2025: 100 Small Things

It has been a few years since I made a list for 100 Small Things (not since 2021!) But I'm feeling like I'm ready for a little more direction for myself this year. 

I am hoping it might also work as a helpful distraction when I'm feeling like I'm so small in this great big world where there is so much noise and so much out of my control. But I can control me; what I'm learning, where I'm choosing to put my time and effort, how I want to take steps into raising our babies right now where they are. I can control that and if I don't make a plan I'm afraid I'll just let myself get swallowed up in the chaos that swirls outside of me. 

So in case you're wondering or looking to find some inspiration on small ways you can gain control - here's where I'm looking to keep my eyes on the horizon of my goals this year. 

1. Birthday letter: Gemma 
2. Birthday letter: Violet
3. Birthday letter: Rusty
4. Birthday letter: Reddy
5. Birthday letter: Olive
6. Donate blood in the winter
7. Donate blood in the summer
8. make pasta from scratch
9. 1000 hours outside (at least 800 for me!)
10. make our wills and last testaments officially
11. No Buy January
12. romantic getaway with B
13. Erie trip (rescheduled!) with the Kochs
14. Church donations set up to automatic withdrawl
15. set up /assess / correct kids' savings accounts
16. Meet with our financial advisor for a check in 
17. New carpeting upstairs
18. Secure the boys' bunk beds for safety
19. new siding for the house
20. get osa spayed
21. run a race (5k?)
22. get a headboard for our bed
23. bike / walk the Jim Mayer trail
24. bike / walk the Staple Bend tunnel trail
25. Plan for the fall for Red and Olive 
26. NSV - wear engagement ring comfortably
27. draft up goals for Studerbabies Farm & Free Play
28. collect Christmas trees for the goats
29. collect pumpkins for the goats
30. create a mini store for the driveway in the summer (eggs, veggies, baked goods)
31. update all the kids' baby books (notes and pics)
32. 2024-2025 Family yearbook
33. unfollow random accts on Instagram until down to 300 
34. complete the SCF Challenge
35. plant mini pine trees in the front porch planters
36. start Project Lit at Somerset
37. attend the North Star musical
38. attend the CT musical 
39. Make goals / decisions about The Hunting Daddies llc
40. Attend 6 book club meetings
41. Redesign the flowerbed at the run in the driveway
42. Scrub the kitchen table and chairs
43. donate baby clothes 3T and younger (!)
44. donate snow / winter clothes 3T and younger
45. purge the shoe collections all around the house
46. Install water pressure booster
47. drop the bubbas and binkies (Olive)
48. 1st Holy Communion outfit for Rusty
49. mini shed at the farm for hay/ food
50. baby chickies! (get at least 10 more)
51. unsubscribe from at least 25 junk emails
52. update the kids' memory boxes with art projects, etc
53. purge Children's book collection (unloved, broken, etc)
54. Host a Studerbabies event this summer
55. Create a personal email for Gemma
56. birds & bees talk with Violet
57. get a pedicure
58. grow zucchini
59. find an afternoon snack solution for myself
60. visit Yoder Falls with the kids
61. move / relocate the goat house in the pasture
62. get another great Pyr (!!?)
63. Save money for a Friends beach trip in 2026
64. family beach vacation this year
65. buy new wrapping paper for Christmas
66. Sourdough starter (!!)
67. hang up outside Christmas lights
68. build a Christmas star 
69. Go to Mass at least once a month
70. Sign Gemma up for official babysitter certification class
71. buy a new "momma blankie" (oversized cardigan)
72. teach Red to swim
73. teach Olive to swim
74. teach Red to ride a bike no training wheels
75. find a soup that the kids like
76. start framing out the window seats in the living room
77. cut out a half wall between the kitchen and dining room
78. hang string bulb lights from porch to the firepit
79. 180 days content of Miss Big Sis
80. Digital product for Miss Big Sis
81. Host a cousins sleepout in a tent in the backyard
82. get a new address book
83. put new ink in the return address stamper
84. AKT plus kids weekend
85. Research the expectations for prospective college athlete social media / stats
86. NSV: wear a two piece confidently
87. Mentor a new Spanish teacher 
88. Curriculum map for 2025-26 and collaborate with co-teacher
89. Inventory / Organize / Purge pantry
90. I / O / P medicine cabinet
91. I / O / P attic
92. get a Christmas tree for the basement den 
93. finish basement bathroom 
94. fire place for living room
95. update family photos in living room 
96. re-paint the kitchen
97. support Violet on an art submission
98. paint the back porch shutters
99. new kitchen curtains
100. new tattoo! 

Here's to moving towards becoming the person you hope to be!