Goodbye 2013

The start of a new year is always exciting.

A clean slate!

Tomorrow will be like the first blank page of a 365 page book, and we can write anything we want in it!!!

(I am really looking forward to a fresh start and all that we will do with 2014, how about you?)

2013 had many highs and lows for us, but mostly highs..
Andrew returning off his mission, Charlotte getting baptized, another driver moving up, a new middle schooler, Keith and I conquering numerous races.. the list is long!
I am thankful for the wonderful memories we made and the lessons learned this year.
Today was a cause for celebrating the last day of the year!

Our last day of 2013 went something like this:

~I ran my last 3 miles for 2013 with a friend, totalling 1,172.4 miles for the year.
~We did some family bonding watching several episodes of DUCK DYNASTY together.
(Funny how every member of our family finds this show entertaining?  haha)

~Andrew and Chris had lunch with Grandma Poczatek, did laundry, and packed for their trip to Utah tomorrow.

(Chris will be returning on Monday, but I have been trying very hard not to think about Andrew leaving tomorrow since I don't know when the next time I will see him again?  But it hasn't been working... I have thought about it ALL. day. long.)

~The boys played basketball in the backyard for a couple of hours while the girls let off SMOKE BOMBS in the front yard.
(Yep, you heard me. And our neighbors were thrilled!)
~We had delicious Chinese food for dinner and invited the missionaries over to share it with them.
(Elder Ovard told us he has not had ANY Chinese food AT ALL in the 17 months he has been on his mission! He was really grateful!)
~We left the outside lights up for one more day so that our house could sparkle for New Year's, but every last Christmas decoration on the inside of our home came down!
(Ok.. we left out TWO this year, but you know the giant nutcracker is out permanently!)

To remind us that Christmas joy should last all year.  haha

And even though I don't always feel this way, our home really IS a joyful one... even with some of the dumb little battles and disagreements we get into over here sometimes.
Love abounds here and thankfully, this is a place where forgiveness happens every day!
I am grateful for that and I wouldn't trade our lives with all it's imperfections for anyone else's.
(Thank you 2013 for showing me that and for being so good to us!!!)

And Happy New Year to you also, bloggy friends.
I hope you can look back and see all the good from 2013 too!

Blakely University

Grandpa and Grandma Blakely spent a small fortune on "Blakely University" sweatshirts this Christmas.

I have always wanted these for our whole family!

It was a Christmas miracle:

The Blakely University.

12 in attendance!

(Too bad the grinch was having his way in our home yesterday.)

Can you tell who was having a problem?

Togetherness

(My 3 hooligans at Ruby Tuesday's for our day after Christmas dinner.)

We are all really enjoying our Christmas holiday together here.

(Well I won't speak for Andrew, but I'd like to THINK he's enjoying being with us again?  haha)

Realistically, I guess the 12 of us all together CAN be a little annoying at times...

you know, when people start singing randomly when you are trying to carry on a conversation? Or start playing the piano when you are on the phone... or using up all the hot water in the shower or eating the last piece of pie that was being saved?  And oh!  If the discussion of WHICH SPORT IS THE HARDEST comes up!  (Holy cow, that one turns into a doozy!)

Family.

I love it no matter what though.

I wouldn't trade this time with them for anything in the world!

tee hee

I know I'll miss that smile in a week.

(And he'll miss us too, our loudness and all!)

Christmas 2013

Well it was another wonderful Christmas in the books for the Blakelys!

We even had an awesome Christmas miracle this morning too!!!

(For the first time in 21 years, Keith and I did not wake up before 6:30am on Christmas morning.)

It was SO nice not being up at 3 or 4 or 5 am!  haha

We certainly needed our rest too, being up so late.

That was a lot of hard work!

(Not that I am complaining.)

Creating Christmas magic for the people I love will always be at the top of my list of my favorite things to do.

A few highlights of the day:

Bandalooms were the biggest hit among the girls.
WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000 OF THESE ALL OVER THE HOUSE NOW.

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma at lunchtime.
(Oh, and I love how Andrew is as tall as their tree!)

Caroline beaming in her favorite new outfit today.

(And I noticed today how incredibly grown up she looked aside from the other girls!)

