We celebrated a very different Christmas this year.\u00a0 The biggest difference was that Jillian was not home.\u00a0 She is working out west and stayed there over the holidays.\u00a0 As a result, it was very quiet, as Kathryn and Jillian feed off each other, laughing and getting more excited as the morning goes on.\u00a0 Also, the last two years we spent Christmas in Florida.\u00a0 This year it was a very snowy Christmas here at home in Nova Scotia.\u00a0 Kathryn and Scott came over in the afternoon for turkey dinner, and to open socks. I was overwhelmed by the very thoughtful bike Murray got for me.\u00a0 It is a custom made road racing bike.\u00a0 I have been talking about doing a triathlon for a while now but have not owned a bike for years.\u00a0 Now I just need to wait for the snow to leave so I can learn how to ride it.\u00a0 Murray is already enjoying his new quad copter.<\/p>\n
Already New Year\u2019s is just around the corner, so here are my New Year\u2019s Resolutions:<\/p>\n
New Year\u2019s Resolution #1: Be more awesome than last year.<\/strong>\u00a0 2013 was a great year.\u00a0 I accomplished a major bucket list item of running a marathon, Murray and I took several trips together, including South Carolina, Ohio, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Maine, New Hampshire, and we are closer now than we have ever been.\u00a0 We are both doing very well at work, and both having a lot of fun with our hobbies.<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Resolution #2: Learn how to ride a big girl bike with racing pedals.<\/strong>\u00a0 The mere thought of taking my bike on the road terrifies me.\u00a0 That terror, however, pales in comparison to the dread of riding my bike while my feet are locked in the pedals.\u00a0 This conjures images of imprisonment and a loss of control, neither of which are on my bucket list.\u00a0 I have faith though, that once I conquer this anxiety, I\u2019ll enjoy my bike as much as I love running today.<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Resolution #3: More Prancercise!<\/strong> This started out as a gag with my running team, when one of the regular jokers posted a YouTube video of prancercise (prancing rhythmically like a horse) as a new workout regimen for the group. It caught on though, as team members have been videoed laughing and prancercising across the finish line at races.\u00a0 It was great to see them having so much fun running.\u00a0 Sometimes running can become a chore, when the focus is solely on improving time, endurance, and recovering from injury.\u00a0 In 2014, I will remember to have fun with my running and not make it all about the next goal to reach.<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Resolution #4: Don\u2019t eat any food that has its own commercial.<\/strong>\u00a0 I have had ups and downs with my healthy eating, and the results have shown on the scale. When I stick to real, home cooked meals, I not only lose weight, I feel better too.\u00a0 My goal in 2014 is to stay away from processed food as best possible and opt for organic fresh choices when possible.<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Resolution #5: Stop hugging my kids so tight.<\/strong>\u00a0 Murray sums this goal up best, when he recently told me that I would be much happier once I realize that when the kids were young, I had limited influence at best, and as adults, I have virtually none.\u00a0 I am not sure what it is about modern life that causes so many of us parents to question our parenting and the choices of our children? Why does it seem so difficult to let go?\u00a0 I have peace in the knowledge that I am lucky to have bright, socially aware children, who have all it takes to be wildly successful in life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We celebrated a very different Christmas this year.\u00a0 The biggest difference was that Jillian was not home.\u00a0 She is working out west and stayed there over the holidays.\u00a0 As a result, it was very quiet, as Kathryn and Jillian feed off each other, laughing and getting more excited as the morning goes on.\u00a0 Also, the last two years we spent Christmas in Florida.\u00a0 This year it was a very snowy Christmas here at home in Nova Scotia.\u00a0 Kathryn and Scott came over in the afternoon for turkey dinner, and to open socks. I was overwhelmed by the very thoughtful bike Murray got for me.\u00a0 It is a custom made road racing bike.\u00a0 I have been talking about doing a triathlon for a while now but have not owned a bike for years.\u00a0 Now I just need to wait for the snow to leave so I can learn how to ride it.\u00a0 Murray is already enjoying his new quad copter. Already New Year\u2019s is just around the corner, so here are my New Year\u2019s Resolutions: New Year\u2019s Resolution #1: Be more awesome than last year.\u00a0 2013 was a great year.\u00a0 I accomplished a major bucket list item of running a marathon, Continue reading Looking Ahead<\/span>