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Farewell 2016!

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2016 didn't seem like a bad year until the last 60 days - and then it really went downhill. I think there are two different considerations for this.
  1. The campaign and eventual election results cast a large shadow over "normal" life. Everything was tinged with a bit of the hate that became commonplace. This led to the rest of 2016 being dark and angry, where it may not have normally been.
  2. From all of this darkness, positive actions have occurred. Groups of individuals have come together to show that the hate will not be tolerated, that is is not acceptable. People have found new friends and have seen the true colors of current ones.
Everyone I've spoken with was SO ready for 2016 to be done. They seem to think that the flip of a calendar will make everything right in the world. 2017 will fix it all! 

It won't. Celebrities will still pass away.  We will still be inaugurating a new president in a few short weeks. But good news, the power to see the good buried in the bad is within you. If there's something that you don't like, and you can make a change, for goodness sake, DO IT! Don't just complain about it. Life is far too short to be trapped by surroundings that can be changed. 

I'm not making any big resolutions this year, except to do my best to be happy each day. I want to be healthy, spend time with those I love, develop my hobbies, and try to look for the beauty, even when it seems too dark to see it. Life is happening right now and I can't miss any more of it!

On a more lighthearted note...both Scott and I had this past week off. We took the kids to see the movie "Sing". It was G's first movie.  He was a little antsy at the end, and just wanted to keep eating popcorn, but was overall very good, and quiet. Hooray, now we can all go to the movies together! Milestone, for sure!

Scott and I were also able to sneak in a few day dates...a breakfast after the kids were in daycare for the day, and then a lunch and movie on another day. It was so nice to be able to reconnect as a couple, without having the distraction of the kids.

We rung in 2017 with our very dear friends...I told Tiffany that there is nowhere else I'd rather be than hanging out with them on each New Years Eve. We've rung in the NY with them for at least the last 13 years, and I hope it continues for many more! The girls all get along really well, and even though G was included for some of their playtime, he was totally fine playing on his own, too. It's hard to be the only boy!

Our Christmas decorations are down, the basement finishing project has kicked off again, and we had an excellent prime rib dinner with my parents last night. We all go back to work and school tomorrow, so we're going to make the most of today!

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