I’m sitting here trying to write my annual Year in Review and Quinn is still up chatting in her bed (could be worse, she could be screaming her fool head off). She is also singing,
“I’m getting nothing for Christmas. My Mommy and Daddy are mad. At you.”
Oh she makes me laugh.
And, to be honest, she makes me crazy.
I think that’s called parenthood.
2012
Another good year here at The Rumour Mill. Despite some setbacks, I’m sitting on the eve of the New Year thinking that 2012 was still quite a good year. Early in the new year, my uncle had a heart attack. None of us were sure what the outcome would be. He gave us all a pretty good scare but I’m happy to report that he recovered and is doing well.
As you know, March brought with it two birthdays in this house. My Piper turned 6 and my Quinn turned 2. My Davi Doodle celebrated birthday number 4 in June. My little spitfire, continues to be just that. I’m not sure how it is that I can be counting the hours until bedtime because it can’t come soon enough, yet when I look back, I can’t believe that 6 (soon to be 7) years has passed so quickly.
The days seem long but the years are short.
Truer words have never been written.
We planned a trip to Walt Disney World and invited my sister along. It was an amazing family vacation. I don’t know what it is about vacations but my kids are so unbelievably well-behaved when we travel. I worried about it. How Quinn was barely 2 and still really needed her naps. How she mastered the art of the temper tantrum. How much my kids fight when we are at home. They amazed me though. We spent a wonderful week together walking those parks and as soon as we got home, I wanted to go again. Those are the moments that make everything else worth it. Those are the moments that I can look back on and smile. Laugh. Rejoice in. The girls loved that Auntie was there and why wouldn’t they. She is so good to them. They are so in love with her.
We opted for a bigger camper this year and then we opted for a seasonal campsite. It’s hard to know if that seasonal site will be a good fit until you are actually spending time there. I, of course, worried that it would not be. I could not have been more wrong. We spent almost every weekend there from May until September. We met some wonderful people and made some great friends. The girls swam and played in the sand. I sat in my lawn chair watching them and I even joined them. It was a great summer.
Fall arrived too quickly. As it always does and with fall my first-born started grade one. I quickly realized how many others would be influencing her on a daily basis. Her teachers. Her peers. Davilyn started her last year of preschool and this time next year she will be finishing up her first term of kindergarten. Quinn will be heading into preschool. When did this happen? When I wasn’t looking my three girls got so big.
I’m not ready for this. I’m really not. If the last 6 years have gone this fast, the next 6 will too and I am already thinking about how I need more time.
We have two girls in our house playing Ringette this year. Davilyn following in Piper skates. Three that are in skating lessons. It feels like just yesterday that Piper started her first year of hockey, Davilyn was playing the iPad during games and I was carrying Quinn in a Ergo baby carrier. It was just yesterday, no?
We bought a snow machine this year and the girls love it. Piper or Davilyn ride the little sno pro or we pull the girls in a sled. It has afforded us some fun family time outside of the house. Quinn loves it so much, she sometimes falls asleep! We glided into the Christmas season and December was extremely busy but we loved it. Christmas concerts, christmas parties, Santa Claus and family. What’s not to love.
So I am sitting here getting ready to say goodbye to 2012 and welcome 2013 with arms wide open. I know that even when things seem bad, they are so good. When times seem so tough, I have it so easy compared to so many others who struggle. When our household seems in chaos, I know I am blessed. Even if sometimes I have to remind myself and even in those times I know that these are moments that I will miss.
So for 2013, my wish is much like it was last year. No exactly what it was last year. That we all want what we already have. To look at your life now and know it’s good. To see your spouse sitting next to you and realize that you are more in love with him or her today then you ever have been. To watch your children play and have a never-ending cup of patience for them. To be in the moment that is your life and feel full. Full of love, full of blessings and full of happiness. So, to you all a wonderful New Year.
Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day. ~Michael Josephson