And just when did this happen? Cause didn't she just go to bed in Disney pajamas last night???

Ha. Well I think Keith and I are in big trouble for sure!

A few of us passed out after lunch this afternoon.
(Why ALL of us didn't pass out is beyond me!  I guess some of us can keep going and going and going..)

My most favorite thing about the day was just spending the whole day together... no one going off to movies or with friends or to run any errands... us together all day made me the most happy momma!

Did you have a Merry Christmas too, bloggy friends?
I hope you did!!!

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve is always so magical.

We had a wonderful time celebrating tonight!

(It's no wonder the kids are too giddy to go to bed.)

The highlight of the evening was Andrew flying in tonight!

He looks pretty spiffy, eh?

(Now if you think he dressed up for us, that is a NO.  Andrew STILL wakes up every day and puts on a shirt and tie! He says he is completely comfortable this way as EVERY DAY WEAR.)

Ha. I guess his missionary habits still have not worn off.

(All good.)

He looks pretty good in a shirt and tie!

I will never mind that the rest of us are lounging around in sweats in the house while Andrew dresses up?

Knock yourself out, Andrew!

haha

Oh, and I will have you know WE HAD LOTS OF PIE TONIGHT.

Between all the punch and desserts eaten by the kids, I think Keith and I are pretty much busted tonight!

Nevertheless, I will always love Christmas Eve.

tee hee

And Merry Christmas Eve to all of you too, bloggy friends!!!

1st Day of Winter

I would say that day one of Christmas break is a 10!

Who would have thought that I would have all my windows and doors open since 7:30am on the first day of winter????

WE ARE ALL WEARING SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS TODAY!

The boys have been playing basketball and the girls have spent most of their day outside enjoying the 70 degree weather, just like it was a spring day!

I also took the girls Christmas shopping for the boys after lunch, as they requested.

I ESPECIALLY enjoyed the conversation in the van that went something like this:

Caroline:  I don't like Justin Beiber anymore.  I'm not listening to any more of his music..

Me:  Oh really!  Why is that?

Corinna:  I don't like him anymore either!

Caroline:  Did you know he does drugs, he has tattoos all over his body, and he keeps getting in trouble now?

Me:  Well have you noticed a lot of pop stars use drugs, have tattoos and get in trouble?

Charlotte:  Well Barry Manilow doesn't get in any trouble or have any tattoos!

Oh my gosh, I love, love, LOVE these little girls who crack me up every DAY!!!

(And they are right on about Mr. Manilow.)

haha

Christmas Break Begins

That time we have been waiting for all year is finally here!

CHRISTMAS BREAK BEGAN TODAY.

I have been crazy busy finishing up all the Christmas wrapping before all the hooligans got home.

(Cause it's hard to do that with everyone around, right?)

These guys will be home for 12 WHOLE DAYS!!!

Well I am glad I got it all finished in time...

When I wasn't wrapping gifts, I was at the elementary school going around to classroom Christmas parties:

(I think Charlotte's gingerbread lady is a GEM, don't you agree?  haha)

And I also thought the other 2 little girls at her table did quite the job on using ALL the candy and frosting available!

Holy. smokes. people...

Wow, is all I have to say!

haha

Happy weekend, bloggy friends!

Are you super excited that Christmas is next week too?

Our Christmas Tree

Oh my gosh my head hurts.

To be quite honest, I have yelled so much today that I have hurt myself!

I will spare you the gory details.

But we all have "those kind of days" right?

Right.

sigh

Well tomorrow should be better.

It will be a brand new day with no mistakes in it.

I have Christmas parties at the elementary school to attend, the kids start their Christmas break, and we are getting springlike 50-70 degree weather here this weekend!

(I will never mind that it has TOTALLY been killing me all week not to run and it will be WORSE when I feel that awesome air that we will have and then not be able to lace up!)

But I am very serious about giving my legs a break and I am on day 5 here.

My legs really need this rest period!!!

Well I am grateful that even after a hectic, crazy, let-down of a day that I can sit here and feel peace as the day closes...

Something about our Christmas tree does that for me:

Did you know that this angel on top of our tree has been with us for 22 years?

The mother of my very best friend since 2nd grade gave it to Keith and I for a wedding gift.

