The end of 2015

We are less than 2 hours away from 2016 here on the East Coast. Been thinking about resolutions a bit tonight...not sure I have any definite yet. I have ideas. Ideas are always good. Not sure how well I will stay on track. All you have to do is look at my blogging record to see I am not so good at sticking with things lately. Three kids. That is my excuse this year. Three growing girls - all in a different stage have led me to feel many different ways. But mostly this year I felt very unorganized even though I was trying to gain a little bit of organization back - I don't think I made it very far.

I think my overall feeling for this year was better than last. The girls are happy, most of the time. I feel good about the friends I have made and slowly we continue to meet some more people. It's different meeting people as adults...you think you might mesh but than you aren't really sure...it takes time. There's still more organizing and decorating of our house to do. Ethan still works a lot. Lately I am realizing more and more this parenting gig is hard work, especially as they grow older. It's exhausting too.

Life is moving forward fairly fast these days, weeks, months...perhaps that is another reason I can't stay on top of the blog. Plus, I am exhausted by the end of the day. Cora keeps me on my toes, and boy is she a character. Each of the girls has their own personality. I thought Katherine's was unique but Cora is a whole new ballgame. Stubborn, Persistent, Independent, Funny, Smart...here's an example of Cora...she's playing with her lunch. I tell her it's not funny what she is doing. Her response without missing a beat - "it's a little bit funny." We are so in trouble with this little girl. :-)

We had highlights this year of 2 weeks in Wisconsin this summer, a trip to a water park in April, I surprised a friend in September, visits from my Aunts this summer, a trip home to Wisconsin for a wedding reception in October - with the chance to see lots of family. Thanksgiving and Christmas found us staying in Connecticut and trying to start our own traditions. I am not sure anything in particular was started yet but in time. We did go to the beach on Christmas day because it was so warm and the girls put their feet in the water. I can't stay that will become tradition considering this was a warmer December, than most, I would imagine.

Not sure what 2016 has in store for us - although we will start it with a bang and accomplish a new running feat of 39.3 miles in one weekend when we complete The Goofy Challenge in a little over a week. We've been secretly training for this since the summer. The girls just found out on Christmas about this surprise trip to WDW. Cora can't wait to go on the plane! She has no idea what she's about to see but just get her on the plane. :-)

We can't wait to go and start 2016 with some family fun in the most magical place on Earth!

 Happy New Year! Wishing you a joyous and blessed 2016.

Christmas Morning. I can hardly believe they are all smiling and looking! 

This picture is Christmas Eve after Mass. I love this picture! 

Running, soccer, cross country,

Emma participated in cross country this year for middle school. I think she enjoyed it. I know Mom really enjoyed watching Emma and her teammates and reliving her CC days even though I didn't run middle school cross country - was there such a thing then?
Emma also had soccer this fall. Katherine was a running machine this fall and for a school jog a thon ran 6.2 miles around a track. She just kept going. Amazing!
Both girls participated in their first 5k as well. Another very proud Mom and Dad moment. I ran with Katherine, and Emma ended up running with a friend of mine. Dad and Cora were spectators for this one. They both did great!

 After shots of their first 5K. We live in a beautiful area. 

 Emma at a CC meet. 

 At the jog a thon! So many people were impressed. 

 Emma playing soccer. 

 Emma and some of her CC friends plus some siblings. 

 Emma seemed a little less timid this season with soccer and going against another player. She seems to also enjoy playing goalie. 

Our first born is 10!

Double digits! How did that happen? This summer Emma turned 10 and loved it because we were in Wisconsin for this momentous day and she was able to share part of it with her dear friends and family. Plus go to Bay Beach!

And this is what happens with 3 kids...

I know, I know. I tried to keep up. Summer happened. Then I thought I would do good with the first day of school. Then that came and went. Before I knew it - it's October and a good friend reminded me, hey - your blog is 3 months behind. Yep, I said I will get on that. Then a trip to Wisconsin happened to celebrate a wedding. And now it's November. And I turned 39, and that has me feeling a little crazy. In addition to life happening here with 3 kids - I have been doing a lot of one parenting because of a super stressful and time consuming job for my hubby. So that's my excuse - exhaustion and running out of time. But I am still running because that is about the only thing that keeps me sane. In fact running in the fall in Connecticut is beautiful where we live because of all the tree lined roads.
3 kids of different ages always going, always needing something. This is why my blog has not stayed up to date. I know some would say it's not new anymore after a year but a lot is still new and organization is hiding somewhere. Working on a week to week basis. I will say that I feel a little more with it than I did this time last year but still room for improvement. Our house is starting to feel like a home but still needs some love. My organization is chaos to say the least.  The biggest challenge of all is that my other half works A LOT!  I have some highlights in pictures from this Fall. Starting with the first day of school - 5th grade (middle school!) and 1st grade.

While big sisters are in school - Cora and I took to the beach many times this Fall. This particular visit was the end of September. We had the beach to ourselves!

 Soccer Saturday mornings for the Monkey. She loves to play, and is a scoring machine.

 Little sister hanging out and watching lots of soccer.

 Halloween weekend had us in Wisconsin celebrating Kimberly's wedding reception - a masquerade ball. Lots of fun. Although no pictures of C to share from this night.