2017 Intentions ~ The Year of the PURGE!

I love to write out goals and lists.  Whether I complete them all, I feel I am better off than if I never set goals at all.  Last year, I started calling them "intentions".  Words are powerful and it's a positive twist.  A new year is an opportunity for a fresh start.  A fresh start is definitely needed.  I am a glass half full, optimistic, and overall positive person.  However, I've been beat up pretty badly and am trying to improve my quality of life as well as those around me.  Here's hoping 2017 is a year of rebuilding, growth, and heading in a positive direction!

1. Purge 17 areas of the house (see below) (0/17)
2. Read 17 books for me (0/17)
3. Read 17 Chapter books to the kids (0/17)
4. Purge 17 items each week and blog it (0/52)
5. Cross 17 things off of my 101 in 1001 list (0/17)
6. Have people over 17 times (0/17)
7. Go on 17 dates with Brian (0/17)
8. Try 17 new recipes (0/17)
9. Purge 17 pounds (0/17)
10. Run/Walk 170 miles (0/170)                              
11. Go to 17 new restaurants (0/17)
12. Post 17 Homeschool Highlights (0/17)
13. Spend 17 hours Scrapbooking (0/17)
14. Work 170 hours in the yard PURGING (0/170)
15. Pray the Rosary 17 times (0/17)
16. Pay It Forward 17 times (0/17)
17. Purge Negativity by writing 17 posts about blessings in my life (0/17)

17 Areas of the House:
#1 Kitchen
#2 Hutch and Credenza
#3 Macie's Room
#4 Gavin's Room
#5 Lilah's Room
#6 Our Bedroom
#7 School Room
#8 Laundry Room
#9 Garage
#10 Game Closet
#11 Coat Closet
#12 Downstairs Bathroom
#13 Upstairs Bathroom
#14 Storage Shed
#15 All Attic Storage (Garage, Lilah's room, Macie' room, Our room)
#16 Aztec
#17 Buick

How'd I Do? ~ 2016 Intentions

2016 is quickly coming to a close!  Wow has this year been a doozy.  Looking back...2015 was rough...2016 was H-E-Double Hockey Sticks!  Things didn't go as I'd hoped and planned, but I have to admit there have been some good things come from the darkness.

*A few friends and family members have been shining lights in the darkness.  We couldn't have made it without them.
*After lots of work, time, effort, and therapy, Macie is headed on the right path.  Her blue eyes have been brighter than ever and I feel like I have my daughter back.
*We have answers for Brian and he is finally headed in a positive direction although it is slow and steady.
*We've found our groove with homeschooling and are so much more productive this year!
*I was able to pull off some awesome Christmas surprises!  Despite not feeling well, we had a wonderful Christmas and we were all blessed with things we wanted and will actually use!

As far as my intentions:

2016 Intentions

1. Catch up on the blog (including Disney!) DONE!! Success!!
2. Visit Grams B 2x a Month (2/24) FAIL!
3. Finish Daily Dose of Knowledge: Bible with Brian We stopped but hope to finish it at some point.
4. Visit each of Brian's grandparents 2x other than holidays (0/4) FAIL! 
5. Complete the 12 Months of Family Fun board we gave the kids for Christmas (4/12) FAIL!
6. Cross off 35 things from my 101 in 1001 list (33/35) Pretty Close
7. Follow a strict budget Success...we wouldn't have survived otherwise!
8. Keep track of all of Gavin's Appointments and Procedures in 2016 (See Below) Success!!
9. Work on my weight loss and do something active at least 3x a week FAIL!
10. Make Disney scrapbooks with the kids FAIL!
11. Spend 30 minutes each day really playing with the kids Spent a lot of quality time with my kids that's for sure!
12. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night Overall Success!!
13. Drink at least 64oz of water every day Half Success Half Fail...need to get back to that!
14. Keep up our new bed time routine (Bible stories, down time, lights out at 8) Did our best despite chaos!
15. Get Gavin a wheelchair (Fitting 1/14, reordered 6/27) DONE!!! Success!!
16. Visit the Indianapolis Children's Museum 4x by November 30th (1/14, 5/3, 6/5. 6/6 ) DONE!!! Success!!

December Appointments:
12/2 - PT
12/7 - Dr. Bowersox
12/9 - PT
12/12 - GI Procedure Dr. Hon (Riley)
12/15 - PT
12/21 - Dr. Bowersox
12/22 - PT
12/29 - Dr. Neely (Riley)
12/30 - Dr. Hege (Riley)
Total Appointments: 114 (thought it was higher when added before...but WOWZA!)
Riley Trips: 27
Procedures: 8 (2 MRI, 6 GI)

*That's just Gavin...if we added Brian and Macie's I can't even imagine!!!

