Blessings All Around

January has been a great start to the year, thus far.  I mean we're almost through it and still have yet to get any snow really.  I don't ever remember a January without much, but I guess there's a first for everything these days.  I always tell myself, after Christmas, once I start putting my Valentine decor out then we're almost there. LOL! I'm not sure why, but that decor is my happy point during the winter I guess. Anyway, the house is decorated and we decided on Colin's school box, so we're doing good this year.  Yesterday, I worked on the boy's daily heart notes, so I'm ready for the month of February. Oh yeah, I also solidified our Valentine's Day plans, so I am definitely ready and that's a good feeling! Now, I'm sure a snow storm will hit some time or another, but we're in countdown mode and Spring isn't too far away....51 more days!☺

At the beginning of the month, I had some changes come to me personally that I was preparing myself for. For the first time in 5 years, I headed outside of the house and reported to our new office space for work. I was nervous, but 3 weeks in it's going well. In all honesty, I didn't realize how much I needed to get out of the house. Oh my! My sanity needed it more than I thought, I guess! Don't get me wrong, working from home has been good, pros & cons of course, but I needed out. Now, I still will work from home and will sprinkle in some office time, but right now I'm enjoying this. I'm loving my cubicle and seeing adult faces on my work days....who would've thought, lol! The deal, moving forward, when my boys are home, so am I, and that's a great feeling knowing I don't have to leave them with anybody. My family is my main priority and having a boss who understands that is wonderful! So, I'm welcoming this change with open arms. Anyway, I wasn't sure how I'd like having to get up at 5am to get myself ready, before the boys, and then start our normal school morning routine, but it's working good and I'm really enjoying it.  I mean, it's 3 days a week, so I can't complain. That's nothing compared to others I know, so I'll take my setup! My boss is amazing and my options are the best, so it's definitely something I'm welcoming.  Besides, this isn't the final solution.  We're still working on what hours works for everyone and it might turn out that I'm only there 1 day?  Not sure 100% just yet, but for now, I'm enjoying it and will continue to do whatever I can to help the company grow.

Anyway, another thing we did this month, is celebrate Brenton's 42nd birthday. I'm not sure why, but it is so weird to think he is in his 40's. Birthdays are definitely a blessing that's for sure! As we all know, we're not promised tomorrow and life can change in a blink of an eye, so a celebration of another year is always a must. We sure do love him bunches! ♥

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas! Oh my, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Here at the Shroyer house, we had a great Christmas season.  I loved everything about it! I'm the type of person that I start shopping early and, in doing so, gives me the freedom to enjoy the month of December to the fullest. I don't like stress or drama, so I found by starting early it alleviates that for me and it helps me focus on what is important.  I love traditions, so naturally we have several! However, I usually don't let my guard down until after our work parties and school stuff is done.  I'm not sure why, but it just feels that once I get those things out of the way I get this calming feeling and it's like the kid in me comes out. LOL!

This year, Brenton and I had a great time with our co-workers at our company parties. Mine, was at my bosses house and it was so nice, calm, and laid back. My whole family went and we had a nice evening. Brenton and I attended his, the next evening, and had a really nice evening together. It's always a great event, just a long one. It was his 15 year recognition year, so he received extra and it was important to go and be there for him. Brenton's parents kept the boys for us, so we woke up the next morning (Saturday) and went to enjoy our gift to each other and that is always a "date" day.

While the boys were with my in-laws, they took them to Cambridge to see the Charles Dickens Christmas display and also the lights.  The boys loved it.....

After the fun weekend, it was the last week at school before break and I had 2 happy boys. We were in countdown mode and we made it....

Last day, dressed in Christmas shirts to celebrate

teacher gifts ready to go

Colin made us gifts

I knew when the boys got home our family celebrating would begin.  I had the 2 weeks off with them and Brenton took some time off too, so we were going to enjoy break to the fullest. We started off with breakfast at Bob Evans and baking our Christmas cookies. I wasn't sure how Mr. Colin would do at the restaurant, but he did great! He didn't eat anything, but he went in without any hesitation and sat for most of the meal. However, when he was done I took him to the truck, got my meal boxed up, and we waited on the other two to finish. That's how it works at our house, we have to know Colin's cues and when it's time to be done, it's time to be done. However, he did great and that's what matters....

