Full

Full.  That's the label I will give the last month and a half. Full. In a good/happy/busy family time sort of way full. 
Pre-holidays I decided to add quite a few projects to my to-do list: two quilts, things on the secret list (ie Santa in our house) projects for Christmas Day, a sick child three out of five weeks, then the holidays and all that had in store. 

Quilt update: I don't quilt, and I won't attempt to help someone else quilt.  But I will say "Yay for YouTube!".  I watched video after video, practiced, failed, and practiced again until I got it.  I will never make professional looking quilts, but I was pleased with the outcome of the two I made for gifts. 

The first one went to my mom:

I think you can see that it was very loved and appreciated. She can now see each of her grandkids, great grand-daughter and all their names and faces in one spot each day.  I made her with her favorite colors, blue and yellow. 

Quilt #2 went to my mother-in-law. Christmas morning she received the quilt top and an iou to have a finished quilt.  We spent a few days there over New Year's, and I was quilting until literally when Brad said "we should be packing up" and I said "I'M STILL QUILTING!".  But it was done before we left, and I was so pleased that she was pleased.  This one was done with her colors in mind, more of golds and browns.  I ended up doing a lot more quilting to this one, and by this time, I realized I was actually enjoying the process. 

 

This Christmas, my excitement really centered on a few gifts I was giving: it made the whole holiday so special as I snuck around doing secret things, knowing I was making things by hand that would be special to the recipient.  I'm so glad I am able to do those things. 

 

I did a few upgrades to our basement "fan cave", but that will come soon.

 

Full.

 

After the holidays, birthday celebration with my mom, then Maryland time with family over New Years, we headed home for a day and then to North Carolina for the wedding of my nephew (#6  in a series of 11 nieces/nephews to be wed).  We had a lovely time in North Carolina with special people, a beautiful service and fun reception. 

 

Now that we're back to a normal schedule (except the 2 hour school delays, 1/2 days, 4 day weekend), my friend and I are challenging each other to put in writing our projects that need to get done by the end of January. We have a copy of each other's list, and we're going to keep up with each other and make sure we stay on point. 

 

I've tried to make a full list of things that need done, prioritize it, and then make a doable but still challenging list that I want to tackle first.  Monday I'll share the to-do list and share progress reports as I go.  I'm trying a mix of things that need to get done (not like my accounting work or laundry, I mean those are assumed!), things that would make life easier and something of a fun project too. 

I will also share on Monday my "word of the year" as I have the past two years.  It's going to be a tough year in some ways, but I'm putting a positive spin on it!

Have a great weekend!