(Thank you, Mrs. Sarofim!  That angel reminds me of you every year!)

It is one of our most favorite treasures!

The whole tree is actually full of treasures.

When I look at all the ornaments, it reminds me of past years and all of our children at different milestones in their lives.

It's amazing how a "thing" can remind you of things you may otherwise have forgotten...

Well ok... I have not forgotten that Chris and Garrett are "double trouble."

But at least seeing it on a tree, I can smile about it for now?

haha

Our tree really brings out a nice, calming Christmas spirit for me!

(And I do believe that our tree actually saved the day today, bloggy friends.)

Ukelele Time

(A festive pair tonight! Love these two.  haha)

The days are getting busier and busier now.

We were all sitting at dinner tonight trying to figure out how in the world Keith and I will be able to pull off being in so many places at the same time almost every day this week?

Christmas parties, choir concerts, band concerts, youth activities, basketball games...

the list is long!

(And somehow we will do it.  Because we always do. But man will it be a sigh of relief once the week is over!)

Other news:

Andrew will be home in just 8 days!

WAHOO!!!

This Christmas will be spectacular for sure with everyone home and all together again.

Did I tell you that Chris bought himself a truck?

Well he did!

And I am proud of him that he worked so hard and was able to pay for it in CASH:

And I also love that he has only had it for like a week and already a half a dozen people have asked him to help them move furniture or something!

(Awesome.)

I have very bad news about my legs, bloggy friends.

My calves did not survive that 10 mile race we did on Saturday.

I ran waaaaay too hard and should have backed off when my body was telling me to.

(insert lots of tears here)

It looks like I will have to take a break from running for at least 7-10 days (or however long it will take for these bad boys to heal!)

I am so down about this whole thing.

Again, I feel defeated with this injury and I know that I have no one to blame but myself!

Back to back races, not enough rest days in between, training harder and jumping right back into running long distances shortly after the marathon...

I am showing ALL of the signs of overtraining and I am finally going to give my body what it has been needing for some time now!

A BREAK.

(Again, I do not know how long this will last?  But we shall see!)

I promise that I do plan on being kind to myself here.

I need to be strong for all the events coming up in February and March!

(Did you know that I have never taken off for more than 4 days of running since I started almost 3 years ago?)

This will surely be a tough week!

I woke up today feeling so tempted to lace up and get out there in the awesome crisp cold air!

sigh

I guess maybe it IS a lucky thing that we have a busy, busy schedule this week to keep me occupied.

(Of course there is always my ukelele too!)

tee hee

True Love

(Cheesin' before our race this morning!  haha)

I love how we celebrated our wedding anniversary today.

We ran a 10 mile race together at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton!

The best part is that Keith could have ran ahead and left me in the dust, but he didn't.

He stayed with me the whole way, with my 2 torn calves and sore right butt cheek (and yes, it is STILL sore from the MCM if you can still believe it!!!  What the heck is goin' on back there anyway????  Gah...)

Well that is what I call true love.

And I am a lucky lucky LUCKY girl to have a guy like Keith who has seen me at my very worst and loves me no matter what!

It was a very happy anniversary indeed and I am so grateful for my awesome guy.
I love you, Keith Blakely.
Thank you for all the wonderful years and may there be many many more decades ahead of us to to experience more of life's adventures and to run more races together!!!
xo

Another Day at Home and Mark Turns 14!

We woke up to more slush.
(About an inch of it.)

SO THAT MEANT ANOTHER DAY OFF OF SCHOOL!!!

What a great birthday present for Mark to have a day home.  haha
I think today was even better because we had full on electricity!

We got to enjoy baking, movies, video games, hot chocolate, twinkling lights all over the house, music, Netflix...
WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!

The kids even built a snowman out there!
I was pretty impressed since I told them it could not be done:

Well look at the dang snow on the ground!
I don't think there is even an inch out there, and it's even SLUSH!!!
(What the heck???)
Well leave it to the girlies to prove me wrong...

They built even MORE out there.
Ha.

Well I think Mark rather enjoyed his birthday relaxing at home and not having to spend most of his day in school.

It was a very happy birthday for our amazing Mark turning 14 today, indeed!

