New Year's Eve

Happy New Year! 

We brought 2016 in with a bang. "Noon Year" was celebrated at the Amazeum with hat decorating and wish-filled balloon making. 

We had the Pendletons over for a night of games, fun, and food. I can't talk about how much I will miss Carly when she moves without crying...so I won't go on about that.  It was a really great evening. 

I made the same game the Lawrence Family played on Christmas Eve, this year. We went to the target dollar spot and picked out about 20 prizes. Everything from candy to cute note cards, to Star Wars erasers, Chapstick, fun pens, and an ugly troll doll (they're back! 5th grade Meg would be very excited about this). I added as much loot from my stash of rainy day prizes in my closet. Stickers, a new movie to watch, Washi tape, a couple of mini Lego sets, Pokemon cards, chuck e cheese tokens, candy, chocolate covered pomegranates, card games, a tiny car, squinkies, a 2016 calendar, a few one dollar bills, knit gloves, and a grand prize: a $10 build a bear gift card. 

Everything was wrapped in a super ball of Saran Wrap. Like 3 rolls worth of cling wrap. 

By the end it looked like a 30 lb turkey. You could see prizes inside but had no idea how many layers deep they were! 

We each took turns being the "roller" and the "unwrapper".

The unwrapper chose a number on the die for the roller to get. Example: "Roll a 4"

Ready, set, GO! And the roller rolls the die over and over again until he/she rolls a 4, then shouts, "got it!" 

During this time, the unwrapper frantically unwraps as much of the giant prize ball as quickly as possible, because she gets to keep anything that falls out on her turn.

It was wildly fun watching the kids furiously unroll the ball trying to get to a dollar bill or a pair of sunglasses 15 layers down! 

We played a round of pie face, ate a ton of junk food, had a martinelli's toast, and rang in new year.  

A great moment was after the game ended when Carly somehow managed to go unscathed (or un-pie-faced, anyway). Jeff took her down with the can and creamed her anyway. Good times in the Willardson kitchen. We play nicely. ;) 

I refrained from jumping right into singing happy birthday to Carly and Sloane at the stroke of 12, and saved baby's celebration for the "next day".

I have no set resolutions for 2016 and I'm not sure I will make any.  Basically my goal is to feel like I'm drowning less often than I did in 2015, be more supportive and champion Aaron and the children in their endeavors, and have a more positive attitude about tough things. I used to have thicker skin and a tougher, can do attitude that fell pretty hard to the blows of depression  and anxiety. Pride come the before the fall, and I was pie faced in 2015.  I am very grateful to have been humbled so much this year. I learned a lot about my own strength, will, worth, purpose, special mission, and how to better apply the Atonement in my life. Through the hormonal breakdown of my pride and sanity, I gained even more appreciation and admiration for my amazingly patient husband, forgiving children, and loving parents. I discerned which friends are reliable, nonjudging, and trustworthy. I found joy in simple things and took time to teach my children the peace that can only be found through serving others. I yelled a lot, and stopped yelling. I overcame the postpartum fear of leaving home at night and being alone. I taught Corbin how to ride a bike, prepared regular healthy meals for my family, enjoyed dates with my love and read books to my children. I raised hens from baby chicks. I took time to get regular (ok 3, but that's better than previous years) haircuts. I served as a relief society instructor for 9 months and still serve as the relief society committee chairperson. I started running again once a week, (sometimes twice!) and signed  up to run the Bentonville Half Marathon in April, and my only real intent is to finish and not compare myself to the runner I was 4 years ago. I hosted 21 family members under one roof, loved it, miss them, and I hope they come back soon. I basked in the sun every glorious warm and sunny day that we've had, and truly recognize each of them as a gift. I lost a lot of hope and worked hard to gain it back. 

I hope 2016 will bring more laughter, smooth mornings, the ability to sit, relax, and read a dang book just for the fun of it, more Friday adventures, more peaceful Sundays, and my voice. I hope my voice comes back in 2016, and that I remember to sing a song of gratitude for the good life I've been blessed with.