Happy New Year 2018!

Hello friends! Happy New Year! :) Already caught myself almost writing 2017 when balancing the checkbook this morning! I can hardly believe it is 2018! I admit, I love the freshness and *new*ness of a new year!

We have had a busy week...although we took off from doing our homeschool work ~ we had plenty other things to keep us going! This weekend included more family get-togethers and *food*! Too much *food*! I am so thankful to be back to eating healthy and well today! The fleeting pleasure of a tasty, sugary food is truly not worth it. I never feel great afterwards plus it doesn't help the waistline!

I went for a run after getting up this morning (yes, it is freezing outside...but I wore gloves and a hat) and worked up a good sweat! (I tried to sleep in....but just couldn't!) The morning has been full with tidying up after the weekend, balancing the checkbook, filling orders from my etsy shop, dishes, laundry and the like!

Pa stopped earlier. Xavier and Jaxson changed out of their pajamas and went with him to get some coffee at Sheetz (it's free on New Year's Day!). From there they were going to the meat market to help prepare the annual New Year's food! Chris and Madelyn have been here and are getting ready to go as well. They will eat sauerkraut at the shop and then help hook up the horses for sleigh rides! Madelyn has some friends coming too!

I don't eat sauerkraut ~ so I am baking some chicken and steaming some broccoli for my lunch. I will do some more chores around here and then I plan to go out and visit my mom for a bit! She got sick last week and just hasn't felt too great since. I'm hoping all the germies have died by now so I can visit (maybe I'll do a little cleaning anyway...just to make sure the germs are *dead*!).

On New Year's Eve we spent the morning at church. Once home we had a quick lunch and were able to take a little nap before I had to be up again to make mashed potatoes and baked corn to take to my aunt and uncle's house later in the afternoon. We spent our later afternoon/early evening there visiting and eating! We had a nice time! I got to snuggle my cousin's baby for a bit...as well as my one aunt's puppy (his name is Otis!)!

We came home around 7. We decided to make some popcorn and watch a movie (as we were trying to stay up as late as possible on this eve of a new year!). After the movie was over Jaxson and Chris worked on a puzzle (I think Madelyn helped at one point too)...

While they were working on this puzzle (which may take a while...I have a feeling this table will be up for the unforseeable future!)...Madelyn, Xavier and I played the "headbandz" game...but we didn't get out the actual game. We just used sticky notes and put them on our foreheads!

 I made it until about 11:30 and just couldn't stand my eyes being open any longer....although everyone protested I had to head up to bed! They all waited until 12 and soon followed! Such a blessing to bring in the New Year with my loved ones!

I need to finish my lunch (and my stomach and ready to eat!) and carry on with my day! I just wanted to take a quick moment to stop in and say *hello*! I hope you had a lovely New Year's Eve and that you are already enjoying the new year!! May 2018 be a year of God-glorifying, joy-filled moments for each one of you!

Warmly,
Katy