This past year has been incredible.
Some parts were incredibly successful. Some parts were incredibly maybe not so successful.
But it really was incredible. We made so many wonderful memories! Here are just a few of the year’s highlights:
“NO” & “OBLIGATIONS”
At the beginning of 2019, I decided I would do more of what I wanted and less of what I didn’t. Sometimes that meant exposing myself to uncomfortable situations. Sometimes that meant AVOIDING uncomfortable situations. Sometimes that meant saying “Yes” when I normally would have said “No.” And sometimes it meant saying “No” when I would have felt obligated to say “Yes.”
Saying “No” was definitely the harder one. I have felt like my life has just been one big obligation. (Sorry if that sounds dramatic, but if you haven't figured out by now that I'm a bit dramatic, well here's your FYI - I'm dramatic.) If you’re from a small town and have a lot of family around, you know all too well what I’m talking about.
Obligations have their place. I think they’re important. They keep us grounded and humble. But when you are always doing what everyone else wants you to do…well…it’s exhausting, and not very fulfilling.
When I became a mother, I realized how fleeting time is. Life is so short. SO short. And it only took me another 8 years to decide that enough was enough. I wasn’t going to just live my life according to everyone else’s plans. I would have SOME say in how it went.
Now, like I said before, some obligation is good and necessary, and not MUCH of an obligation at all really. Like family stuff. Not really an obligation because I really want to do those things, but still, if I had NOT wanted to do them, I would still have had to do them, so that’s why I consider them an obligation…anyway…those things didn’t change. Family is family. And that’s that.
But other unnecessary commitments and social obligations had to be squashed a bit. The past few years were so full of socializing and group date nights and garage gatherings…like SO many gatherings, I couldn’t do it anymore. I love our friends! Don’t get me wrong – they’re the best! But I’m an introvert. Talking to people, no matter how much fun I’m having, is energy draining. And not being able to recharge for YEARS…well…left me feeling completely depleted. We had to start saying “No” once in awhile.
And so we did. Do I feel like a jerk? Maybe a little. But I know it was what was best for my sanity.
So go ahead and “give yourself permission” to do whatever it is you need and want to do. It’s a game changer!
FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE NIGHT
One thing we did that has been so fun and so relaxing for our family is “Friday Night Movie Night”. We have tried to do our very best to stay home on Friday nights and watch the latest Amazon release with the kids or find an oldie but a goodie. I buy a giant Hy-Vee cheese pizza, and we watch a movie. Together. And then, after the kids go to bed, Jake and I watch a movie without the kids. It has been one of the BEST things for our family. But it also meant we had to often say, “Sorry…we’re busy tonight!”. And we’re better for it.
2019 Movies (Ordered from Amazon…there were probably several from Direct TV that were NOT documented. Scary I know.):
Epic
Christopher Robin
American Renegades
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Nutcracker and the Four Realms
The King of Thieves
Hunter Killer
Modern Romance
Can You Ever Forgive Me
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
Instant Family
Mary Poppins Returns
Bohemian Rhapsody
3 Ninjas
Destined to Ride
Aquaman
A Dog’s Way Home
Holmes and Watson
Lego Movie 2
Willow
Unbreakable
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Robin Hood
Isn’t It Romantic
Wonder Park
Shazam!
The Upside
Grown Ups 2
Avengers: Endgame
Long Shot
Poms
Young Guns II
The Secret Lilfe of Pets 2
Aladdin
The Hustle
Pokemon Detective Pikachu
The Princess Bride
Toy Story 4
Saving Mr. Banks
Yesterday
Ugly Dolls
The Lion King
The Angry Birds Movie 2
Dora and the Lost City
Men in Black: International
Star Trek Beyond
Angel Has Fallen
Abominable
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Santa Clause
We watched A LOT of movies…we might have a problem!!
TRAVEL
We LOVE to travel, and now that the girls are older it’s a lot easier to bring them along OR leave them with family. :)
Showing the girls more is so important to us. Our small town is great, but there is SO MUCH MORE out there! The things they learn and will bring with them in the years to come and the perspective they will gain is so much more valuable than “stuff”. So instead of buying our kids the latest electronics or must-haves, we’ve opted to spend less and plan vacations and little adventures instead.
I’m not sure how our kids will feel this Christmas when they don’t get as many toys, but we’re hoping they’ll be excited to discover on Christmas Morning they’re going to take their first airplane ride in February! I think it will be a great trip for them!
