Good Things This Week (& Last)

I got to travel and hang out with some really awesome women in my industry.  I mean, it was to go to a conference full of men, but still, a great time.  I also hired a tech, which has finally allowed me to do engineering work again and I am so, so relieved to have help.  I finally get to be an engineer again!

Three new recipes this week that I will definitely be making again:

Sesame Glazed Salmon and Green Beans – This was fast and easy, plus delicious.  Great ‘fancy’ dinner at home.  I think this food blog might be a new favorite, because the next recipe is also from there…

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili – This was also fast and easy to prepare, and was great as dinner and the next day for lunch.  I used black beans instead of pinto beans, and an extra chicken breast and 1 can of cannellini beans, rather than 2 cans.  I also cut the cumin to 1 tsp, and cut the cayenne and black pepper because my kiddos don’t like too much heat.  I topped it with cheese, avocado, and crumbled tortilla chips.

Turkey Sage Meatball Sandwiches – This is a recipe I tore out of some magazine (don’t know which) and tastes like Thanksgiving dinner in a meatball.  In the future, I might serve it as a meatloaf with a side of mashed sweet potatoes.

I started using a new budgeting tool, www.calendarbudget.com because after 16 years as a working professional and being paid twice a month, I am now paid every other week.  I had no idea how to budget or spend getting paid this way.  I also didn’t realize how big of a difference it makes in my ability to manage money.  This tool doesn’t store any of my bank information, but I can upload expenditures that I download from my bank.  I can visually see my expected expenditures and incoming money at any point I choose.  This means I can plan when we go on vacation based on when we hit our savings goal.  Or I can decide when I need to budget clothing purchases for the family.  I love it and my anxiety over watching the ups/downs in our checking account is gone.

We have finally ‘cut the cable cord’ and dropped DirecTV, since we watch everything almost exclusively on Netflix through our AppleTV.  I am now discovering all of the other options on AppleTV besides Netflix.  PBS Independent Lens Documentaries are some of my most favorite.  They are thought provoking and incredibly well-done.  No Mas Bebes and The Black Panthers:  Vanguard of the Revolution are the most recent two that I watched.  I am shocked, and angry, and in disbelief at the number of things I never learned.  Both of these documentaries are must-sees for everyone.

I am super, super excited to go see the play, All The Way tomorrow night.  All about passing the Civil Rights Act.  Lyndon B. Johnson.  Martin Luther King Jr.  Yes.

Plans for 2016

In 2014 I set up a way-too-ambitious list of things to accomplish.  By mid-year I changed course, but I would argue we had an amazing year.  In 2015, I again set up an ambitious list and had some life changes along the way, but have learned more about what is important to us.  We prioritized downtime and adjusting to changes over accomplishing our list.

My plans in 2016 are going to need to be flexible.  I have found that ballet requires too much of my time for me to effectively learn anything new and also have balance in my life.  I am also having hernia repair surgery, again.  This will be my third surgery, this time to repair at least 3 defects (all of these issues are a result of damage from pregnancy).  I am worried about the possible healing time because I just started a lifting and running routine in place of ballet.  I know I can get back to my normal workout, but I also know that full recovery is around 4-6 months.  My worst fear is that the doctor will put me on strict exercise restrictions for 6-12 months following surgery.  If that happens, I will be unable to do a lifting program or start ballet back up in the fall.

My goals this year:

• Take time off ballet, at least 6 months
• Recover and heal from surgery
• Complete the Rugged Maniac (dependent on healing from surgery)
• Take piano and voice lessons
• Once I decide to start ballet again in the fall, take at least one of my weekly classes at a different studio

Chris’ goals this year:

• Learn to balance the new job with personal goals and family
• Get Community Association License and manage six communities by year-end
• Get purple belt in karate by end of June and blue belt by year-end
• Complete the Rugged Maniac and Tough Mudder

Charlotte’s goals this year:

• Learn to ride a bike
• Learn to roller skate
• Try baseball
• Get better at listening

Cooper’s goals this year:

• Learn to ride a bike
• Try flag football
• Get better at controlling emotion
• Follow rules to earn electronic time back

2015 Year in Review

The year 2015 was a year full of changes, especially with our jobs.  Chris stopped working at his new job in September began interviewing for a new job.  We had planned to do many things, but the year changed course for all of us.

