment.
 
★Stick with my December Daily
I'm so happy to have made another December Daily album. When last year's December Daily was passed around during our Christmas celebration, I took great pride in documenting the memories. Becky Higgins is onto something with that "cultivating a good life and recording it" bit.

★Exercise at least 30 minutes a day (Monday through Friday)
Epic fail as my youngest brother Joshua would say. I realized this month that I am need to revamp my old exercise routine because I'm bored of it. I love Zumba and am looking into joining a gym nearby that offers classes daily. The plus side is I may enjoy other classes taught, as well.

★Track diligently
Another fail of epic portions. I exaggerate. I did track some days, but not as "diligently" as I would have liked. I'm doing better this week so far. My sister said something that struck a chord with me. "Even if I don't track, my body is faithfully tracking every thing I eat."  I wish my body wasn't so diligent with the tracking. ;)
 
★Make handmade Christmas decorations
The only thing we made were salt dough ornaments. I had read how so many had made these when they were kids, but I never did.  My girls can now say they made these as kids. ;)  I did make the cinnamon applesauce ones when I was a kid though (they smelled amazing).  Anyway, I wanted to do some more crafting, but it was so busy this month. I was thinking it might be fun to do some Christmas crafting in the summer for our daily, fun summer activities- a "Christmas in July" kind of thing.
 
Well, it's New Year's Eve. I can hardly believe it. Do you have any plans?  My family and I get together every year and share a meal. Close to midnight, we eat 12 grapes making a wish on each one, hold change (only silver coins) superstitiously hoping for a prosperous new year, countdown and toast to the new year.  Complicated, much? Sounds crazy, but it's fun.
I hope you have a good one!

Read more about my goals for 2013 here.

Don't forget to sign up:

Today is the last day!