i'm a bit late to the game, but happy new year! i love the idea of a clean slate and a fresh start. i love making resolutions (even if they're broken in a few months, at least they were followed for a few months). 2016 was kind of a weird year for the world, but i think it was a good year for our family. 
it felt like we didn't stay still for longer than a minute, as we traveled to california, new mexico, southern utah, new york, dc, australia, new zealand and south africa. i don't know if a month went by where we didn't go on some sort of trip...i felt like i was constantly packing and unpacking bags, and tackling piles of laundry taller than i am, but i wouldn't have it any other way. nicolaus and i both get a bit restless if we stay in one place for too long. and thank heavens we have a baby who is (usually) happy to be along for the ride. it also came with its fair share of hard times, as every year does, but i like to think of those as good lessons learned.
i'm hoping in 2017 will be the year of simplification and refinement. i don't feel this great desire to become an entirely new person this year, but rather appreciate the lovely life i have and work towards a better version of myself. i want to cut out a lot of unnecessary time consumers...things may not be terrible, but aren't great. and rather fill the time with things that will challenge me to grow and learn and become a healthier, more well-rounded person. i want to focus more on personal and family health and happiness, and less on things that won't matter in the long run. here's what i'd like to focus on this year:
+ less tv // more books.
+ less sugar // more juicing.
+ less excuses // more exercising.
+ less comparing // more service.
+ less eating out // more cooking.
in addition to those goals, my 3 specific goals for this year are: 01.) to switch from weekly portraits of niels to monthly portraits of our whole family, 02.) go on a date with nicolaus at least once a month sans baby and 03.) start having family home evening every monday.
cheers to 2017!