My Top 5 Posts of 2014

As we come to the end of another year and seeing more than 3,000+ people visited my page in 2014, I thought it was worth taking a look back at the top 5 most viewed posts from my year.

                                                                1. Say it isn't so

                                                                     2. Family
                                                                                                            

                                                  3. February 4 (World Cancer Day)

4. The Bigger Picture

5. The day Jordan asked me to be her bridesmaid

A BIG thank you to all my readers for all your support this year, I have been very thankful for all your comments and messages throughout the year - they warmed my heart greatly and I hope you visit again in 2015!

xoxo

Alana

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My Top 10 Mistakes in 2014

Of all the things that I've seen, done, and experienced this year, there are some things that will change me because I did them wrong the first time around.

Maybe you'll learn from my mistakes in 2014.

10. Being on social media:

I think we may all make this mistake, and if you don't more power to you!!

I am very guilty of letting social media take over my night and my weekends. 

9. Not spending time with my hubby:

Every night we unwind differently, He likes to play his video games and I veg out to facebook and instagram, and lets not forget pinterest...lol at the end of the night we were both so tired and just want to go to bed and we don't really spend any quality time with each other. (So I think that is a mistake on both our parts)

8. Not cooking dinner enough:

I don't actually know if this is a mistake, or a blessing for my family, but every night around 6:30 I turn into a frantic maniac trying to decide what I'm feeding my kids. It was different when it was just Brian, John and I because I could make a sandwich or something small and all was well. 99% of the time I realize we don't even have food for me to cook. I want to spend more time cooking with the kids in the kitchen, and having sit down family dinners where I hear about their days.  I don't hate cooking, but am thinking if I planned a little better it wouldn't stress me out so much!

7. Letting the thought of death give me anxiety:

I've had my own share in deaths throughout my life. 

Brian and I have discussed what each other will do do when the other one passes..and it keeps me up at night. I try not to let it get to me..and I know that if and when it happens, life will go on as it has in the past.

6. Losing patience too much:

Having a child with special needs has really taught me about patience (I thought I had patience before)...I try really really hard some days...but dang it you guys its SO crazy. Sometimes I forget that they're kids and not grown adults and all the while am wondering if I'm teaching them anything. Must. Learn. More. Patience.

5. Not going on enough dates with Brian:

We used to be the dating duo. The funnest, spontaneous, independent couple that would go do whatever we wanted, when we wanted. We've lost that freedom (and have gained a lot in return) but I've been bad at purposefully planning time away with Brian, just the two of us.  I miss the fun, excitement of dating him and sometimes the routine gets easier than making effort and a couple months go by with no fun adventures. 2015 has to be filled with more date nights, I'll be sure of it.

4. Not writing enough Thank You letters

Seriously, you guys are amazing

3. Not eating healthy:

At the beginning of the year every one always says these things that they are going to do...oh that's right those dreadful new year resolutions...well guess what I was one of those people and this was at the top of my list!! It lasted all of 3 months maybe, and then food happens, but I can say that I don't drink soda anymore...

2. Comparing myself to other people.

Oh hi, I'm Alana. You're you, and that girl over there is her, and guess what? We're not ever going to be 100% alike. And that is cool. Because you and I have different talents that different people need and dang you Pinterest, I will never, ever, have an outfit or house that looks that put together.

1. Friendship.

I believe that any great friendship is much like a marriage. Each partner must give 100%, But then life happens and how are you suppose to juggle this friendship and life? It's not easy and I'm no expert at it, But I would like to  think of all the mistakes I have made this year, this one is the easiest to fix!!

I hate that this list has several mistakes that resulted in what I "didn't" do. 

Here's to DOING, and BEING, and LIVING in 2015.

xoxo

Alana 

Our Family Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a magical time at our house. With two little kids, there’s lots of excitement, anticipation and family traditions that just can’t be missed.

And as a mom, I work hard to make sure my kids don’t notice the endless to-do lists, the holiday drama or the seemingly frantic pace at which I am sometimes moving.

When they look back on their childhoods, I just want them to remember the magic. The family. The love. The joy.

Here are a few Christmas traditions we do with our kids to help them find the magic of the season.

1.ELF ON THE SHELF

We started this tradition in 2009 with John. He named his elf  "Elfie" and this year we have received another helper from Santa and Brayden has named him "Bubbles". Every year the day after Thanksgiving our elves come with a North pole Breakfast that consists of snowballs, reindeer kisses, hot chocolate and sometimes even a little surprise.

