Fourteen for 2014

Sometimes we get discouraged about all the things we didn't do - goals we failed to achieve, or just things we didn't make the time for. Instead of lamenting and feeling guilty about what we missed this past year, let's focus on some of the positive, uplifting, and even hard things we've done- even if they were unplanned and not a "goal".


Here are fourteen accomplishments we achieved in 2014!

1. Bought A Mini Van

We were already looking for a mini van in anticipation of the new baby, but kicked the search into over gear after my Escape randomly wouldn't start one day. Luckily, we found the perfect thing and were able to buy it within a few days. 






2. Hosted Weekly Preschool Ballet Class at Our Home

A lovely lady in our ward offered to teach free weekly ballet classes for preschool age kids. We offered our home as a ballet studio since we have a large front room that is completely empty. 

The Halloween dance class. Elsa, a Cloud, and Aurora are learning how to pique.

The first dance class at our home. Clara is mesmerized by it all.

3. Went to Alaska for My Grandmother's Funeral

My grandma Beryl Walther died at age 92 this summer, and we were fortunate enough to be able to go to her funeral and also visit family in Alaska while there. 

See post with details here.



4. Went to Salt Lake City for Emily's Wedding

Very short, but sweet trip! Oh, I am so glad I decided to go! I miss my family so much, and barely even had enough time to visit with them before having to head back to Texas. I bought the ticket to go three days before the wedding and luckily everyone was gracious enough to help me get to and from the airport, and find somewhere to sleep for the one night I was there. 

I left Texas Sunday afternoon, got to Salt Lake City Sunday evening, spent a little time with family before hitting the hay, woke up the next morning to get ready for the sealing at 9am, attended the luncheon, went back to the hotel room to pack, headed to the airport, and got back to Texas around 11pm on Monday night. Whew! A whirlwind trip. 

Everything was so lovely, and I just wish Zach and the girls could have come with me, and that we could have spent more time with my family before having to head back. 

Me and the blushing bride! My sister, Emily. 

Daddio sandwich. 

The picture heard 'round the internet: Posting this picture to Facebook and Instagram was an unplanned announcement of our pregnancy. Surprise! We're having a baby boy on February 10, 2015.

The lovely bride and groom, now husband and wife.

The night before: Boyd and I surprising Andrew with Boyd's unexpected visit from Alaska!

My dad and I walking around Salt Lake City Temple Square the night before the wedding. 

I love my family! Wish I would have taken more pictures of the rest of my siblings that were there too!





5. House Guests! 

If you know me at all, you know I love it when people come to visit us! Living so far away from family and friends, I relish any opportunity we get to see them. 

This year we hosted:
Kay & Greg, Boyd, Andrew &  Trent; my dear friend Joree & Family, and Zach's brother Levi

Lucy and Clara enjoying some snuggle time with their new friend, J.

Brotherly Love. And games.

6. Zach Got His Master's Degree!

Hooray! I've always been so impressed with Zach's ambition and dedication to get the most out of his education. He has definitely taken advantage of all his education opportunities, and been able to go to school for free, or even make money while doing it! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Good job, Zach! 


7. Clara Helmet

Made it through, and her head is looking good. 





8. Nursing Clara for Over a Year

Victory! 

Lucy and I struggled a lot with nursing when she was a baby, and I barely had the opportunity to nurse Peter, so with Clara I really wanted to have a good experience and try to nurse successfully for at least a year. 

I was so happy that we were able to! And she was fat and happy the whole time. This one definitely felt like an accomplishment. 





9. Big Lou's Group Date Night in June

So much fun! I am so glad we were able to go on this giant group date. I had never heard of Big Lou's before going. They specialize in huge pizzas, and we were not disappointed! 

I would definitely go back again, you just need to make sure you have enough people to help you eat it all!

This one is almost feels like three accomplishments: 

1. Getting a babysitter and going on a formal date
2. Going on a group activity and making more friends!
3. Trying a new place to eat that ends up being somewhere we would want to go back to

Sweethearts Forever.

Lady and the Tramp Style

10. Lucy Gave Her First Talk in Church

On August 24, 2014 Lucy gave her first talk in Primary. The topic was "Participating in wholesome activities will strengthen my family." 

Zach helped her write and practice it, I added the drawings and color coding to help her be able to recite most of it herself. 

So cute. 

11. Taught laurels on Sunday

In April I was called to teach the Laurel class (16-18 year old girls) on Sundays. This is probably one of my favorite callings ever. I love to teach, I love the youth, and that age group is the best! I am very blessed to have been able to work with an amazing group of young women. They have spiritual maturity and a willingness to participate, share, and learn. 

It's such a fun and full time in life. Dating, school, family, getting ready for college and the next phase of life as they transition from a youth to an adult. It's also a unique role for me as I transition from a "teacher/leader" to a peer as they become older and graduate from high school and the young women's program, and join Relief Society.  

