the clock strikes twelve.

On New Year's Eve, I was totally exhausted.

We had just got home from our trip and had two sick babies who weren't sleeping.

(Was that past tense? It is still going on . . . )

We had family in town which was fun, and we had the T Family traditional finger foods buffet.

I love New Year's Eve.

But this year, I wasn't feeling it.

Both babies were up, and Chris and I were up in their dark room trying to get them down.

Quinn went down, and I left and sat on the top step.

Chris followed me soon after.

We sat on that top step, both drained.

2012 has been a long year for us.

A blessed year, but, oh, so long.

And hard.

Hard in a blessed way.

But hard.

We listened to our babies moan and whine, and in that moment there was not a single thing I wanted more in the entire world than for them to go to sleep so I could go to sleep.

In the midst of the whining, we heard fireworks.

"Is it midnight?" I asked.

"I think so," Chris replied.

We looked at each other, and leaned in for our midnight kiss.

No sparkly dresses or fancy parties.

Not even a glass of Martinelli's.

It was a New Year's Eve that perfectly fit our year: we were tired, we were worn, but we were together.

2012 taught me a lot, but more than anything, it taught me I married the right man.

And I'm sure glad we're on the same team.

And even though I wonder sometimes why on Earth anyone ever has kids, I sure do love ours.

Even if I don't always like them.

[this is the best I could get: the C kids on the last day of 2012.]

Now its 2013.

I do love a chance to look ahead, and try a little harder to be a little better.

When I was in high school, my dad kept nicknaming years, like "The Year of Adventure" and so forth. Well, I have dubbed 2013 "The Year of Enrichment". I feel like 2012 was about change, chaos, and survival. So this year is about enjoying, improving, and enriching our lives.

I've got a few goals:

-read Les Miserables (4 pages a day, and I can finish by 2014)

-keep an index card journal (as seen on Pinterest)

-run a half marathon

-reduce the amount of tv we watch and increase play

Chris wants to work out more, now that his schedule may actually allow for it. 

And he wants to be a 100% home teacher (!).

We have family goals too, the biggest one of which may be to be on time to church. 

It is so dang hard for us. I don't understand why.

I explained to Carly what a goal is: "Something you want to do, or get better at." 

So Carly's 2013 resolution?

"A puzzle!"

We will be getting her a new puzzle.

So here's to 2012, the blessings it brought and the lessons it taught.

Happy 2013.

xoxo.