Hello 2018

We spend our new years eve right here at home.  West Texas is experiencing this freak arctic cold front, and well it is not very pleasant to be outside.  Nate was on shift in town, (responding from home) so staying home was kind of a given.

I have never really been huge on the new years eve drunk fest or really staying - mostly because Nate is usually on shift on new years eve, or he has to work the next day (and his job kind of requires him to be in the game all the time) so we generally wake up to the new year.

A few years back we started the little tradition of making an array of appetizers, getting some new movies, and just hanging out, going into the new year with out frazzles and stress.

So of course that is exactly what we did, the cold weather made it even easier to cozy up and blankets, and stay in jammies of course.

An array of our favorite foods - and they make awesome leftovers for a relaxing first day of the new year.

 

and the spread wouldn't be complete without something sweet....

 It was mostly the kids and I, since Nate was in and out on calls.  We did stay up for a bit, and snapped these horrible quality selfies to celebrate, and then we went to bed - excited to wake up to brand new year.

 Maybe some day we will stay up till midnight with these two, but for now we will keep it classy till about nine thirty and call it good.

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Hello 2018, I have been dreaming about you.

I don't know why a new year, the beginning of spring, or even the beginning of fall bring such a burst of freshness.

There is something exciting about brand new, and being handed a blank canvas.  Of course you can choose a blank canvas through the year - but for some reason the beginning is so powerful.

I am not a huge resolution setter, but I like to find little words here and there of things that draws me in and fascinates me like - simplicity, joy, gratitude, grace, authenticity.

I don't know what 2018 holds for our family, and that is ok - but I do know who it in control, and I will rest in that.

Happy new year friends - may your year be filled with love, grace, and joy!