Ringing in the New Year

We spent the last day of December 2015 and the first day of January 2016 with our family.  My Mom and Scott drove in from Maryland and arrived late on the 30th.  We had yet another Christmas on the 31st, spent the day around the house together, and then watched the ball drop to commemorate 2016.  Twenty Sixteen.  It seems so unreal that it is really 2016.

Kate went to bed at a semi-normal time, and so did Maya.  But Maya woke up around 11:45 pm and decided she didn't want to go back to sleep until the new year, so at 11:57 pm she and I came downstairs to join the ball dropping party.  And by "party" I mean all of us sitting on the couch.  We did celebrate with a bit of champagne when it was officially time and having our littlest one awake to ring in the new year with was really wonderful!  If Kate would've slept in I would've been happy to have her up as well, but Mama's been down this road before and no matter what time we go to bed, it seems we still get up at the same time...so Kate stayed in bed!

Pop Pop and Gramma with Maya.  Kate did not care for photos...
...only presents.

So Mama jumped in instead.

Aunt Amy scored with best present again!

Gramma helps Maya open one of hers!

A hippo popper!?  SO EXCITING!

Our little night owl!

Cheers to a new year!

Captivated by all the lights and sounds of the
dropping ball!

It was like nothing she's ever seen before!

One last glimpse at the Christmas tree.

Jackie Bones slept through the whole thing.
It was past his bedtime too.

The next day, the first day of 2016, we hung out with Mary and Tom for a little bit during the Ohio State game.  While we were there, we had a little mishap which required needing new pants for Kate.  I haven't had a spare set of clothes for Kate with us in over six months, so I didn't have one then either.  Kate and I got creative and I slipped my cami off and lent it to her to use as a skirt.  I tied it in the back with a hair tie!  I swear she looked like she was headed to work in a pencil skirt!

Cami Pencil Skirt!

Girlfriend can pull off anything!

My Mom and Scott headed back to Maryland on Saturday, so today we got busy putting some Christmas stuff away and exploring some of our new toys!  We decided it wouldn't be quite an official new year without a party in the tub, so we busted out one of Maya's new toys and thoroughly enjoyed our bath party!

They both loved this bath light!

PSA: I picked up this little extra from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $2.50.  It was on clearance, and then an additional 50% off, AND I had a coupon.  It's the coolest little bath light and for $2.50, I'm not complaining!

After bath, Kate adorned herself with her Frozen nightgown and NEW Frozen slippers.  Once again, Aunt Amy takes it home for the win of best gift!!

Just like a princess.

Celebrating the new year with our families was just where we wanted to be.  Low key and at home, that is right up my alley these days. 

With the new year in mind, I've been doing a lot of thinking.  I don't love New Year's resolutions, but I do love New Year's.  There's something about a new beginning, a fresh start, that just makes me happy and optimistic.  With that being said, I've decided that my main focus for 2016 is going to be letting things go.  I'm going to choose to do less and invest more in the things that I do choose.  I'm tired of "to do" lists, especially those that span years.  YEARS.  I don't necessarily mind "healthy/realistic to do" lists, but not ones that continue for years.  (For example, I still have making Kate's 2nd birthday video on the ole "to do" list.  That was from 2014...)

Unfortunately, I just don't have the time or the energy to keep dragging these "things I want to do" behind me.  I'm going to have to set realistic goals by reminding myself that I am a stay at home Mommy of two now.  And uninterrupted free time just doesn't come that often.

I want to be HERE, in the moment, in the now.  I want to snuggle and cuddle and capture all those little moments from my little loves that are happening right before my eyes.  Kate and Maya are both growing insanely fast and Heaven knows these little ones don't keep.

For 2016, I choose to just Let It Go (Thank you, Elsa!) and be Here.  I am determined to make 2016 about a happy, healthy balance, whatever that may look like.  Hopefully, by January 1, 2017, I'll have a clearer idea on what that is.

2016!

Happy New Year, everyone!