Hello everyone and happy 2020! It has been way too long!
The holidays are over and we started the new year with a bang! Today I wanted to say hi and thank you to you all for following along on Sweet Poppy Seed. This post is part recap from 2019 and part “what we are excited about” for 2020.
School
Our sweet little Poppy is starting preschool! WOOHOO! New experiences, new friends and a new teacher. We could not be more excited for her… and a little nervous too. To be honest with you, I know she is ready but nervous still.
It has only been 2 school days but she is doing great. Starting to understand how things work, how to connect with others and learning a lot. It’s going to be a big year of learning learning learning, not just for Poppy but for us as parents.
Growing Up
School aside we are entering a big year for our family. Following a week long family trip, I can tell our family is growing up. We are finally in a groove. A good one. The girls are getting older, easier and starting to under the world a bit more.
We just took a 3 hour 5am flight and our kids were total rock stars! Spent a week away from home and had no sleep issues and no food issues. The girls were out and about every day, morning and evening, outside their comfort zone and were fine! They are definitely getting this whole travel thing. And most importantly they are maturing.
Our 2-year old Beany just went from a crib to a big girl bed in one night! What?!?!? Luck, perhaps. Either way I will take it. She loves her new bed and the transition was surprisngly easy. Next up for her.. potty?!
Friends
Last year was such an emotional roller coaster for us all as we got used to the changes that therapy brought to our family life. Learning how to make time for our family, for friends and how to ask for help. Fortunately, by the end of the year we were feeling much more comfortable.
Personally I chose to say good bye to social media almost entirely last fall. Although I could spend more time on Instagram than I would like to admit, I decided to give that time back to myself and live life more like it use to be, sans social media.
It has been really nice actually. No posting things or feeling the pressure to constantly share things for the blog or from my life. Stepping away from social media has allowed me to work on more meaningful connections and focus on my tribe.
I’ve spend more time visiting friends, showing my love through food, making phone dates for out of town friends/family and just spending time without my phone.
I’ve also made an effort to make myself little reminders to text people, call people, check in, remember big life events, plan get-togethers and just be a better friend. Not an online friend but a real one.
Hobbies
With everything going on with therapy, with family, health and the hub’s job, we have made hobbies and activities a priority.
For me, I’ve found the most relief in exercise. It has probably been my most consistent year of exercise in a while. And to be frank I attribute that to stress. The best way to manage stress for me is exercise, no questions.
That meant a lot of motivation to run and lift weights (something I sort hate). Also this year I tried something new that I’ve wanted to try for a long time – Rock Climb! It’s challenging, it’s exhilarating and it makes me feel like spider mom!
The hubs has learned 2 strategy games, and set up consistent get-togethers with friends. This has been a major stress release and fun social hobby.
We have made it a point to socialize the girls more too… aka get them outside of the daily at-home therapy routine. So this has meant more pool trips, more time outside and at indoor playgrounds, more exposure to restaurants/bakeries and lots of sleep-overs with family.
Food is Love
It wouldn’t be a Sweet Poppy Seed Post without talking about food. Food and cooking has been such a healing thing for me this year. Every meal I make for my family and friends brings me so much joy. Sounds totally cheesy but it is true.
My cooking has definitely changed due to the stage of life we are in. Running around with 2 year old, therapy duties and therapists in my home does not leave a lot of time to try new recipes nor spend leisurely time cooking. Instead I’ve tried to squeeze cooking moments into early mornings,weekends or holidays.
Last year was a year of messes in the kitchen as I cooked and baked with my girls as much as I could. It was also a year of many more vegetarian recipes for the hubs and I! Props to my hubby for eating less meat, more veggies and being willing to try different things!
My girls are also starting to try new foods so it’s been fun seeing their palate expand a bit. From hard boiled eggs to sweet potatoes and tea, I’m proud of them.
Looking ahead I’m excited to continue trying new easy weeknight recipes, continue to bring lots of flavor with less meat and show those around me I care with the food I make.
It’s going to be a snowy weekend here in the Twin Cities. I’ve got food, coffee and a good book, it’s going to be a good weekend.
Originally posted 2020-01-18 08:24:55.
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