balance and traditions (a long, full post)

where has the time gone? i blinked and it's been over 2 weeks since my last post. we've been on winter break from school since the 17th, and i haven't been able to write once. i've thought about writing this post a million times in my head, but each time i looked at my computer, pondering if i had a brief minute to sit and journal, i was detoured to my to-do list and something else took hold first. so, i sit here on the afternoon's eve of the new year, with a whole mess load of pictures to share and sum up. this post was meant to be several different posts, but alas, i'm summing it up into one large one.

we've done quite a bit these past few weeks. engaged in age-old family traditions and made our own new ones. found time away from work to relax and spend time with friends and loved ones, as well as just ourselves. we've had to find a lot of balance amidst the chaos that comes with the christmas holiday. two friends of mine just this week asked me how i do it all, and i had to admit that i don't. i have to pick and choose constantly to balance the things i want to do

with the things i have to do. i do the activities that mean the most to me, and those that i want to have harper see me enjoy- baking, reading, crafting, photography, blogging, allowing myself to spend time alone with michael and my girlfriends. and most importantly, harper gets a lot of my attention. and i realize more this year than any other before that the house being perfectly spotless doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. i used to spend every pre-harper saturday morning vacuuming, dusting and mopping the floors on hands and knees, to make sure that i could relax the rest of the weekend. but no more. i realized that it just wasn't important. spending time with harper and family means so much more. the time just goes too quickly.

in between my book club requirements, i managed to sneak in a guilty pleasure that was recommended. ok, a couple guilty pleasures, but the twilight series didn't have much wisdom to pass along. the other book, however, did. the christmas cookie club is about a group of 12 girlfriends who meet every year in december to exchange cookies and catch up. it's an annual ritual that has gone on for years, and one that no one misses. the book overall was a quick read and an uplifting one to consume right before the holiday craziness to reiterate what's important. this one line really hit me- "time doesn't make a full life. living your life to the fullest makes it full." and that has been my motto for this holiday season and into the new year.

it always helps to start your balancing with a warm cup of coffee and the return of a favorite holiday creamer.

we balance cooking activities and making messes with keeping the house semi-in-order.

we balance relaxing...

with taking care of the littles.

yes, that's a pseudo-pacifier in her mouth. actually, it's a piece to one of her water bottles, but she has made it into a makeshift paci since becoming more interested in babies, babies, babies.

we balance bundling up for outside time...

with letting it all hang out. underwear has been a huge interest lately, along with changing into pajamas the minute we're at home (and changing them frequently), as well as potty training! since christmas eve, it's been all her idea to give it a real go. accidents still happen, but we're on the right track.

we balance giving...

with asking to receive.

we balance nights in for hearty, home cooked meals (with italian soda in a wine glass for me)...

with date nights and the chance to get out.

we balance fun with friends, both outdoors and in...

with family time.

we balance long-standing family traditions, including traditional christmas eve polish wigilia, complete with perogi, barley, the candy tree and a visit from santa...

her first taste of pop...and she didn't like it!

with our family tradition of being home on christmas morning to awake and find that santa has left packages under the tree.

she immediately grabbed this baby from her stocking and snuggled back up with daddy, too overwhelmed by all the packages that awaited her.

and christmas brunch at nana and papa's, where she discovered one of her favorite gifts- the train table.

i love the serious look on griffin's face. he looks like he's almost-9 going on 13.

we balance both sides of family on christmas eve and christmas day. here with my side, to visit with my aunt and cousins.

collier is here!

and here with michael's side, visiting with out-0f-state cousins and their children who we don't often get to see. and couldn't exactly manage to get all together in a picture.

this is the face with which christmas day ends...

we balance birthdays and holidays and lots and lots of family time, here for a third annual bowling and pizza day for grandpa's birthday. and harper's first time rolling the ball down the lane.

and we balance lots of fun time with some important work around the house.




the holidays have taught me to find the balance. balancing work and play, days with long naps and days with none, long picture-filled posts with quick updates, enjoying what's all around me and celebrating the little miracle just kicking around inside. and filling up all these balanced days with patience and joy and love. it's not always twinkling lights and candy canes, but it is always our life. and it's up to us to make the most of every minute, and living it to the fullest.

happy holidays.