Reconnecting

My husband set me up to recieve stats on my blog every week, so that I can see how many times people upload my page and read about my little life. So for the past few weeks I have been pretty amazed at how many people have gotten on considering that I haven't written anything for awhile! So here I am, reconnecting.

December was a whirl wind, but a very fun one! This year, Izzy and I had company starting early in December and thouroughly enjoyed the visit from Hannah and Ava. Izzy was a little scared off by Ava's abundance of huggs and kisses, but by the end of the three days, he left her give him one. They were so cute! Ava snacks a lot much to Izzy's delight...so we had lots of new foods like dried fruit and veggies! Christmas this year was devided over two days, instead of rushing and getting it all in in one day. We LOVED it that way. We were able to spend a whole day with each side of the family, so we hope that this happens next year too.

Joel had several days off before Christmas and after Christmas so it helped soften the blow of everything being over all at once. I HATE that! I hate it that we have a whole month of preparing and parties and social stuff, and then Christmas day comes and goes and then it is all over! My family likes to get together a lot over that next week before school starts, so that always helps too, but then cold, blue January comes along and nothing exciting is going on and it is just cold!

I have decided that I really just don't like cold weather. I love what it brings....Pumkins, Thanksgiving, Christmas, blankets, fires (even though we don't have a fire place) but I really don't like being cold, and having to bundle up. But I guess I wouldn't appreciate the warmer weather as much if I didn't experience the cold.

I have been doing a lot of crafting lately and am having so much fun. I will have to upload some pics of those things later.

I have realized that I am just not good at meal planning. My creativity just shuts down and I can't think. So, I have decided to work around this weakness and try out an online meal planning service. This is the first week, and so far it hasn't lowered the stress level, considering that I had to go to 4 grocery stores to try and get what I needed at the best price. I may have to resort to the same exact thing every week...but how boring is that?

My little Izzy is growing up so fast. I can hardly keep up with him. He is not a little baby anymore. He is my buddy. We laugh, and play and run errands together and read books and take naps. He still doesn't eat very well, unless it is sweet things, so we are still battling that. He has gotten several cold this winter (just like last winter) so I really don't like that, and am not sure what to do about it.  I love watching him do new things daily. It amazes me how much he picks up just watching and listening to us, and it makes me want to strive to be a better example in every way. We love having a little boy.

Joel got a raise this year and we are excited to hopefully pay off all our credit card debt by the end of the summer. Yes, we have credit card debt, and we are NOT proud of it. After that we are planning on getting me a new car!!!! I super pumped about that and am already keeping my eyes out for ones that I like. The list is LONG!!!!

Everyday I am trying to be a better wife and mom, and child of God. Right now the Lord is taking me through a testing period, where I think He just wants to be sit at his feet and learn of Him, and be content with my life as it is, no matter what is changing around me. It is REALLY hard! When everyone is getting new things, moving to new cities, starting round 2 of babies, I have to be in a constant state of resiting promises to myself that God is good, and everything he does is good, and for MY good. I am thankful though that I can have a good cry now and then, and still be trusting. I think we all need a good cry.

Anyway, that is what has been going on lately in the Kelley family. Looking forward to a full and exciting year!