The Flory Family: December 2013

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2013?

This year we did a few trips as a family close by in Utah and one to Arizona. I took two trips with Doug also. I can't decide my favorite, but I know that my whole family loves to travel, we love hotel's (we now have to have two rooms), I wish we could travel more and hope to show the kids another country.

December 2 Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

I had a wonderful date with Doug earlier in the year and got to eat at a rooftop restaurant with a front seat view of the SLC temple. Even better...it was a buffet with wonderful gourmet food. Even better-er...it had my new favorite dessert creme brulee.

December 3 Article. What's an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you referenced throughout the year.

I've recently read an article that I wanted to follow up on from Sipe, who is a researcher recommended to me about children's literature. He recently passed away in Canada, but I want to go back and read more of his work. When I read it, I got very excited about finally narrowing my research interests.

December 4 Book. What book -fiction or non-fiction touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

I think the book I really enjoyed this year that I read for fun was Cinderella Ate my Daughter about being an aware parent with the marketing towards girls in toys, movies, and pop culture and the influence it can have on a girls' development. I have given away a few copies and asked my book club to read it.

December 5 Night out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that you enjoyed? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?

I had a night out with my parents to see a movie while in Arizona. It was fun. I actually wished I could have had more girls' nights out, or lunches out, but there never seems to be time or babysitters for that sort of frivolity.

December 6 Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?

I went to a few conferences this year. One was for children's books and I enjoyed it, but wished I had a conference buddy. Another was a blog conference were I learned a lot and wanted to learn how to earn money more with this hobby. Finally, I presented at a conference and surprisingly realized that I related more to the keynote speaker than to the participants. It was a weird feeling.

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year.

I've been researching people who design blogs to help me with mine. There are lot of good ones out there. I also like to see what other big families do like the Duggars and Bates. They've got some great ideas.

December 8 Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?

My moment of peace is at night after the kids in bed when I occasionally take a very long bubble bath with a book, magazine, or netflix movie on my phone. Aahh... love it!

December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?
I realized that I don't have thick enough skin. With critiques for school, and an increase in my writing, I am going to have to not take every negative bit of feedback so personally.

December 10 Album of the year.

My kids have enjoyed the soundtrack from Teen Beach Movie.

December 11 The best place.

My best place this year was my parents backyard. We sat in the hot tub three times a day. Golf, sunshine, swimming. Very nice!

December 12 New food.

I tried Indian Food for the first time and really loved it. For my birthday I asked to try another place and now I'm hooked. I usually am such a boring predictable eater, so I was quite proud of myself.

December 13 What's the best change you made to the place you live?

I love the changes we've made to the living room with a beautiful quilt on display and a family collage too.

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?

Hmm...I have to think about this one. I suppose the ride at Harry Potter world. Also, when I signed my first publishing contract.

December 15 Best packaging.
I can't for the life of me think of anything I've unwrapped really. We wrap b-day gifts in towels around here.

December 16 Beverage of the year. What's yours?
I tried tomato soup and liked it for the first time ever.

December 17 Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2013 was _____."
transitional and challenging

December 18 Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

On books like usual. My wish list on amazon is humongous!

December 19 Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?

I enjoyed the drive to Logan back and forth this year. It cuts through a canyon which is very beautiful in the summer. I want to explore it more and see Bear Lake next summer.

December 20 New person. Who is your unsung hero of 2013?

My heroes are in my family

December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?

I am beginning a t-shirt quilt for Doug of some of his old favorites. It'll take me a while since I'm a terrible seamstress.

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?

I am trying to learn how to start up better business blogging but I don't know enough about it.

December 23 Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.

My iPhone has been invaluable.

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

I have been trying to be more supportive to my husband this year and rely on him more. I get a "do it myself" attitude sometimes and it's not always a good thing.

December 25 Gift. What's a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?
We got a dog that the kids are really enjoying. He's a sweetheart!

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?

I've been thinking this year about capacity a lot. What are my limits and those of my family members? How can I live within that capacity to be more happy and to make my loved ones more happy as well.

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?

I just reconnected last month with my first friend from kindergarten on Facebook. I really love FB for that reason...I can see where all my old friends have ended up. I realized that most of my friends are very different from me...they live far away, are different religions, ages, and professions...but we still have bonds baby!

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?

This is a weird question. I think I'll talk instead about how I read more online now. I still love the actual "book" with real page turns and all, but a lot of my textbooks are online now and I'm getting used to it... a little!

December 29 Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?

I can't think of an exact time but my kids always make me laugh. They are very funny and I'm constantly writing down things they say.

December 30 Ad. What advertisement made you think this year?

Ads? What are ads? I DVR and Netflix everything. I've no time or money for ads.

December 31 Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...)

I began to do genealogy but then got side-tracked and need to get back to that this year.

For next year: I'm hoping to serve cheerfully, have more fun and be less serious, get into shape, and be more spiritual.

We went to Arizona this year to see Grandma and Grandpa. We were excited to try out our new van on its first road trip and see the changes from their home renovation.

The map to get to their house.

Our Bingo Board of things the kids wanted to do.

I wanted to get a Thrifty's ice cream cone with my favorite flavor in the whole wide world (chocolate malted crunch) and see Hunger Games with my mom and dad. Did both! :)

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More swimming...

Louis asleep naked as he was getting his bathing suit on. It was funny.

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Playing the sticks game.

She had a box of wind up toys that I coveted.

Blue's clues stamp made Wyatt's day.

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We went to a buffet which was very fun!

Afterwards, we danced off the energy in grandpa's truck. Miles struck pose and didn't move for like five minutes. Check him in every picture while the rest of the kids go nuts. It's funny!