I was so blessed as a youth to have had the influence of so many amazing women as youth leaders and teachers. I am grateful and humble to be able to pay it forward and try to teach and help these young women grow and become closer to the women they will become. What a neat and wonderful season of life! I love it!





12. Learned How to do Old Hollywood Glam Hair

Something I've wanted to learn how to do is style my hair like they did in the golden days of Hollywood. I tried a couple attempts, and this was my best outcome. I think I could still use more practice and research, but I loved at least getting closer to my goal!

If anyone has any good tutorials they've seen, please leave the link in the comment section below!

About to go to Young Women In Excellence.

13. Zach Got Promoted! 

They had a big promotion ceremony for him, and during it Zach presented me with a dozen roses, and gave Lucy one too. She loved it, and so did I! Good work, Zach!

Thank you, sweetheart!

14. Sang in a Quartet for Church Christmas Program

I love singing in a ward choir. I am not the strongest singer, and don't have a lot of musical training, but I get such a sense of camaraderie, friendship, and happiness by being a part of the choir and being willing to share, and use, any (small) talents I have. I especially love going together with Zach and sharing the choir experience with him. 

When our church congregation split last spring, our choir kind of went on hiatus because we no longer had our pianist. A few months after that, our conductor moved. I was so happy to hear them call a new choir director this fall, and start practicing for the Christmas program. 

One of my girlfriends asked if i would be interested in being in a small group number with her, and we recruited two altos to sing with us.  We sang "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel."  I thought it turned out well! 

A solo is definitely not within my comfort zone, but a quartet was perfect! 

Any unplanned, unexpected, or small achievements you made in 2014? Share below! It feels good to identify and acknowledge the things you've accomplished. Try it!           

Daughter's Choice Awards

The Young Women hosted a red carpet event honoring their mothers. Each girl filled out a sheet nominating their mom for an award that they thought best highlighted the talents and strengths of their own mom.

There was also a place to write their mom's favorite actresses, so that they would be in good company while reading each nomination.

It was a really fun night, and the other leaders put together a beautiful event with a red carpet walk for the moms which included paparazzi (all the young women and leaders) taking pictures and cheering , MCs handing out awards, chocolate fondue, and a photo wall to take pictures together afterwards.

I loved hearing what each young women admired about their own mother. It was especially interesting to see what several sisters said about their shared mom.

Winner of "Best Mom and Friend" award, and her daughter in back. 

It was a fun night, and I hope they decide to do it again next year!

2014: Final Goal Review

Been keeping busy and never got around to posting my usual six month goal review, but here is the final update on how we did for 2014!

See here for the original post of Goals for 2014.

Via

1. Read More:
Partially done! I finished reading Steal Like An Artist but not Parenting with Love and Logic. I've also been working on Daring to Be Yourself, from last years unfinished goal. I read a new baby name book we bought too.

We bought a lovely old worn porch glider bench from our next door neighbor who was moving. I have been loving sitting out there reading when the weather is good, while Lucy runs around the front yard collecting rocks and sticks, and tries to make friends with all the dog walkers.
It's been a great way to see, and be seen, in order to get to know our neighbors better.




2. Write more love letters:
I've used it once! Oy. This technically counts as completed, but I can continue to do better with it. Showing and expressing love and appreciation are important. For both the giver and receiver.

Even the act of writing down the things you love about someone turns your thoughts towards them, and increases your appreciation for them as you consider all the ways they enrich your life.




3. Daughter parties:
Done! Lucy and I hosted a Tea Party. Zach and Clara were the honored guests. Originally it was supposed to be Nana (Kay) as the guest of honor, but we had so many activities planned (and with me getting unexpectedly sick), we ran out of time before Greg and Kay had to head back to Iowa.

Since moving here Zach usually has to work the first weekend of every month, and so will pretty much miss watching General Conference with us as a family every time. I've taken the opportunity to make it a fun mother-daughter experience with a fun breakfast and activities while we watch and listen together.

In October we made German Pancakes again, and Lucy used her Conference Bingo sheet she got from her Sunbeam teacher the week before. She loved it! It really helped her listen to what the speaker was saying as well.

For the afternoon session we had lunchables to eat as a treat. I hadn't ever bought them before, but they were on sale. Lucy and Clara both loved them.

Eating german pancakes!

Conference Bingo from her Sunbeam teacher for the second session.

Snuggling together while watching Conference.

4. Use up art supplies I already own:
Started! Lucy and I made her a wand, per her request, and used up some left over foam, a chopstick, and two different kinds of paint. The paint I got for free 6 years ago at an Art Educators Conference I went to while I was still in college. Win! It is very satisfying to use up something and finally throw it away.

I also used some felt to decorate our aprons for our Halloween costumes, used some old paint for pumpkin painting in October.

Russian nesting dolls for the ward trunk-or-treat. Via.

