Oh, friends, where do I even begin? The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of family, work, and moments where I’ve genuinely felt like I was thriving—chia pet hair and all. Let’s recap the madness, shall we?
A New Year’s Celebration Worth Staying Up For
For the first time in years, we actually celebrated New Year’s Eve. Usually, we’re either asleep or driving home, but not this year. This year, we went all out—or as “all out” as a couple of parents can manage. We headed over to my friend Molly’s house, where the kids ran wild, and the adults (okay, mostly Molly) tried to remember how to play poker. There were wings, laughter, and whipped cream everywhere thanks to Molly encouraging us all to do the whipped cream challenge.
We left Molly’s place just before midnight, determined to do something memorable and make Bridger stop calling us boring. So, naturally, we drove up to Lookout Mountain, where the police were charmingly threatening tickets if we loitered too long. At 11:58, we piled out of our cars, stretched out the seconds, and hugged and kissed our way into 2025. It was cold, chaotic, and absolutely perfect. Bonus: I wasn’t even tired. Turns out, eating when hungry and sleeping when tired really works wonders. Who knew? (Spoiler: Everyone. But still.)
Skiing, Saunas, and a Side of Solitude
New Year’s Day was a treat. Tag and I ditched the kids (not literally, don’t call CPS) and headed up for a half-day of skiing. Sterling stayed with his buddy Lincoln, and Bridger wasn’t feeling the slopes, so it was just the two of us. Skiing without kids? Bliss. We capped the day with some sauna and cold plunging, which is both invigorating and borderline masochistic, but hey, we’re thriving. We even met a surgeon who may have helped us diagnose Sterling’s random inability to breathe. No more 2 am ER visits for us, hopefully.
The Great Haircut Debate
The Saturday after New Year’s, we went for family haircuts. Well, everyone but Sterling, who’s still growing his hair out to donate. (Insert proud mom tears here.) Everyone keeps telling me how much easier my short hair must be, and to that I say: Lies. Sure, it’s short, but it’s also a high-maintenance diva. I have to sleep with a hat on to avoid waking up like a chia pet and let’s not even talk about the monthly trims and all the gel. Long hair might be back in my future. Stay tuned.
Work: Busy and Beautifully Chaotic
January is off to a roaring start. My schedule has never been this packed in January, and while it’s a lot, I’m beyond grateful. Here’s the highlight reel:
- A favorite past client referred me to their friend, and we went house hunting. Found the perfect spot on day one, got the offer accepted, and inspections are a breeze. Win-win-win!
- My long-time listing on Swiss is finally under contract, with two potential backups. Fingers crossed!
- Another buyer is on the verge of locking down their dream home, and a land deal that almost fell apart might be back on track. (Cue the happy dance.)
- My brother is also crushing it, putting in an offer for his buyers. Go team!
Family Wins and Life Lessons
The kids are finally back in school (hallelujah), and we’re all settling into the groove. Bridger, Tag, and I recently had some tough but good conversations. I’m so proud of the young man Bridger is becoming, even if parenting teens sometimes feels like a high-stakes game of emotional poker.
Sterling, meanwhile, is crushing it at school. His reading scores have skyrocketed thanks to the extra help we lined up for him, and I couldn’t be prouder. Watching him thrive and feel proud of himself academically makes all the hard work worth it.
Health, Scotland, and All the Gratitude
On the personal front, I had some less-than-stellar health news recently, but it’s manageable. Nothing life-threatening, just a few achy joints in my future. I’m confident that with some diet tweaks and exercise, I’ll keep it in check.
And speaking of bright spots: Next month, I’m taking my mom to Scotland! I’m beyond excited to share this incredible adventure with her—exploring castles, soaking in the stunning landscapes, and making unforgettable memories together. On top of that, I’ll get to see my best friend, which makes the trip even more special. Then, it’s off to Las Vegas for the Keller Williams Family Reunion, the biggest real estate convention ever! I’m thrilled to bring my brother along for the experience—it’s going to be an epic mix of learning, networking, and probably a little bit of Vegas fun. It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable start to the year!
Life is busy, messy, and oh-so-good. I’m grateful for the love, the work, and even the chia pet hair. Wishing you all a joyful, prosperous 2025! Let’s make it a good one. ❤️
P.S. Kitty and Doggie are getting along great! Never thought this day would come…
