I thought about writing a deep and personal tribute to 2017, but that's too heavy, a list it is!

• Rang in the new year with the realization I was at a low point in my life. 
• Strep throat (me), RSV (Max), stomach bug (Chase, me and Jay) in the early months of the year. Ending with pink eye (Chase) and double, back to back ear infections (Max) and colds (me and Jay).
• My "village" stepping in to watch the kids when Jay was out of town and I had the aforementioned stomach bug. I still think back on that day with so much gratitude. 
• Turning 37 and feeling pretty great about it. 
• Taking the kids to visit my Mum and stepdad in Florida and upon return vowing not to travel again with Max until he was at least 3 no matter how much fun we had sans the flights. We will likely break that and travel again in 2018.
• Making exercise a part of my life and seeing it change my body and pulling me out of my low point. 
• Attending the Women's March with my Mum (a unlikely duo).
• Starting this blog, my creative outlet.
• Chase starting Kindergarten.
• Finding healing power in gratitude and making it a daily practice. 
• Witnessing Max leave babyhood and transform into the most awesome toddler.
• Leaning on Jill and Diep during some of my hardest days this year and feeling so lucky to have gained such amazing friends in my 30s. 
• Watching Jay take a new job and blossom in his new role. 
• Chase learning to read, pour his own milk, take a shower on his own and getting kissed by a girl at school (!!)
• Celebrating Jay turning 40. That man just gets better with age. 
• Realizing I have absolutely everything I need inside me and will no longer look externally for it. 
• Being laid off, unemployed for 3 months and finding a great new job.
• Max learning to walk, talk, clap, and on and on...
• Watching Chase and Max develop a brotherly relationship.
• Learning Pepper has cancer. 
• Changing many of my belief systems. 
• Cooking a lot of delicious meals. Food is love. 
• Working on staying more calm amidst the chaos of young kids, full time work and personal life, etc. Easier said that done.
• Discovering a love for a good sidecar.
• Getting Netflix and binge watching all the shows everyone talked about like three years ago. 
• Spontaneously taking Chase to a baseball game, just the two of us.
• Working on being more open with my family, near and far. 
• Accepting that I am addicted to my iphone and need to make changes next year. 
• Forgiving myself and in turn, forgiving others. 
• Unexpectedly feeling left out when Chase fell in love with T-Ball and Jay was his coach. Big learning moment for a mom of boys. 
• Changing my eating and drinking habits.
• Admitting that I have a love of cat videos.
• Vacationing in Mexico. 
• Many fun visits with Jay's sister and family. Cousin time is the best time. 
• Knowing that the backbone to everything - family, work, shifts in life - is my marriage. 
• Deciding to buy a home in California. 
• Ending the year in a much better, much more authentic place. 

Happy New Year.