If you would have told me what 2017 was going to have in mind for us, I would have ran right back to 2016 and stayed. It started off with so much promise, but quite honestly was the hardest years we have had in recent years.
our old home
our new sinking home {we make jokes to lighten the heaviness of it}
At the end of 2016 we were on the hunt for a new home that fit our family, all the vending shtuff, and a bigger yard to play in. We found what we thought would be an absolute dream for us, but turned our 2017 upside down...and quite honestly is/was a total nightmare! Although we got all the things we were hoping and looking for, we also landed ourselves on a street of houses that are sinking. So, we spent most of the year fighting our crazy builder, getting piers, and trying to fix all the things in our brand new house. {This really does require an entire post on its own, which is coming!} If you are going for the silver lining of it all, our neighbors are the best!
Drakey Boy {2 years old}: Drakey is the most demanding, ornery, cute boy around. He loves his Momma something fierce, and although it can be cute...it tends to wear me down! Drake has an arm on him, and can hang with the big kids in a game of soccer. He is a picky eater, so that means chicken nuggets are now what I serve as breakfast food. We only had to call 9-1-1 once in 2017 for Drake, and we hope that it stays that way.
Sabrina{5 years old}: Our Bina baby decided that she didn't want to go by Bina anymore. Sob. So, Sabrina it is now, and she will correct you when she is feeling extra feisty. She finished preschool to start Kindergarten, and can't say she loves it. She is our homebody, our lover of Coke, and TV. A girl after my own heart, indeed. Even after the move, and getting her own bedroom, she prefers to share the bunk bed with Devin. Before going to school most morning, she can be found making gigantic messes with Drakey.
Devin {7 years old}: Devin still is a champion on the soccer field, loves to play basketball, and has only improved on his beatboxing skillz. He is as unique as they come, and it makes us love him all the more. Devin had an extra front tooth removed, and with that little surgery came his biggest accomplishment of 2017...he stopped sucking his thumb! We also decided that it was time to get some extra help for our boy, and it was the best thing that happened to all of us. With a new diagnosis, a good prescription, and lots of therapy...we are on a road to success!
Savannah {13 years old}: Savannah went from girl to a young woman overnight. It still shocks me when I see a picture of her, like whoa...what happened to my lil' lady!? She entered in the big ol' Junior High in 2017, and although it started off rough...turns out she really likes it! She started playing viola, made a bunch of new friends, total slime expert, got contacts, and is a babysitting machine. Even though she can't keep her bedroom or bathroom clean, I think we will keep her around. We missed her like crazy as she ventured on her first girls camp, and she loved meeting her favorite guy Hank Smith in person!
Paul {forever 32 baby!}: When Paul wasn't working on buying our house, he was probably working on fixing our sinking house. His whole year was filled with stress over this place we live in, and man that sucks! He did manage to take his first "Bros Trip" to Arizona with his bestie James. They got in some MLB games, and good food. Of course he went to an awesome amount of movies, ate an insane amount of baked good, and plotted for new adventures for 2018.
Evonne {how old am I? no, really am I 36?!}: What did I accomplish this year? Mostly just keeping myself alive, and all my little people alive too. I did another round of #sellfamilyadventureaday this Summer with the kids, and I miss those days badly. I started to cook regularly, and even tried quite a few new Pinterest finds. I found myself enjoying decorating my mantle every month, and spending an insane amount of money doing so. I love my afternoon naps with Drakey when all the kids are at school, and once a week I sacrifice my nap for my "fake book club" with Leisha. I found myself as camp director again in this new ward, so looks like this lady is taking a bunch of girls camping this Summer.
Stitch {our tiniest addition}: Savannah finally suckered Paul in to buying a pet for her. So, we added Stitch the hamster to our family in November. He is highly entertaining, well loved, and has only escaped twice...so we are calling that a win!
As a couple, we learned how to really date again! We doubled with our favorite people, we went just the two of us, and we had a blast doing both. We went to the shooting range, and I shot a "real" gun for the first time in my life. We hit up the arcades, we got ourselves back to going to the temple regularly, we went golfing, and we made some amazing memories. Turns out when the kids all up and leave us, we will still have plenty of things in common...and things we enjoy doing the 2 of us.
Our family highlights in 2017 was counting our jar of change, and the kids spending it on some vacationing. We ended up going to Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs, which we lovingly call #PukeFest2017! We also got a trip to Bear World in, which we all enjoyed. We have big plans to take the kids on more vacations for 2018, because we spent way too much of our time on this dang house.
Our goal is to be more thankful for what we have in 2018, dwelling less on those things that make life unpleasant. I can't say I will blog regularly in 2018, but every year I remember why I keep this old thing around.
