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    Looking back at 2015

    As I started thinking ahead towards the new year and all it has yet to bring,  I decided it was time for a bit of reflection before letting go of 2015. Briefly my thought was, “Not much happened this year” and then the memories started to filter through.

    This year, collectively, our family has had the following…in no particular order:

    knee surgery

    small kitchen fire

    resort vacation

    night classes

    new driver

    honor choir audition

    wacky injuries including a 911 call

    volleyball camp

    computer programing

    pneumonia

    new (to us) vehicles

    job interviews

    neighborhood campfires

    published article

    mother/daughter retreat

    choir concerts

    deans list

    student council

    phase 2 braces

    and a new teenager(just yesterday)

    Whew! That’s quite a list even without the minutia of everyday life and events I’ve likely forgotten or perhaps blocked out. 🙂

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    So how did I do with my word of the year?

    FOCUS | Halle's Hobbies

    Not so great, honestly.  I can’t say I entirely failed on my word. I did focus on my family when issues arose throughout the year. I had the intention of focus on myself and what I needed and wanted out of life with this word. But really when I think about it, focus on my family is the reason I am still a stay-at-home mom the majority of the time. I was gifted with a wonderful life and family. One that appreciates the gift it is that I am home most days to take care of the little things. Perhaps my thoughts on my success with focus were a little flawed, My focus was just where it was meant to be last year.

    Happy New Year! Be safe.

     

  • Around home - Blog - Crafts

    T Tuesday: Christmas wrap(up) edition

    Welcome to the very last T stands for Tuesday of 2015.

    T Tuesday : Christmas wrap(up) edition | Halle's Hobbies

    We had a lovely Christmas with family. We had my mom over for a big meal at noon. Then I started cooking again for brunch the next day. Getting everything prepped so I’d have an easy morning. We played a board game then watched Home Alone. By that time, I was so exhausted that I told everyone that they had to go to bed otherwise Santa was skipping our house.  😉

    Christmas morning brunch with Mr. G’s side of the family was great…all the hard work the previous day payed off.

    I have to show you the gift Mini-me put together for her brother…

    T Tuesday : Christmas wrap(up) edition | Halle's Hobbies

    She bought him a gift card but wanted a clever way to give it. She used a photo from Pinterest as inspiration. She thought a Mountain Dew reindeer was needed as well.

    T Tuesday : Christmas wrap(up) edition | Halle's Hobbies

    So darn cute. There is a kit-kat bar under the gift card. Good thing Santa put new toothbrushes in their stockings!!

    T Tuesday : Christmas wrap(up) edition | Halle's Hobbies

    Big J bought his sister this cute mug and a Minnesota Vikings T shirt. Skol Vikings!

    I did make one additional Christmas card this past week.

    Christmas card | Halle's Hobbies

    I tried out my new water color brush marker to give some dimension.

    Today we’ll be shoveling snow and baking a cake for Mini-me’s birthday tomorrow. 13…I can hardly believe it! Now I’ll have two teenagers in the house.

    I am also giving some thought to my 2016 word of the year as well as reflecting on 2015.

    What are you doing today?

  • Blog - Kitchen

    T Tuesday: Christmas rhyme edition

    T Tuesday: Christmas rhyme edition | Halle's Hobbies

    T’was the Tuesday before Christmas and the day before break,

    my mind was a whirl with all I’ve yet to make.

     

    The presents are wrapped, all tied up in bows,

     the cookies are baked, but calories? Who knows

     

    The tree lights are twinkling and sweet treats abound,

    it really makes more sense when there’s snow on the ground.

     

    So I looked out the window, and what did I see?

    A dusting of snow! I squealed with glee.

     

    So funny how quickly my mood turned bright,

    and all it took was a light coat of white.

     

    Merry Christmas to all my family and friends,

    I bid you adieu as my rhyme has reached it’s end.

    Merry Christmas from Halle's Hobbies