2017 Bucket List

I'm not one for making resolutions... I'm a tad pessimistic I will follow through, and then when I don't I have to deal with the repercussion of the guilt and shame of failing, nope, not into that! However I am one for making goals, there's less obligation and more hopefulness.

Usually at the beginning of the year, or near my birthday, I make a goals bucket list for the year to come. I've been rackin' my brain trying to think of things I want to accomplish this year and it's hard! This season of life we're in (3 small children + a husband officially starting the program to get his CPA designation) really debilitates your thought process for having hopes and dreams... all I can hope for is making it to naptime without losing my cool.

So I decided this year I was going to break it down a little bit differently. I looked at key areas in my life and evaluated where I want to go with them. This compartmentalization really helped my groggy brain function much better.

Kids

Rylee: Start a new activity (complete! Gymnastics started last week), learn to ride her bike, teach her to tie her shoes.

Zachery: Work harder with his speech development, lose the soother, lose daytime diapers (so close!).

Adelyne: Begin potty training, move into a big girl bed.

Do something we haven't done before (some ideas... snowboarding, hiking, camping, fishing).

Have one on one dates with mommy and daddy.

Husband

Once a month date night.

Take a cooking class together.

Travel

Adventure awaits! We have already decided this year we will plan a trip, just have to decide from one of these locations and pinch a whole lot of pennies.

Australia 

Scotland + England

Hawaii

Thailand

Europe

All Inclusive

Road Trip US/Canada

Road Trip in Canada
Mexico

Disneyland

Home
Revamp the kids room.
Purge out old clothes.
Put more pictures up.
Purge the junk drawer (s) (none would be ideal, one would be realistic).
Build raised garden beds.

Personal

Blog more. (would love to get back up to twice a week posts)

Create more. (finish old projects, magnet alphabet, fabric doll, and learn to crochet amigurumi style)

Read more. (would love to complete 20 books over the year, shoot me any ideas of good reads)

Take more pictures and videos of kids. (picture a month challenge starting soon)

Get some updated family photos done.

A Look Back At 2016

Goodbye 2016 and a big hello 2017! I for one am really looking forward to what this year has to hold, I have no idea what's in store, but I'm hopeful for some adventure, stronger friendships, and finding that sweet balance of making time for myself amidst all of life's obligations.

 

2016 was a bumpy year personally and I was "a bit" (understatement of the year) MIA from this Owls + Monsters world. I just couldn't seem to find a balance to keeping time for myself while keeping up with being a mom/wife and regular life. Long story short I exhausted myself, lost myself, and deprived myself of things that fill up my joy tank. But all depressingness aside, there was still a lot of good moments we had and I'm so thankful that I still found time to document some key milestones that made 2016 memorable.

Here's a look back at the top 6 Owl + Monsters moments of 2016...

DIY : Allstar Baseball Party!

Zach our little sports lover turned two way back in January. We threw one of my favourite themed parties yet, an Allstar Baseball Party. It was so fun and laid back, I only wish his birthday was in the summer so we could get outside and play ball!

Dream Big Little One!

Adelyne turned one this year! For our little summer girl we threw a very food orientated chic bohemian themed party. It was a beautiful day at a local park where the kids could run and play while us adults sat and ate all the yummy delicacies.

First Day Of Kindergarten

Our sweet little Rylee started kindergarten this year! I don't know where the time has gone but I feel like she's growing up faster than my heart can handle.  

Mom Getaway : Vegas

What human goes to Vegas for some R+R? Oh that would be me! Kid free, husband free, I got to escape for four days to get some full nights sleep and reinforce my personal bubble. (thanks husband! ps. I'm ready to escape again)

Rylee Turns Five : A Royal Tea Party

Another milestone for Rylee. She turned the big five and by her request we celebrated with cuppa tea. It was her first non family birthday party! she was so excited to invite her school friends, dress up, and drink tea out of fancy cups, it was quite adorable really. 

Moving Forward

I got to do a lot of self observation, unplanned and sometimes unwillingly. 2016 was a year to face hard facts about myself and attempt to make some changes to better myself. Life lessons are never easy but they are opportunity to overcome pain, fear, and everyday struggles we face... embrace them and move forward with them.