Year in Photos

Tag: ornament

  • December 28

    December 28

    I ran four miles this morning like it was nothing. Not that long ago, I wouldn’t even have attempted it, it would have sounded so ludicrous. But I did it and it felt good. I just have to stop and acknowledge all that’s gone into that feat. It’s a big deal.

    After that, the girls and I went clothes shopping. Christina wanted a nice outfit to wear for her birthday. She didn’t end up with much that’s different from what she already has, but she did at least seem happy with it. Robin and I rummaged around Goodwill and found a few things for ourselves. I bought a dress for Friday as well, and a pair of jeans. I bought sizes that I wouldn’t have believed any normal person could wear, and they fit. Comfortably. More for me to stop and acknowledge.

    This year has literally been transformative for me. I don’t know what light bulb switched on, but I’m so grateful it did, and that I’ve been able to keep it lit for as long as I have. We also went food shopping, and then I passed out because my throat feels scratchy and I’m exhausted all over my body. I haven’t been sick in years either… but maybe that streak is ending. I’m going to try to sleep it off. Maybe I can head it off at the pass.

  • December 10

    December 10

    I am teetering on the edge of being too productive this week. It’s not good to set these precedents. I have a good reason to back off, too, because I have not been sleeping well for a few nights now. I wake up into a half-sleep around 3 or 4am, stuck in a dream where I’m trying to solve an unsolvable problem. And it’s hard enough to try to do that when you’re awake… doing it while you’re sleeping is exhausting! I’m trying to figure out what it is in my life that’s making me feel stuck like this. It probably has more to do with the fact that I DON’T have a problem to solve right now that my mind is inventing things for me to solve in my sleep. I’m lacking inspiration and motivation in general, which is only exacerbated by my lack of sleep. So let’s see what happens tonight. If I can get some rest, maybe I can come up with something more fun to keep my mind occupied.

  • May 7

    May 7

    One of the nice things about not having cheer practice is that I get to watch Yankees games again. Only problem is, I have no idea who most of these players are! The whole team seems new. But they won tonight in 10, and it was a good game. I also made five granny squares for my table runner and did three crossword puzzles. I could get used to this.

  • January 6

    January 6

    I finally stopped turning on our Christmas lights yesterday, even though it makes me a little sad. I love Christmas lights. It feels like Christmas only lasted 20 minutes this year. And when it ended, it just ended. We’ll at least have our tree until the weekend, anyway. Then I guess it’s time to move on and see what’s next.

  • December 4

    December 4

    Got my boobs squished this morning (after they called me 17 times in less than two days to schedule). I was overflowing sarcasm at work, and then watched Robin’s cheer practice. The team struggled tonight and she was literally sick with anxiety over it. But the coach, who had pissed me off tremendously over the weekend with his endless condescending tone, came in on a complete 180. He was so motivational and supportive tonight. They dropped the same stunts every time for almost two hours. There were tears and Robin almost puked. But after an hour of talking to them, he got them out of their heads enough that they hit the whole routine without a drop. Robin never left a practice happier. It was exciting to watch. We’ll see if they can bring that momentum to Saturday’s competition. I hope so!

  • December 1

    December 1

    It’s gotten chilly here lately. I’m trying to avoid turning on the heat because I know Billy is part polar bear, but this morning it was 64 degrees in the house, and if it’s too cold to take a shower, then it’s too fucking cold. Also it’s 43 degrees outside right now and not only is the heat not on, I found an open window. Nope.

  • September 28

    September 28

    This dove took me half a day to make because apparently I suck at embroidery. I had to make six or seven wings before I finally got these two. I didn’t hate the effort, but it did take forever. Nine ornaments left to do and two months to do it.

  • September 6

    September 6

    I finished reading the Frederick Douglass book. I am learning so much, and I am so grateful. My mind is full of new ideas, things that contradict the things I previously thought were true. I want to read more. Who knew that one day at Fort Sumter would lead to this? That one day changed everything… again.

  • September 1

    September 1

    It was a pretty productive day. Took the kids clothes shopping because Robin wears the same three items every day and Christina has grown so much in the last year that not one item she owns fits her. There was a moment where I had to threaten to pick Christina’s clothes out for her if she didn’t find her own, but then we found the Holy Grail of pre-teen clothes and they couldn’t stop piling it on. I bought them everything. May we never have to go clothes shopping again. And then I spent the rest of the day making this cute gnome ornament for the advent calendar. It’s unlikely to be done in time for this year, but it might be close. I’ll take it.

  • January 6

    January 6

    Christmas is 95% over. One ornament is in triage, the bins need to be put away, and the furniture needs to be moved back and then that’s a wrap. Also today: fully finished the Lego building, started and finished a jigsaw puzzle from Mount St. Helens that we couldn’t remember ever doing before, and ate a delicious lemon poppyseed cake made by a friend at church for Christina’s birthday.

  • December 16

    December 16

    Christina’s dance performance at Deck the Chairs was cancelled thanks to weather, but the studio was able to find space for them to perform for their families tonight anyway. It was adorable! I love watching my kids do their thing.