Growing up, we were always use to having some kind of dance party, so we reserved the church building and invited the ward to join in. It was our family(Jarman's and Enkey's), Crystal and Erik Sansom, The Tobias', The Holt's and The Hick's. We had a blast! Dad and Uncle Ralph set up the drums, guitar, base, and amp to have a live band. Jordan set up some strobe lights and DJ equipment. We all brought some kind of food to snack on and of course had the bubbly to pop open when it turned midnight!
Our family is pretty known for being late, so although we told everyone 8pm, we really got started around 9:30pm. haha! But we had all night to party! Sansom wasn't feeling good, so I planned ahead and brought the baby monitor to the church and brought a little rocker/sleeper. Sansom fell asleep before everyone got there and did really well at sleeping through the night while we jammed and danced!
The band played some fun/classic songs while everyone was getting there and eating. Then Jordan played some popular songs and line dances. Half the court in the gym we danced and the other half the guys were shooting around the basketball. The kids were running around having fun and it was great because we didn't have to worry about stairs or breaking things. They wore themselves out by running and dancing. And Sean had a laser light, so the kids were like cats chasing the laser light around!
We even played a few games of knock-out while waiting to the clock to hit 12am. We always have fun together playing games and hanging out. I'm pretty lucky to have amazing family, and that we all get along and have a great time. I even got to dance with Phillip! I love dancing with him. That's how we met and he is such a great dancer!
5...4...3...2...1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We rang in the New Year shouting and dancing and hugging and kissing our loved ones! We opened the sparkling grape juice and played the song Celebration. Surprisingly, Calista stayed up until 12am and really liked the sparkling grape juice. We took pictures and then packed up our stuff and headed back to the house. It was so cold outside!!
So in the New Year, We have made goals and resolutions. These are mine:
~Get in shape and run a 5k. I have always wanted to run a 5k, but running is NOT one of my strengths. And then whenever I hear about a race coming up, I never have time to get in shape for it. Since the accident in October 2014, I have weakened the muscles at my core and lost a lot of muscle mass and weight. My goal is to go back to the gym, build my muscle and gain my weight back to a healthy weight. I am going to do a 5k in May this year! Then I want to stay in shape so if I want to run more races after that, then I can. I just downloaded the app "Couch to 5k" on my phone to help. 5k here I come!!
~Go to the Temple 2x a month. Now that we live in Utah, going to the Temple is so much easier. But it's interesting how we haven't made it some months. That is because of poor scheduling and forgetting. So now I write it on my calendar every month because it is my goal to be in the Lord's house at least 2 times a month!
~Do not yell. Keep a standard of respect in the home. When Phillip and I got married, we made a resolve to never yell at each other. It's just not an option. When it comes to our children, it seems a little harder to keep that same patience and not yell. I have read some posts about not yelling and I totally agree that it shuts down communication when you yell, you can't teach children while yelling, and the Holy Ghost doesn't stay when there is yelling. I am also reading a really great book called, "Parenting with Purpose" and I love it! So far, I have been able to have patience and stay calm, probably due to my next goal.
~Read all the standard works in a year. I didn't think this was possibly with the Old Testament. I've read parts of it in seminary(in high school), but it always seemed overwhelming. There is someone on Instagram that posts what you read everyday to be able to finish the standard works in a year and she says its only about 12 minutes a day! It takes me a little longer because I'm a little slow. haha But I've been able to keep up! And it has put me in a better mood each day! Here is the link if you want to try it too! Click here. I also want to have a good habit of having personal prayer daily.
~Learn how to garden and grow 1 thing successfully. This is another thing that always seemed kind of overwhelming to me. The times I would want to grow something, I learned that I needed to plant it way earlier and that each seed has its season to grow. So this year I'm going to pick 1 thing to grow, and grow it successfully. I feel like if I pick too many things I will get stressed and quit. So a little bit at a time I will start a garden. If you have any tips or ideas, I would love to hear them in the comment box!
~Be financially free. Recently we have gained a lot of medical debt. We have been very blessed, but finances are something that can be stressful for me. My goal is to get our finances in order. Have priorities and budgets and a shopping list. I know it would be very hard to help anyone else if we cannot help ourselves and are living paycheck to paycheck.
~Go to a concert. This is more like a bucket list item. But I have never been to a concert! I want to go to one this year and I'm thinking either Justin Timberlake or Dave Matthews. :]
I love to write down goals and have checklists and be able to check something off my list and know I have accomplished something. We have our goals on our fridge and I see them frequently. Advice I have gotten about goals is: write them down. if you don't write it down, its just an idea; then write down how you will achieve your goal. what is your plan to make this possible?; if you miss a day, draw a line and start fresh the next day. don't get stressed or stop your goals because you have missed a day or a week. Just keep on keeping on.
And with all that, I say HAPPY 2015!
(continue scrolling for some pictures from New Years Eve)
The band jamming out.
Who's the hottie on the bass! You know I'm all about that bass ;]
Erik and Crystal. Cuties!
Josh and Maddi playing ball.
Mom, Meg, Sarah and Tanner.
Calista Dancing
Well this would have been a great picture...
its blurry, but would have been a great one!
Phillip, Calista and I. Little Sansom was asleep.
My gorgeous parents!
Whitney and I.
Me and my cousins Shannon and Sarah!
Mom and Uncle Ralphy
All the girls
Crystal and I!
Calista started the New Year off right by dressing up as Elsa.