My goals were to:

Be present and enjoy the quiet.  This will require me getting back to riding the train more often than I drive.  Quieting my critical mind in ballet class.  Saying yes to plans with friends more often.  Playing with my children.  Watching movies with my husband.

I started meditating daily in September after a busy summer.  I found some guided mediations by Andrew Johnson that worked great for me.  Because of my job change, I was not longer traveling downtown for work.  My commute time is about 25 min each way, so half or a third of my old commute.  It is so nice!  I didn’t see friends as often as I would have liked, but we did make several new friends this year.  I did lots of fun things with my kiddos this year, including roller skating, concerts, swimming, parks, and we watched a lot more movies as a family, as well as a couple.  I still felt way too busy all year.

Start pointe work in the fall for ballet.  This will require me to strengthen my ankles, feet, and core.  I will only take my pre-pointe class with pointe shoes and not actually dance on pointe until the following spring (if I’m ready).

Complete a 2 week ballet intensive (dancing 2-3 hours every day for two weeks) in the summer and take at least 1 class with a different teacher.

I started pointe in July during the 2 week instensive.  It is hard and scary, but nearly as painful as I originally though it would be.  It hurts my arches over the top of my foot more than the tips of my toes.  Sadly, I ended up with shin splints by November and to pull off pointe.  I would love to dance en pointe some day, but being en pointe takes a lot of dedication and time that I’m not sure I want to commit to.  I had classes with other teachers this year just because my teacher was deployed.  I enjoyed learning from new people.

Read a book on music theory and pull out some of my music and the keyboard as a way to start self teaching for piano.  I mostly want to do this so I can hear and enjoy the music in ballet, which will help with finding the quiet.

I did not read a book on music theory or pull out music for the keyboard.  I did start listening to classical music during my commute and loved the calming feeling.  I could allow my brain to day dream about without any anxiety of what I need to get done.

Start writing in my 642 Things to Write About book.

I wrote two entries in that book.  I missed writing this year.  I had technical issues with the blog and really didn’t have time for much of anything beyond ballet and work.

Other things I learned/accomplished, but didn’t set out to:

• I learned to sew!  I made costumes for ballet performances and I’ve begun tailoring some of my clothes and Chris’ clothes.  I do not recommend starting with corsets for a first project!

• I read over 30 books, which isn’t a lot for me.  My favorite books were all of Bill Bryson’s books.  I particularly enjoyed A Short History of Nearly Everything.  I also loved the Martian.
• Travel – We had an amazing CO vacation that we did zero planning for.  The best kind of vacation.

As for the other family members:

Chris wants to get his blue belt by December 2015, complete the Rugged Maniac, and learn more about music theory.  He hasn’t yet decided if that means piano lessons, a music theory class, or self teaching.  Chris also wants to choose an organization that speaks to him and begin volunteering his time.

Chris got his orange belt and began working on his purple belt.  He made the choice to take April-September off from karate while he was working.  He did not complete any obstacle runs for the same reason – his focus was on work.  He did not make music theory a priority at all and because of the job, did not volunteer.

Charlotte wants to try baseball and Cooper wants to try basketball.

We did not make an effort to find Charlotte a baseball option because of the number of changes.  We also offered for her to do basketball and she happily agreed.  Both kids did 2 seasons of basketball.

Overall I would say that we had a number of changes in our life in 2015 and when we weren’t using mental space to deal with the changes, we were prioritized down time over any activities.  Although we didn’t accomplish all the things we set out to do, I am proud of the year we had in 2015.

2nd Grade School Pictures

Not sure why Cooper is standing so funny, but they are still cute.

Compared to last year

December 2015 + Christmas

December was a super busy month for us.  The kids and I performed in the Nutcracker.  I think we all had a lot of fun, and we were all relieved to be done.

We hosted the cast party afterward and it was fun to hang out with my fellow classmates in a casual setting.  The next day we had Charlotte’s birthday party and the parents watched the Broncos game while the ~15 kids run around like crazy people.

Chris, Mikael, and I went and saw the 11 pm opening show of the Star Wars movie.  I forgot to wear contacts, so I wore glasses on top of glasses for the 3D showing.

Chris and I went to a pub crawl in crazy pajamas with a great group of new friends.  We had such a great time with them!

Charlotte got her haircut and she also had two cavities filled while on break.

Cooper retrieved Smiley’s ball. 

I made a new snowman ornament to commemorate my learning how to sew.