Our 2019 travels:
January 2019 – LaCrosse, Wisconsin (a sad farewell) with stops to Blue Earth, MN (Jolly Green Giant) and Austin, MN (Spam Museum)
January 2019 – The Sound of Music at The Orpheum in Sioux City
March 2019 – Washington, DC (just Jake & Lindsey)
April 2019 – Lincoln, NE – Spring Game (the girls’ FIRST Memorial Stadium visit!)
May 2019 – Ashland, NE (Strategic Air Command & Space Museum and Wildlife Safari Park)
May 2019 – Royal, NE (Drive-In Movie Theater)
June 2019 – LeMars, IA (Blue Bunny!); Winona, MN (Car Hotel); Wisconsin Dells, WI; Perham, MN
July 2019 – Omaha, NE (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)
July 2019 - Ottumwa, IA (Angie’s wedding); Eldon, IA (American Gothic House); Winterset, IA (Bridges of Madison County & John Wayne Museum); Treynor, IA (The Chamberses)
August 2019 – Chicago, IL (just Jake & Lindsey)
September 2019 – Nebraska City, NE (Lied Lodge, Arbor Day Farm, and Mansion)
October 2019 – LaVista, NE (Mikki’s wedding!! And a hotel stay!!)
November 2019 – Wayne, NE (WSC Volleyball Game & Parade of Lights), Homer, NE (O’Connor House)
December 2019 – A Magical Cirque Christmas at The Orpheum in Sioux City
It was a BUSY year! But SO much fun!
HOBBIES
Part of my 2019 “Doing more of what I want” mantra has meant more than just saying “No”. It’s meant….doing more of what I want! So I’ve been writing more, crocheting more, reading more, and relaxing more.
It has been so nice to be in a place where I am able to carve out time for myself…even when things are nutso. But to get there, it meant that I have had to ask for help with the household chores and ask for help remembering what is on our “To-Do List” for the day. I mean…come on…I have a 45-minute commute, work 40+ hours a week, have a part-time gig, AND I’m expected to do all of the household cleaning and make sure the kids get where they need to go?!
Trust me. That's not the case! Jake has been a tremendous help. “We’re a team.” He recognizes how busy we both are and how much has to get done. So we tackle it together – and now the girls are becoming more and more helpful, too. It has allowed me some time to just sit with my thoughts and do as I please.
I couldn’t be happier!
Jake continues to enjoy his hobbies, too – fishing, hunting, and watching sports in the garage, and playing sports. He could share some great stories, I’m sure. I suppose they’re not all that appropriate…maybe that’s why he hasn’t shared???
Kamryn and Kindrey have had a busy year, too! Let me start by saying I’m one of those parents who thinks that kids need to have time to be kids, and that they start sports much too soon anymore. Kids today are so unbelievably busy at such a young age. But what’s a parent to do? If you don’t start your kids now when the rest are starting, they’ll be so far behind when you do feel it’s appropriate for them to be involved in all the extra curriculars. We decided that we’re just stuck doing what everyone else is doing and crossing our fingers our kids don’t get burned out before high school!
So…they both played softball this summer, and it was adorable to watch. Kamryn started volleyball this fall, too. Her team improved immensely over the season. She has informed me that she LOVES volleyball. Kamryn has recently started basketball…she has a lot to learn, but I think she’s starting to think it’s “OKAY”.
Kamryn was in the musical this fall as she continues to be in the Elementary Honor Choir. I was so impressed with how well she remembered the choreography at the Christmas concerts. Now if we could only get her to sing….hmmmmm.
Kindrey continues to take dance lessons at Studio B in Wisner. She seems to be having a wonderful time this year. She’s making friends and even showing me a bit more of what she’s learning. It’s so exciting for me to see!
They have such imaginations and are both quite artistic. They spend hours drawing unicorns, mermaids, cats, dogs, and who knows what else! They love to play with their toy horses and Barbies. They READ ALL of the time. We're so blessed that they seem to enjoy and are such strong readers!
Our girls amaze me. They have their own little lives and their own friends. They make decisions and solve problems on their own. They have such different personalities but are the best of friends (whether they admit it or not). They’ll always have each other, and it makes me so happy to know that. I could go on and on about the things they say and do that make me beam, but long story short - I’m just so proud to be their mom.
Whelp. 2019, you have been very good for me and to my family, and I can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store for the Robinson crew!
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