My Beautiful 6 yr old!

My heart, my love, my sweet beautiful baby girl turns 6 today. Every time a year has passed I say how much time flys. And it is totally true. TIME FLYS! I love this girl so much, it actually makes my heart ache. She made me a mommy, she is the funniest kid I know and she is so kind! She is everything I hoped for and more. I am proud of her everyday. We have more and more heart to heart conversations, and I love how much she comprehends about the world around her. She is a total optimist, always seeing the good in the world, which with an anxious mother, that's hard to do! She loves to draw, has an artists creative mind. Always playing pretend and dancing around the house, she is so fun to watch. She always knows when others need love and will drop what she's doing to help them. She loves her brother, and makes him laugh (as well as the rest of us). She loves to play games, and is always coming up with a fun activity for us all to do. She is SO smart, which I cannot ever take credit for because it is her desire to learn that makes her so wise beyond her years. Her favorite things to do are play games, playing with friends at the playground, drawing, watching funny shows, enjoying nature, learning about pretty much everything in this world, cuddling with her family, telling stories, reading, collecting surprise blind bags/hatchimals, going to Bahama bucks and learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When I was pregnant with her, I did not want her to leave the womb. I wanted her to stay in my belly forever. That way I could always have her close to me. The two of us as one. Seemed like the only way my heart could always be with me, cause she is truly my heart. BUT I am so glad she was born, and could be her own self. Because who she is, is far greater then who she could have ever been with me. I love getting to know my princess more and more everyday and pray that she will have many more birthdays with us to come. I pray harder for her then anyone else in my world, cause without her? I'd never want to know what the rest of this life would be like.
Happy Birthday my Lovely Lily Lu!

January 2018

I think of all the months in the year I like January the least. Seems harsh, but it's truth. The month lasts forever! Maybe it's cause we are trying through the month to change bad habits with new year goals or maybe it's cause Christmas is over...I don't know. Either way, January is meh.
That being said, this month was ok, not much happened. Which is why it took me a while to write in here.
We started out the month strong on our resolutions. Of course change of diet is always the starting point. We as a family decided to cut back majorly on Animal based products. So little to no dairy, and only two nights with meals involving meat (Saturday/Sunday) If we do have meat during the week, it is more in the realm of a garnish. We've been doing pretty good, luckily I prefer meatless dishes, but Mark has been doing the best at keeping his diet loaded with Veggies, I've been leaning a little too much on starches to give me the energy I need through the day. I feel a difference however in my anxiety levels and my knee joint pain, so it's helping.
Mark was out of town for two separate weeks this month, which left the kids and I alone in the house for the first time. It was not as scary as I'd anticipated. It makes a difference when you have friends and good neighbors around making sure you're okay. I did however miss Mark and had a few 'Woah is me moments' but all is good now.
We have also been working on some of our GOATS, which means the athletic things we want to achieve. I've been practicing my double unders three time a week for an hour...I'm still no where close to achieving one (so frustrating), but I see my errors as I record each attempt. Hopefully I can get them down by the end of the year. Lily is doing great on achieving her single unders and Mark has been doing good going to the gym 4-5 days a week. Goals are hard to be consistent with, but we are working hard to achieve them.
I was watching the kids in morning childcare at the gym for most of the month, unfortunately the childcare providers infant got really sick :( But since we had the extra income coming in, I decided to make a new goal for the family. We are now saving for a trip to Disneyland in April. We are so excited to go. Though Jacob is still little, he is free until June, so now seemed like the right time to go. Mark has not been to Disneyland since he was like 5, and I haven't gone in about 11  years. Wahoo!
The Vikings made it to the NFC championship game, but lost their chance to go to the Super Bowl in their stadium, which was a huge bummer. BUT the game to go to the NFC game was amazing. Mark watched the game ending touchdown over and over again every day for a week, I think he may have come close to crying. Maybe they will go to the super bowl next year (praying hands).
Other then that, not much else happened this month. See, boring. But I am grateful for boring. I hear a lot of my friends trails last month, and I am grateful for our boring January.

Lily partying in the new year

Putting in the work, hopefully it'll payoff.

My future crossfit champ.

I love time at the park with these crazies

Mr. Jacob trying to learn how to ride his Pedal free bike. It's hilarious to watch.

from the top left clockwise:
Jacob asks for the most healthy snacks. This was movie night and this is what he wanted. Proud mama moment there.
He is the cuddliest kid ever! loves to give his mama some snuggles.
Vikings winning touchdown, played like a million times.
We found this picture of lilys one night and were concerned with what it was, I asked mark what he thought 'a guy who got shot holding up his middle finger' we then asked lily, and she said 'Its Captain Underpants! I made him have a big belly button with red paint on him, he lifts his finger when he says 'buh buh buh''...it made perfect sense after she explained. So funny!
And, Jacob being a stinker while watching the kids at the gym, he does not like to spend time there.
Me, dreaming of Disneyland...I may have started a paper countdown chain.

Cheap Ice Cream day on the 31st with our sweet friend Kami. That girl is so adorable.