One of my favorite parts of the day was re-telling the story of his birth 14 years ago today and the priceless look on his face when I told him how I drank CASTOR OIL mixed with orange juice to make him come out?

(Awesome.)

I'm glad we ended up having another snow day that we could celebrate a full day with Mark.
This kid is seriously one of my favorite people I have ever known!

Ice Storm

We got like a centimeter of snow and some freezing rain today.

Now if you live in Northern Virginia, you know what this means...

A DAY OFF OF SCHOOL!

I woke up to lots of excitement and commotion downstairs, of course...

The kids seemed to have some big plans all mapped out for the day!

A day off from school = every craft/art project known to man is OUT on my kitchen table.

Besides all the art projects, the other big plans they had got a little thwarted though.

There was no hot chocolate, warm baked cookies, any video games, or Netflix to be had...

Because this day off of school came with a POWER OUTAGE that lasted for over 12 hours!

(Crappity, crap, crap, crap...)

Thankfully, we did get a warm fire going though.

(We do love those!)

Except that 11 people trying to sit by a fire had the shelf life of about an hour over here?

So we decided to venture out.

Somewhere warm!

WE CHOSE THE MALL:

Now we Blakelys only go to a movie together about once a year, since it costs us like 100 dollars to get in?

Well we thought, "Why not today!"

Today was probably as good as ever to go!

Especially since the movie, "Frozen" was out.

How fitting to go see "FROZEN" today!

I will tell you, it was FANTASTIC.

Everyone loved it!  Even the boys!!!

I think it was a nice outing and a wonderful idea.

And we were hoping that while we were gone, the power might come back on for us!

Well that didn't happen.

When we got home, the power was STILL out.

The kids didn't seem to care much though:

Well until they came inside and tried to get warm after playing in the "slush" out there.

(AND we noticed the house was getting colder!)

So we decided to venture out again...

This time, to Grandpa and Grandma's house:

(You can see how thrilled Keith is about the whole thing.  haha)

We were so grateful to have a warm place to go to though!

It was so warm and toasty over there and looking back, I am smiling at the wonderful day we had together.

I think we really needed a day like today with all the kids home from school and no electricity!!!

And did you know that I just heard there is ANOTHER storm coming tomorrow too, bloggy friends?

(I wonder what we will end up doing tomorrow!)

Ha. Maybe I should bite my tongue for saying we NEEDED a day like today with no electricity and all the kids home.

(Cause I really don't think we need another day of power outage + kids home!)

2 days just might be pushing it a little...

Senior Pics

Cassie's senior pics came in the other day and I don't even know what to say...

I am really just speechless here.

Looking at them just made me think of the almost 18 years flying by.

She was only a little baby just yesterday?

AND NOW LOOK:

I don't quite know how all this happened just like that.

(She looks pretty grown up here doesn't she, bloggy friends?  Gah.)

And people wonder why I eat so much cheese...

*Thank you, Kelli Brewer for being so awesome and taking such great photos.

These pictures stir up so many emotions inside of me and just melt my heart!

I am certain these will be cherished by family members for centuries!!!

Working Hard

(Cassie, hard at work.)

I took Mark and Jason out for a little treat while Garrett had basketball practice tonight.

(Now Milwaukee Frozen Custard isn't exactly a cheap place to get an ice cream cone, if you didn't know.)

But we are a lucky family to only have to pay 5 dollars tonight!

tee hee

Getting an employee discount is a pretty great thing, isn't it?

Other news:

While we watched Garrett practice, I got a picture message from Andrew of the college he will be attending next month...

Right in the middle of Salt Lake City!

It makes me happy to see this boy figure things out on his own.

To think he left here a little over 2 months ago with just a one way plane ticket and 300 dollars in his pocket..

And now look how far he has come in just a short time!!!

He has a great job paying good money (a management position even?), found a great apartment with 3 other guys he gets along well with, and now has school lined up very soon for himself after Christmas also!!!

I'd say things are looking pretty good for Andrew, eh?

Ha. And to think just a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to pound him.

(But we will never mind all that... It's just water under the bridge now.  haha)

He's doing so great!!!

I Still Can't Believe It

Garrett at the DMV, just minutes before they handed him a 

DRIVING PERMIT!

(Holy crap, I am gonna need some serious cheese tonight.)