Happy New Year! (A day late...)

I didn't get around to writing yesterday. We were busy taking down Christmas decorations and packing for Moline, and then I needed a good nap, because we actually did some late-night partying to welcome 2015. We rang in the new year with our good friends the O'Gradys and McClains ( thanks again for hosting OGs!) We let the kids zonk out upstairs while the adults got their party on downstairs. All went smoothly with the kids except for a minor tussle over a princess pillow--seems you shouldn't let a three-year-old and four-year-old stay up past 10pm and then expect them to be reasonable about sharing a coveted item. But, once the situation was settled, we were free to enjoy some adult time, including a game of Cards Against Humanity, which was hilarious. For those of you who aren't familiar, it's the R-rated version of Apples to Apples. There was more than one round when I thought, "we're all going to Hell for this." We had a blast, and it felt great not to be in my PJs at 10pm on NYE!

I didn't get my act together on the resolutions front. There are several things I'd like to set goals for this year, but I just haven't taken the time to really think them through and set reasonable expectations. I was feeling a little pressure the morning of New Year's Eve to sit down and get a few resolutions locked in, but then I realized January 1 is a day like any other. It has some nice symbolism to it, but I can decide to make a change just as easily on January 2, 3, or 4 (or May 16 for that matter), and I'm no more likely to stick to a new plan or hit a goal if I set it on New Year's Eve or later. 

One thing I know I want to work on is something I've talked about and struggled with since Lainey was born--letting the small stuff go, so I don't miss out on the big stuff, (and really to just make life easier in general). I'm applying the "fake it until you make it" philosophy. I can't just wake up tomorrow and not let the dirty dishes on the  counter bother me, while I build Lego creations with the kids.  But, I can force myself to build that Lego castle and ignore the itch to tell the kids "just 5 minutes," while I tidy the kitchen. And if I keep forcing myself to choose the fun, I'm hoping eventually that becomes my automatic choice. 

And it's not all about choosing fun and ignoring chores. It's also about picking my battles and knowing when it's important to hold my ground and when to let it go. I had my first test yesterday, when dressing Lainey. She was in her room for a time out for hitting (an offense to hold my ground on), but while she was in there she decided to get dressed. Only problem was she put on her dirty clothes from the day before. I let her keep the pants on (let it go), but the shirt was covered in spaghetti sauce, so it had to come off. While I was rummaging though her drawer for a shirt, she pulled out a sundress she wanted to wear. Sure! I just needed to get a shirt to layer under it.  (Look at me! Free and breezy!) Lainey was in total agreement to layer, but she wanted to wear her Frozen shirt under the dress to which I replied, "No honey, not that shirt. It won't match." She started pouting, and I sighed, gearing up for a fight. (Mayday, mayday! Getting tense up in here!) But I stopped myself. Who cares that this is a heinous outfit?Well, I cared, but I pretended I didn't and handed the shirt and dress over to her. She was happy, there was no yelling, and we went happily on about our morning.  And below is the result...I must say, she knows how to work it!

This was a pretty easy test, we weren't going anywhere, so other than offending my eyes, there were no issues letting Lainey wear exactly what she wanted. Let's see if I can have the same flexible attitude when she wants to wear this get-up to a friend's birthday party. Wish me luck on my journey!

                                         

                                    Working her houndstooth, polka dots, multi-color look!