2. CHRISTMAS PICKLE

This will be our third year doing this tradition. I have heard two versions of this tradition...The version that we do is that the parents hide this on Christmas Eve and which ever child finds the pickle first on Christmas morning gets to open the first present. The second version I just recently heard about is that you leave the pickle out with a note for Santa to hide it and the first child to find it opens the first gift. 

How cool is that...The kids love it and so do we!!

3. A MESSAGE FROM SANTA

We have done this since 2008 John loves it and has only been put on the Naughty list once...(and he cried) If you haven't heard of the Portable North Pole you can check it out here. It is a personalized message from Santa and his elves. I don't want to give all the magic away, but I promise you and your family will love it!!

4. DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Growing up my mom always decorated the tree while we were at school (and I can see why), and when we got home we would oooo and ahhhh over the ornaments. I am not a stay at home mom like my mother was, so decorating the tree while the kids are at school is not an option...so we decorate the tree as a family and I LOVE IT!!  Who knew something so simple as decorating a tree could bring so much happiness.

5. PAJAMA'S ON CHRISTMAS EVE

This tradition started when my mother was a child and I hope that my children and their children will carry this on for generations. On Christmas Eve night everyone opens a brand new pair of pajamas, and on Christmas morning you look all snazzy in your new jammies for pictures!

Merry Christmas from our family to ours...your kids are sure to remember the magic of Christmas when you build your family traditions.

XOXO

Alana

Find your passion

This is what I have been up to lately...

I love to create and I love quotes

I plan on holding an online auction. (tba)

I haven't decided facebook or instagram, but when I do I will let you know...

These will be one of the many prints that I will have available!! 

There will be other vendors as well...selling awesome items!! 

Please leave me a message if you would love to participate...and I can give you some details :)

Find your passion, follow your niche...and follow through

xoxo

Alana

These are the moments we hang onto

~We will not become the struggle, but overcome it~

...is our new motto for our sweet Brayden!!

Our son looks perfectly normal to the world around him.

He does not fully understand how much he inspires me. I hope with every passing day that he finds his voice and can tell me what’s inside that amazing mind of his. I am terrified that one day his world is going to come crashing down when someone says to him "why can't you talk"...and I'm not going to be there to protect him. It pains me that he's getting older and soon will be able to understand our words don’t sound the same. Our sweet boy has things to say, amazing things I’m sure of it, but until he can get them out...we will be his voice!!

I often wonder if we will ever be able to share a conversation. He has so much to say and I’m missing it. He will only be four for a short while, but he is funny, I know this because he is always smiling and laughing. I laugh along with him, not because I understand him, but because he laughs with his entire soul and that alone is contagious.

You can usually find our sweet boy dancing and singing with a smile from ear to ear. He is the happiest toddler you will ever meet.  He makes every room bright with his lovable personality.  

Since last December when we got the diagnoses...he has many new words and this is an ACCOMPLISHMENT. We live for new words. These are the moments that we hang onto,That keep us going through this thing called Apraxia.

Although I have cried many tears, and wrote this with many tears...the struggle is not going to get any easier, but with every new day we try to overcome it!!

I am going to get better at posting my Motivational Monday's again...promise :)

xoxo

Alana

Thursday night...

 Randomness....

How many people still love Hanson? (not because I do or anything)

What does the song Black widow mean...

(Its now stuck in my head)

Is the battery in my back floor board going to explode because of the heat?

Do the people that work at Advanced Auto really know anything..

and last but not least...

August 31, 2014 I will celebrate my 10 year anniversary at my job :)

(Where has the time gone)

Ok I lied...one more thing

Everybody's all like "ohhhh Football" and I'm over here like "ohhhh we interrupt this marriage to bring you football season"...lol

xoxo,

Alana

Stay true to yourself

I got to witness a conversation between 5th and 6th graders today about how being gay is wrong...according to them their parents have expressed that it's not "right" and how "disgusting" it is!!

It was surprising to me that all of these kids have been spoken to about how "wrong" and "disgusting" it is to be gay...

I have had this discussion with John (bc we watched glee together) and I explained to him that it was ok to like boys if he chose to. The MAJOR THING was that he stayed true to himself and if he ever chose to be gay that he need not to be afraid of what others might say or if they will judge him...that love is love and there is nothing wrong with begin gay!!

So tonight's motivational Monday is this: 

stay true to yourself!!

You deserve to be happy too!!

Self respect :)

I hope that you can all take something from this tonight. I also completely understand that EVERYONE has an opinion and this was just my opionion about the topic and you don't have to agree with me! 

xoxo

Alana