Happy New Year!

It’s time for my annual yearly round up and goals.

December

1. Advent Calendar. Done! Or at least all of the toys are done. I have a teeny bit of trim to finish, but we used it this year and the kids loved it!
2. Christmas Shopping. Done!
3. Heart Quilt. Binding is done and attached. Now I just need to turn it to the back and stitch it down.
4. Hexagons. Done!!! OMG! It’s done!
5. Project Life. I did get one layout done!
6. Make Jam. Done!
7. Meal Plan. Still a work in progress, but I have high hopes!
8. Boston Trip. Done and it was amazing! We were so thrilled with everything about the visit!
9. Set goals for 2025. Sort of? lol.
10. Blag 2024 wrap up. Late, but I’m doing it!

And now for the annual goals.

1. Reading. I didn’t make any tiny books for the dollhouse, but I’m making a list of books to do. :). I didn’t really read much more of note, but I did read almost every day.
2. Project Life. I’m actually decently pleased with this one. Considering I did a 12 week long term sub job and a 7 week long term sub job this year, I’m giving myself some grace. The first half of the book is completely done. The second half has a 5 week gap, a 2 week gap, and 3 weeks at the end to go. I hope I can fill in these gaps! This experiment was a huge success. I don’t miss traditional scrapbooking at all! I love only scrappy each picture once. And I love being more caught up. For sure continuing Project Life plus inserts this year!
3. Scrapbooks. I didn’t even open these this year and I’m fine with that.
4. Home Projects. We got less done on the house than I would have liked, but we did get the shoe cubbies built and the entryway/ stairwell painted!
5. Monthly Themes. I didn’t do great with these, but that’s ok! I’m carrying this goal over to the year.
6. Hexagons. They are done! I repeat, the hexagons are done!
7. Quilt. I got 2 out of the 3 on my list finished! And the third is so close. 🙂
8. Game Night. I need to be better about this, but I honestly think we probably did manage 12 game nights. We are teaching Xander and Kate to play spades!
9. New Friends. Wow. I feel like I knocked this goal out of the park! Our street is amazing and I met so many awesome people while I was subbing!
10. Explore Maine. Let’s see, we didn’t knock out as many places during the second half of the year, but we did go apple picking, my mom and I checked out the Colby Art Museum, I took a trip to Texas by myself, and my mom and I went hikig at Quarry Road.

Which brings us to 2025. I’m going to try something new called 5 by 5 in 2025. SO I identified 5 areas I want to work on and then I’m hoping to accomplish 5 goals in each area.

1. Quilts! I want to finish 5 quilts this year! Not sure which 5 they will be, but I’m thinking the hearts will be first! I’m going to try to inventory/ organize all of my WsIP this week. Perhaps I’ll blog about it?
2. General Craftiness. Same idea here, I want to finish 5 projects. I’m hoping that at least 2 of them are Bucilla stockings! I’m also hoping to finish Project Life 2024 and keep current with 2025.
3. Adulting. lol. Ideas here include meal planning, summer school plans for Mia, and planting a garden!
4. Holiday Magic. I want to have seasonal tubs that are organized and clearly labeled in the basement. I’d also really love to have some Montessori style activities for Mia each month. The good news is that I saved some stuff from last year so once I’m done with this blog post I’m going to work on switching out Mia’s sensory bin. 🙂
5. Go. See. Do. My main quantifiable goal here is that I want to try to have the kids facetime with someone once a week. Also want to start planning Kate’s graduation trip- we’ve decided on NYC! And (long term) planning for Australia with my mom!

So January Goals?

1. Ankle. I have a bone spur on my ankle and I’m trying to get it fixed. I need to do my PT homework every day, plus I need to reach out to my dr and have her resend my podiatry referral.
2. Hearts. I want to finish my heart quilt! I’m so close! I’d love to finish it in time for show and tell at my January quilt meeting. Then I can take it to Texas in February and give it to my grandmother!
3. Monthly Theme. I need to get Christmas packed away and pull out Mia’s January sensory bin. I’d love to add a few more things as well!
4. Project Life. I’d love to finish December 2024 and get a few weeks done for January 2025.
5. Meal Plan. I think my initial goal for January is going to be to make dinner on each night that I’m not subbing. Tonight’s menu is turkey noodle soup with homemade bone broth. I’m thinking about baking some bread to go with it!
6. Smitten Quilt. I’ve decided how to do the backing. I’m making 5 log cabins to go down the middle of the backing and I think it’s going to look so cool! I’d love to finish the log cabins (I have 2 done as of this morning) and piece the backing. Stretch goal to get it basted?
7. Family Game Night! I want us to start having a family game night again. Maybe Thursdays? lol. So then I need an activity for tonight. hahahaha. I DM’d a one shot last night and it was actually quite fun, but I don’t think I’m up for DM’ing DND every week. Maybe we’ll alternate? So this week would be a game… Obviously much to ponder here.
8. Winter Bucket List. Maybe this should be our family activity this week?
9. Planner. I want to be more intentional about using my planner. I’d also love to get back to Sunday weekly meetings!
10. Make Bed. This one is unlikely to happen, but I’m hoping I’ll be more motivated now that the hexies are done!

And now enough stalling. The kids went back to school today and it’s time to whip this house back into shape!