2014 Goal Time

I don't really like the whole idea of "New Year's Resolutions."
It kinda makes me feel like I am setting myself up to fail.
I do, however, like to make goals.
I wrote about my goals in 2013 and in 2012.
(I never did make that loaf of homeade bread . . . maybe this will be the year.)
And I like to have them written down as a source of accountability.
Some of my goals this year are very measurable, while others can't be measured by anything other than my own feelings.
But I want to have them in one place to look back on and see the things God has done in my life and in my family's.
My first goal in 2014 is going to be to keep up with #thebettellidaily2014 on instagram.
I am loubettelli on the site, and I am going to try to post a picture of our day everyday in 2014. 

I think it will be loads of fun to look back over the year and see our daily goings-ons in one place.
I also want to be better about blogging.
Last year was such a whirlwind of moving and new baby and job changes and starting homeschool that time just slipped away from me.
But I can't ever get enough of looking back over our memories, and this blog is such a special way to keep them in one place and easily accessible.
Now, for the goals that are a little less concrete.
I want to be a part of my kids lives instead of just facilitating them.
I sometimes feel like I am just their teacher, disciplinarian, chef, maid . . . you get the picture.
I want my "mother" role to be the chief job I have in my home and those other things to take a back seat.
I know those jobs can't completely disappear, but I also need to take the time to play and enjoy my kids and their unique personalities and special hearts.

Lastly, I really want to let go.
I am, by nature, a controlling person.
I don't always obsess over the big stuff, but I seem to just always have a plan for all of the little things.
I have definitely learned through the circumstances God has had for my family that I am in no way in control.
Yet I still try to control it all.
Why?
I have no answers, only questions.
One example is the sale of our house.
It has been on the market now for about 2 weeks.
Tim is working an hour away, so we really feel like our family needs to be closer to that place.
He has the type of job that we can really be a part of and enjoy if we were closer.
I just keep trying to manipulate God and tell Him all the reasons we need to sell this house for the price I want, so we can get up there.
Then I start getting anxious about finding the right house once we sell this one.
I go around and around, but I want to just be still.
I know His plan is best.
I want that plan.
So letting go . . . 
I'm working on it. 

Maggie 2013

For as long as I can remember my family has been taking vacations to a little town in North Carolina named Maggie Valley. Since Tim and I have been married we have only missed one time when my dad had some serious emergency surgery in 2006. We always go the week after Christmas and stay through New Year's. The group has grown over the years to include the Bettelli clan as well. This year we had 30 people between our two sides. It was a blast. We snowboard and tube and just have a lot of good quality family time together.

It was a blast.  Thanks for starting the tradition, Nonna and Papou. Can't wait until Maggie Valley 2014.

Christmas 2013

We had a lovely Christmas.
I really tried to be present and not get caught up in all the "duties" that are required of a mom of three during the holidays.
It worked sometimes and didn't work at others.
But it is the thought that counts, right?
Right.
I feel like we are finally gaining some real traditions and memories that are just for us.
It is a good feeling to know our kids will have special times to remember and love the way we did with our families when we were young.
We started our Christmas celebrating the weekend before Christmas down in Coconut Creek at Mima and Pipa's house.
We usually do the Bettelli side Christmas at one of the December birthdays, but that didn't work out this year so we made a trip down there and had a Christmas dinner and gift exchange on the 22nd.

When George opened this present from Tim's parents he exclaimed, "I've wanted this my whole life!"

Haha . . . um it wasn't even in existence a few months ago.

Lexi didn't care too much about the gifts, but she did enjoy the boxes and paper.

On the 23rd my kids got Christmas #2 at my BFF Nicole's house.
This has become a tradition as well.
We eat pizza and Greek salad and exchange our gifts with her.
We had a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" cookie cake.
This will definitely be an ongoing tradition because cookie cake is my favorite.
And I think it would be Jesus' favorite too.

Christmas Eve we always go to church with my family and then have a meatless pasta dinner at their house.

It is fun to have the whole family dressed up.

We also put the kids in their Christmas pajamas and open presents with my extended family that night.

It is amazing to me that the Tragos' used to be a family of five, and now our Christmas celebration entails a family of eleven.

Love our growing family.

Christmas morning we wake up in our own Bettelli house and open presents with just the five of us.

It is hectic, but I love every second.

Around 10 my family comes over for a brunch.

This year I made the Monkey bread staple, but changed up the rest with hashbrowns, 2 crustless quiches (one with ham, mushrooms & cheddar cheese, and one with broccoli & mozzarella cheese), fruit and orange juice.

Aunt Gina couldn't help but get in on the Super Hero action.

Christmas night we went back to my parents for a lamb dinner.

We also got a special visit from our friend, Christin Carson.

So fun to see her and Richard.

It was truly a blessed season for our family.

And I would be lying if I didn't say one of my highlights was dressing Lexi.

She actually had more outfits than she had a chance to wear.

And we already have three 2T get-ups hanging in the closet for next year.

That about sums up the Bettelli Christmas 2013.
Hope you enjoyed the recap as much as I enjoyed living every second.
I know I am so blessed, and so thankful to Jesus for those blessings.