5. Draw more:
Yes!
- Hers & Mine
- Envelope drawings
- Cardboard ornaments
- Ed Emberly Drawings

Still so satisfying, and I love sharing my love of art with Lucy. She is so fun to create with.




6. Share more art:
Yes! I started a series of Hers & Mine Instagram posts with Lucy where she picked out the subject matter, I drew it first and then she drew her interpretation. It was a lot of fun, and I love creating and collaborating with her.

Some other mother/daughter artists that inspire me found here and here.

Anchorage, Alaska Temple by: Tracy Davis

Anchorage, Alaska Temple by: Lucy V. Davis

7. Family pictures:
Taken! I was so fortunate to be able to have one of our church friends take them before moving away.

Pictures of the girls:

Half done! The pictures were taken, but not yet printed and hung. They turned out so lovely though. A mothers dream!

Did I say that already?

I only wish our friend could be around next spring when the bluebonnets are out again to take more pictures!








8.  Meet our neighbors:
Technically accomplished, but would still like to get to know everyone better.

This one is definitely out of my normal comfort zone.

Last Christmas we brought treats and introduced ourselves to the people who live on either side of us. It was so great to just break the ice right at the beginning and let them know who we are, and get to know them too.

My goal for this year was to meet our new neighbor who had just moved in, and also introduce ourselves to the ones across the street from us.

We dropped off hot chocolate treat packs to the neighbors on either side and the three across the street. Unfortunately, three out of four weren't home. But earlier in the year we did meet the new next door neighbors who moved next door and have become friends. We have also met the ones directly across from us while Halloween trick-or-treating, and the ones that lives diagonally from us because they has been bringing their niece to our home weekly for free preschool ballet classes. So, I count this goal as completed!

We at least made contact with each household and introduced ourselves.





9. Teach more:

Done! I really love teaching and sharing skills that I have learned and passing the knowledge on to others.

Here are some of the teaching opportunities I had this year:

- It all started with teaching a braiding class for the 12-13 year old girls at church. I made a slide show to show various types of braids and how you can use them to make all kids of beautiful hairstyles. Then I let them pick out which styles they would like to learn and we did demonstrations.




- One of the girls I teach at church asked me to do her hair for the church formal. I was so happy to oblige! It reminded me of all the times I had teachers, leaders, and older sisters do my hair for me, and I was so happy to pay it forward. I hope she loved how it turned out and felt beautiful!





- I was also asked to teach the 8-11 year old girls at church how to do some watercolor techniques, as well as another watercolor class at my home for some friends before they moved.

One of the finished pieces.

Hard workers.

- A friend of mine asked me to teach her how to make corsages for an upcoming Daddy Daughter dance for her twin daughters. It has been a few years since I made boutineers for all my dates in high school, and even my college days in Flower Arranging, but I think they turned out pretty good! Definitely could improve on them in the future, and afterwards remembered some techniques that I could have used.

I loved knowing how to do this in high school, I saved a lot of money by making my own boutineers for every dance, as well as helping my girl friends make them for their dates! Plus, it was always really fun to get together and visit while assembling them.

The finished products. The one on the far left was a practice one that we gave Lucy.

- Lastly, I taught one more watercolor technique art lesson to the 16-18 year old girls that I normally teach on Sunday. I think it went well!

I am totally all about taking advantage of the talents and knowledge of whoever is around you at the time, and asking them to teach you. If you have a young women leader or friend who is really good at something, ask them if they would share it with you! You won't have that opportunity and resource forever, and each person has something unique to offer.

It's also such a great way to make friends and get to know people better.




10. Go to a show:
Completed! I love the thrill of live theater and musicals, and wanted to do more of what I love this year. I also loved being able to share one of my favorite things with Lucy and spend special one-on-one time with her. (The six flag shows we went to all together as a family.)

Here are some of the shows we went to this year:
Six Flags Halloween show, Six Flags Acapella Christmas show, Dance Showcase, Frozen Ballet

Luli and I at Frozen the Ballet.

Lucy and "Teenage Anna", our friend from church!

Lucy and Sven.

"Adult Anna", Lucy, and "Adult Elsa".

Lucy and I at the university Dance Showcase.

Lucy with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

If anyone knows of any upcoming shows for 2015, please let me know! I especially love going with other people, and also supporting the youth in any programs they might be participating in.




So, now for the final tally!

I did amazingly good for the year! Granted, some of these goals could have had better qualifiers in them from the beginning. Such as, "Teach five people" instead of "Teach More." But nothing wrong with making a general goal to start. You can always build on it.

I will give myself a 9 out of ten, because I still need to print and frame family and bluebonnet pictures, and read Parenting with Love and Logic. (Half a point each.)

Via.

Alright, now I'm looking for fun goals for 2015! Please leave your ideas in the comments! I am always looking for new ideas to add to my list. 

What fun activities do you want to do this year? Things you love to do, but don't make time for? Something that you would love to learn how to do? 

Please share! I'm excited to see what everyone is doing this year! 

My previous lists of goals found here.