This year, like last, we spent New Year's with the cousins in Indiana. It was an absolutely packed house and I loved it! Josh got back from his mission at the beginning of December, so Kristin had all 6 of her kids home for the holidays, plus a daughter-in-law, plus Kristin and Scott's parents. And our 6 kids plus us, of course. Hahaha. Seriously, it was such a full house and SO MUCH FUN. Having a big family certainly comes with its own unique challenges, but it's times like this that make it so worth it! :)
New Year's Eve itself wasn't overly momentous, but everyone stayed up to ring in the new year regardless. (Even Isaac. Since his sleeping habits are atrocious.) Our last few days together were spent going to a couple more movies, playing lots and lots of games (Balderdash was a favorite), and getting in a trip to the children's museum for nostalgia's sake. Isaac was a huge fan of the last plan. Hahaha. We sadly had to say goodbye last Friday and started on our LONG drive home, which was thankfully broken up this time by a stop in our old stomping grounds for a very brief one night stay. The youth from our ward back home were going on an extra special, overnight temple trip to St. Louis and since we'd be passing through on our way back anyway, we coordinated our drive home to coincide with their trip and dropped the older three off with the young men and young women.
They had a blast that Friday afternoon and evening with a trip to the zoo, a hop over to the science center, and a late night adventure at the City Museum. (Sadly I have no pictures because I was not there.) The next morning, Scott and I (and the younger 3) headed on home while the older three stayed behind with the youth for the temple portion of their trip. In all honesty, it was a great way to make the drive home. Three kids in a car is a lot easier than 6 kids in a car. Hahahahaha.
Once we were all home, the kids were anxious to fill out our annual reflection sheets, so after whipping up a new template (because I couldn't find the old one anywhere on my computer) we settled down on Sunday evening to officially end the old year and ring in the new. As always, I fully enjoyed reading everyone's reflections and recaps, and I can also authoritatively say that this year's forecast is looking even brighter than last year's. ;)
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Ethan
Age: 16
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Activity: Watching TV
Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: Time management
Hardest thing of the year: AP Block
Favorite memory: Summer road trip
What I loved most about 2019: Bear Lake Family Reunion
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: Organization skills
Want to get better at: Time management (still)
Biggest goal: Save enough money for mission
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Grace
Age: 15
Favorite Color: White, green, gray, purple, red
Favorite Food: U.S. Pizza, mac and cheese, "cheezy bread"
Favorite Activity: Netflix/Disney +; hanging out with friends; trampoline
Favorite Book: Selection series, Hunger Games; school book: The Glass Castle
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: If I don't watch Maxwell, my parents will threaten me that they will get rid of him
Hardest thing of the year: Biology *insert puking emoji*
Favorite memory: Becoming friends with new people (bruh moment specifically); Bear Lake; Christmas season
What I loved most about 2019: Starting high school; summer vacation (road trip); Youth Conference
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: ACTUALLY how to drive
Want to get better at: Saving money; grades/school
Biggest goal: Don't get Cs in school; also be a good driver; start running again ? (maybe)
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Sophie
Age: 12
Favorite Color: IDK, probably purple or blue
Favorite Food: Anything with potatoes
Favorite Activity: Reading/Writing and singing
Favorite Book: The Selection series
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: Stranger Danger (just kidding -- I don't know)
Hardest thing of the year: The first week or so of Algebra -- but after that it was easy
Favorite memory: Singing at the school talent show and going to a new school and our annual road trip
What I loved most about 2019: Being on the yearbook staff and the dance team
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: Better ways to study and stay organized and not procrastinate
Want to get better at: Writing normal -- b/c all caps won't really cut it for high school in 2 years
Biggest goal: To write a "book" and to work on a daily routine
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Jane
Age: 10
Favorite Color: Yellow, purple, and white
Favorite Food: Mac 'n' Cheese
Favorite Activity: TikToking; Disney +; phone; and TV
Favorite Book: The War That Saved My Life
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: Multiplying decimals in math
Hardest thing of the year: Getting good grades (which I ended up getting good grades)
Favorite memory: Road trip
What I loved most about 2019: Meeting new friends at school
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: How to not fight with my siblings
Want to get better at: Cursive/handwriting
Biggest goal: Reading the Book of Mormon every day and getting straight A's
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Alex
Age: 8
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Activity: Making LEGO sets
Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (all)
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: Math
Hardest thing of the year: LEGO sets
Favorite memory: School
What I loved most about 2019: Christmas
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: How to ride a skateboard
Want to get better at: Math
Biggest goal: Get 10 LEGO sets
WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
A Little About Me --
Name: Isaac Gordon
Age: 4
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: Lucky Charms
Favorite Activity: Jump over sticks/Limbo
Favorite Book: Fa La La/The Ravenous Beast
Highlights of 2019 --
Greatest lesson learned: Doing thumbprints on the snowglobe
Hardest thing of the year: Mom not letting me go on Roblox
Favorite memory: Playing with Rafa
What I loved most about 2019: Toys
Looking Forward to 2020 --
Want to learn: Try to learn Red Light, Green Light game
Want to get better at: Songs on the piano
Biggest goal: Learn to play the cello and violin
{Sidenote -- my greatest accomplishment of 2019 was incepting the idea in Isaac's brain that he wants to play the cello.}
{We kicked off the first Family Home Evening of the New Year by brainstorming ideas for our personal development this year.}
1 comment:
It was a hoot to read the New Year reflections! Where has Grace been served foreign pizza? I was pleased to see Alex really enjoyed school last year...was that real or just to get done with the assignment? When I first read what Jane wanted to get better at (her handwriting), the 2 words sort of blurred together and I thought it said "cursing/handwriting" . I had to go back for a double take!~
Anyway, glad it's been a terrific year and that I was able to see everyone TWICE in 2019!
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