Skip to main content

15 in 2015....What Happened, and What Didn't

view from Ft. Langley bridge of Brae Island's chapel

For many years I've set up some sort of a yearly list of things to do. They're sometimes small, sometimes big, sometimes silly, but always things I just want to make a little bit of space and thought to do and 'name it', if you will. I got 1/2 done on my 2015 list, but in my defense, I planned it around my birthday, which means I only gave myself 9 months in 2015, not 12. I'll have a new '16 in 2016' list soon, but for now, here's what happened, and what didn't. See the original list HERE. 

I'll start and link to what did actually happen:

I got professional family photos done, I wrote an actual Christmas letter and sent it to family, I *tried* turning Ani's bone & shell collection (it didn't look as great as it did in my head...) into artwork, hiked Deep Cove/Quarry Rock with my family, watched The Sound of Music with my kids, baked Confetti Cookies, and my 'intentionally left blank?', I did that too. I tried snorkeling. 

What didn't happen? 

I didn't get around to taking the family on a drive-in movie date. I actually researched our local option a number of times, but the summer viewings were just so late (9 or 10PM start time) and that just was too much of a detainer for our family. Maybe next year? or maybe when they're teens. 

I didn't sew a triangle skirt or headband. I thought about it a few times. I looked on pinterest a time or two. Not much else. 

I didn't make 'sweet treats' hairclips for Ani and my nieces but I am DEFINITELY putting this on the 2016 list. I thought about it a lot, often when we were nowhere near home. I still want to do this. I still think it'd be a really fun, easy, and adorable craft. 

We haven't got a dog...YET... stay tuned...

I didn't purchase or create driftwood art, but I did collect my driftwood. Step 1 done, but steps 2-4, not done. Sad face. I still love the style. 

I didn't purchase a Giving Key necklace because they went up a LOT in price. What gives, Giving Keys? The Canadian dollar being about 35% lower than the US dollar also made this a lower priority. If a necklace is $70, I have to pay $100? Nope. 

I didn't make a Calligraphy print for our home. I realized that our home is already getting full enough with prints/artwork, though I DID learn and practice Calligraphy, which was a huge step in the right direction. 

I didn't make a Ship&Shape inspired necklace. I have been on the lookout but haven't seen any store locally that sells beads that look similar to these, which is half the battle of making this craft. Harumph. 

So, even though I only did half this list, I still tried for others, which I define as successful, as well. I'm excited to start a new year, I always am. I find pleasure in 'naming' activities, experiences, or crafts I want to do by myself or with my family, and tracking them helps me enjoy them even more. (Gretchen Rubin would be so proud of me.) Blessings on your New Year as well! What will you try for in 2016?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How To: DIY Sand/Water Table

How To: Build A Sand/Water Table for Under $30 ! Sorry this took me so long to blog, but I had to have a tool list and full instructions before I could do so. A little history on my love for the sand/water table . I love the idea behind tools for tiny hands, i.e. the Montessori Method , and like to have Lukka 'figure things out for himself', even when he is playing. I try to have the most simple and basic toys available for 3 reasons: a) simple toys generally have less parts, which means less of a hassle for me b) simple toys inspire way more creativity and imagination than do 'exact replica' toys c) they are much more aesthetically pleasing to look at, therefore, not making every nook and cranny of our house an eyesore! I know the last reason is just for me, but it's true. Plastic things don't generally last 1/2 as long as wooden or fabric toys, and they are unattractive. For this reason, I started to look for a wooden sand/water table as opposed to a pl...
11 comments
Read more

Home School Activities: Board Games We Love

My children have recently become enthralled in the world of board games. I was never a board game player. Sure, I remember long summer hours (days? it seemed like it..) spent around a Monopoly board, but I was never one to suggest to get out the cards, or a game. As my children have grown and they are now able to do activities with me, I started noticing that they really took to puzzles (when done all together) and the one or two board games I happened to have kept in the storage room. They were always asking to play Candy Land and so I figured I should branch off a bit. Over the course of the last year, I have found GREAT games, even ones that I love to play alongside them. The amount of 'teaching' they have gotten through games is jaw-dropping. Counting, team-playing, math related patterning, are just some of the skills I've watched develop. I asked before Christmas on facebook what my friends and their own kids loved and I was thrilled with the response. We have found ov...
3 comments
Read more

November - December Titles // 2024

 a moody December scene at Glen Valley I am just squeaking into the final few days for this post, and I am so glad I had Christmas break to boost a few more books into this somewhat meagre offering for Fall of 2024!  What did you read that you loved?  No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot by Wes Hall - This was a memoir I read for my bookclub, and although I found the first part very interesting, I read at least 75+ pages of his job (working his way up the 'wall street of Toronto') and I still don't know what he does.  This author grew up in Jamaica and honestly his ingenuity, quick learning ability, and resourcefulness helped him achieve amazing things, but it did feel a bit hollow toward the end. I don't think that was the intention, I just didn't overly love it.  The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo - Again, I will read anything DiCamillo writes and be the first to have it ordered to my library! This lovely, nostalgic, and somewhat dour (at times) little middle...
Post a Comment
Read more