Christmas was simple and wonderful.  We do the 5 gifts for the kids:  wear, read, want, need, big gift.  It helps keep the budget under control, make shopping and wrapping faster, and makes each gift more thoughtful.

Charlotte:  Wear – School of Mines shirt and Broncos shirt, Read – 3 Magazines that she gets to pick two for a subscription, Want – Remote Control Robotic Cars (R.E.V.), Need – Headbands & Pajamas, Big Gift – Bicycle.

Cooper:  Wear – School of Mines shirt and Broncos pants, Read – 3 Magazines that he gets to pick two for a subscription, Want – App-Enabled Robot (Ollie Darkside), Need – Reading light & Pajamas, Big Gift – Bicycle.

We had a lazy day and watched some more Star Wars movies that evening.  The entire family, except me (I need my space), cuddled on the couch.

I took the kids roller skating for the first time.  It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been on skates, but it came back to me very quickly.  Charlotte was at first terrified and broke down in tears, while Cooper just got out there with my help and went around the rink once.  They took a break and then we tried again.  Charlotte got more comfortable and was doing great after her third time around the rink.  We left a little early, but I think they had fun.

We took the kids out to dinner and then to see the new Star Wars movie.  They both loved it.  It was so exciting to see their faces light up and to see them surprised by the twists and turns.  They were goofy at dinner.

Charlotte noticed her name at the restaurant.

 

Chris and I stayed home this year for NYE.  We got all dressed up and had a stay-at-home date in the basement.  It was a fantastic way to celebrate and stay low-key.

Fall 2015

We went to a friend’s birthday party/bbq and had a wonderful time.  She just rebuilt her house and it is such a great space to entertain guests.  She made a fabulous dinner and we all sat down at the dining room table with formal china and enjoyed dinner like adults!  I didn’t get many pictures, only this one before we left. – late Aug

Cooper taught me all about dogs while I got ready for work. – Sept

Cooper decided to do ballet, too.  He said, “because there needs to be boy dancers, too, so I will be the first.”  He told everyone he knew how he was doing ballet and handled the criticism with grace.  - Sept

This is what breakfast looks like in our house every morning.  Everyone has a book and their food. – Sept

I went to the Def Leppard concert with some friends. – Sept

I truly enjoy going out to the field for work.  This is adrilling rig. – Sept

This is what the wellhead looks like during drilling.  Really all you can see is the blow out preventer.

And this is one of the big engines that runs the rig.

Cooper is bringing home chapter books – scifi! – Sept

Charlotte made a VIP poster for school.  She was very proud to put pictures and information about her adoption.  This poster helped one of her friend’s parents to have very open conversations with their son about his adoption. – Sept

Smiley was confident that Charlotte would drop her chips. – Oct

While Scout enjoyed cuddling. – Oct

Well, both dogs did. – Oct

We had an entire week full of Halloween!  The weekend before Halloween, Chris and I had two Halloween parties to go to, one Friday and one Saturday.  Friday’s party was very cool because we got to meet a lot of new people and play a new game called, Werewolf.  So fun!  We took the kids to party on Sunday. We were Furiosa and Mad Max and made our costumes this year!

We went to the pumpkin patch and carved pumpkins during the week.

The kids had their school dance on Friday night before Halloween.  It was awesome and adorable.  I was going to take pictures, but it always feels weird to take pictures of other people’s kids too.  We took the kids trick or treating on Halloween night with a friend of mine who just moved here.  More pics of the kids and their costumes on the photoblog.

Cooper started a food fight at lunch.  I bet it was fun.  We asked the school to have him help the custodian clean the lunch room.  Otherwise he just got a warning. – Oct

Chris and I saw As You Like It and loved it!

The children played basketball again.  This time, same team.  Cooper was a giant compared to the other kids.  They both played so much better this season.  I think Cooper could do well, if he puts in the effot. – Nov

We saw our friend perform at the Denver Improv Festival in November.  She did awesome.  Her subject was a ‘really tall ballerina’.  So funny.

The kids got a snow day, in November!

Chris and I had a date day and saw The Martian.  I loved the book, but preferred the movie ending.

Charlotte helped me make applie pie for Thanksgiving dinner.

Chris went to a Parkour event that my friend’s new company was hosting.  He had a blast.  I had ballet rehearsal, but wish I could have gone.

We had lunch and went to the Family Sports Center the weekend of Thanksgiving with family.  It was a great time, especially laser tag!