From the moment the boys stepped off the school bus on Friday, we had stuff planned.  The way Christmas fell this year there was something every day until the following Thursday.  So, we went with it and enjoyed every moment.  Brenton's parents have chosen to do Christmas at their house, usually the Saturday or Sunday, before Christmas and this year Sunday was chosen. So, we headed there and enjoyed the afternoon with the family. The kids played, while the adults talked and we had good food to enjoy, as well....

Since, Christmas Eve was no longer a day that we celebrated with family, we decided it would be a day that our own little family would celebrate together. Brenton and Ethan headed off to services at the church, while Colin and I watched online and when they returned we relaxed a bit and then had our traditional dinner. This year, we decided to have a "fun" dinner and our theme was The Grinch. We had such a fun evening together and after dinner the boys headed off to bed anticipating the Big Guy's arrival.....

And, finally, the day that all kids wait for each year was upon us. Our tradition here, is we have a "Christmas Campout" in dad & mom's room and that means that when the kids are up, so am I. This year, like every year before, Ethan woke us all up at 3am. I get it, the excitement is real, so I don't fight it! Everyone was in good spirits and ready to head downstairs to see what the Big Guy brought.....

Colin made me super emotional this year! This was the first year that he enjoyed the whole process and opened EVERY single one of his gifts. He smiled and just had a great morning! I loved it!! Ethan, was the sweetest, because his favorite thing was, "being a family." No joke, that's what he said without any hesitation. I'm sure his new phone and Galaxy buds came in close 2nd, but still he just was the sweetest all morning. After we got the gifts opened, I started the oven and cooked our traditional Christmas morning sweet rolls and casserole. It was a great morning and before we headed off to my parents, we had some time to relax for a bit and watch a showing of the Christmas Story.

However, before we knew it, we found ourselves in Sugarcreek with my family and getting in our last celebration of the Christmas season. It was a great day!

It was hard to believe, I guess it happens every year and I probably say the same thing, BUT it came and went so fast! I found myself not bumming this year though. I wasn't super happy, but I certainly did have a calmness that was over me that it was over. I'm not sure why, but I did. I absolutely loved the whole month and every moment we were in celebrating the season yet I was ok that it was done. Now, my boys, not so much! LOL! However, we still had over a week left in break and New Year's coming, so I think that helped their moods.  Brenton had to head to work on Friday, so he decided to take Ethan in for a bit to help him. Ethan, loves to work and he was in heaven.  Daddy made him work, too! Ethan had to clean and scrub different things, but he was happy to do it and he never complained one time....

It was a great Christmas season and 2019 was a great year for us, as well.  As we reminisced and talked about the year, we found New Year's Eve was quickly approaching and we still had yet to solidify any plans with anyone. I have to be honest and say, the whole month of December comes crashing down on December 31st for me. I'm exhausted and not wanting to do anything, but be home for New Year's Eve. I try so hard to visit with friends and family, but the terrible truth is all the jolly is gone from me by then. The older I get, I don't even fight it. This year, my mom was working late and my dad ended up making lots of food that we decided to head to Sugarcreek to have dinner with them. My dad made the traditional meal for the New Year of pork & sauerkraut...it was so good! After dinner, we headed home and were home by 10 to get comfy to watch the ball drop at midnight. It was the perfect way to end the year and just be with my little family celebrating!

emptying our memory jar & starting off 2020 

Overall, our Christmas break was amazing! I loved every ounce of it and enjoyed being off with my boys. It's the perfect time of year to reflect and take in each and every moment. As we looked back on 2019 and remembered those moments, we are super excited to see what 2020 has in store for us. We filled out our sheets and placed them in our jar to start the year.  Colin was holding on as long as he could and was serenading us on his new karaoke machine, it was so sweet.  Jingle Bells is his favorite, so what else would he sing to hold onto the moment....LOL! Anyway, it was a great break and I'm praying that 2020 will be a good year and one for us to flourish! Happy New Year! ♥