Holiday Fun

*For some reason my pictures have been really blurry on my new phone....

Mini Thanksgiving: This year, we started a tradition of doing a mini Thanksgiving meal at home the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  I really wanted to start some traditions of our own.  We used Grandma Wolf's tablecloth and Aunt Nancy's glasses to make it extra special.  We tried to keep the menu simple, but we had way more food than we could ever eat!  We had a precooked turkey breast (since we decided the night before), mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, macaroni and cheese, and green bean casserole.  For dessert, we could pick between a pumpkin pie and pecan pie, so we got a pecan pumpkin pie.  It was delish!  Besides good food, I wanted us to take some time remembering our blessings.  Each person wrote down what they are thankful for and shared it with the family.  I kept the cards.  I sure am thankful for this family of mine!

Santa Letters:  Macie had the idea of asking Santa for one gift this year for Christmas.  She was eager to write her letter to Santa.  The girls were deciding between a hatchimal and a Cabbage Patch Baby So Real.  I told them that a lot of kids were asking for hatchimals and I didn't know if Santa had that many.  They picked the Baby So Real.  Now the trick is being good!  Gavin asked for an NHL hockey jersey.  He wants a Blackhawks' one, so we shall see!  Santa actually wrote them letters back, which was super special.

Happy Turkey Day!: On actual Thanksgiving, we started the day watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.  We had two big meals that day.  For lunch, we went to my Aunt Alice's on my dad's side of the family.  For dinner, we went to my Aunt Julie's on my mom's side of the family.  We ate way too much and had fun visiting with family.

Little Helpers: My three little elves were great helpers to decorate the house!  The day before, we cleaned the house really well so it made it easier to put everything out.

Making ornaments is a family tradition.  Here are all of our past years's ornaments!

Homeschool Highlights

Art Class at the Library ~ Making People:

School On the Go ~ Pap Sitting:

Puzzle Time:

Change of Scenery: Most of the time, we do stay in the school room during school time.  Not only are all of our supplies there, it also helps keep everyone focused.  On colder days, we head to the living room for warmth.  On this day, we just needed a change of scenery and the bar seems to do the trick!

Homeschool Science Hour at the Library ~ Make Dos: The last time we went to the homeschool science hour, we were able to get a "Make Do" kit for each kiddo.  They are really neat and allow you to turn cardboard into amazing creations!  It was a little stressful at first, but by the end of the session, Gavin made a rocket ship, Macie made a computer, and Lilah made a car.

I week ~ Initials: Lilah made her initials out of playdough during short "I" week.

I Week ~ Inches: Lilah measured several items by using an inch ruler.  She learned to make sure to always start at the end of the ruler at 0 to see how many inches long items were.

Science Fun: In Macie's All Skills' book, she found a science experiment.  When she realized that we had all of the ingredients at home, she wanted to do it.  I told her to go for it and she did it pretty much on her own!

First Reconciliation: Macie had her First Reconciliation on November 15th.  We practiced the prayers and prepared as much as we could before.  She was excited and nervous.  There were a few mixups, but we made it through!  I may or may not have bribed her with a DQ blizzard for after.  Can't believe how fast she is growing up.  Next up, First Communion!

How - To Writing: 

3-D Minion Puzzle: Santa brought Gavin this Minion puzzle last year and we finally got around to doing it.  To say it was difficult would be an understatement.  We finally got it together, but one arm keeps falling out.  Gavin is happy with it so that's all that matters!

I Week ~ Ice Skating:  The kids went ice skating in the living room on coffee filters.

Hard At Work:

ABC Memory: Every few weeks, Lilah takes a week off from learning a new letter to review the letters she's learned.  She does a reveiw book, matches upper and lower case letters, plays memory, and stamps letters in paint.  The memory game has the upper and lower case letters that she already learned this year.

Mneme Therapy ~ The Snowman:  I continue to be amazed by Macie's Masterpieces.

N is for Numbers:

Writing ~ Character  T-Chart:

Library Art Class ~ Bead Making:

Snickerdoodle Art Class: Part of the Easter Seals Coupon book was doing a craft at Snickerdoodle.  I was so impressed with what each kid made.  Macie made a skeleton, Gavin made Santa's belt, and Lilah made a pumpkin.

Mneme Therapy ~ The Fish Tank: