Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
October started with another weekend with mom away… I couldn\’t miss the fall scrapbook retreat! Oh, my husband is a saint! October marked the beginning of meeting with a group of about 10 teens at our home. We do a little Bible study, a lot of joking, and a lot of eating junk! Other things that started in October (kind of last month too) MOPS (I get to head-up the craft), our adult small group, Joel started Awana, and our house hunt is in full swing… Paul arranged over-night babysitting for the kids with his parents, and we got a night away in Seattle for my birthday (did I mention my pregnancy massage???!!!)
November was the month we\’d been looking forward to much of the year. On the 10th we headed to Florida for a couple of days at Disneyworld. On the 13th we set sail for the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. We were gone nearly 2 full weeks! This special vacation (with the kiddos) was in celebration of our 10 year anniversary (bu that wasn\’t technically until December…). A low-key Thanksgiving followed. We celebrated it at my in-laws - they did all the cooking!!!
December always bring a hectic pace — shopping, pondering whether or not to send cards, a party here, a party there, painting 3 rooms of the house, putting an offer on a house, putting one\’s house on the market, pulling out of an offer, taking one\’s house off the market after almost 2 weeks… You know, the norm:) My parents and brother came for Christmas. We managed to lounge a bit, but peppered their visit with a trip to Seattle and the Light of Christmas at Warm Beach (by the way - Warm beach is not warm in December!:) The month finished off with our family venturing to Mt. Baker for a youth retreat - a mouse and an early return home. We blasted out the old with a sick 2 (and one half!) year old lying between us, with a 102 temperature… our 5 (and one half) year old son zonked out on the other couch a mere 3 minutes before the Space Needle fireworks welcomed in the new year…
We sure do know how to ring in the new! I wonder what 2005 will look like??? I just need to remember to go with the flow… to give in to the chaos — for it is impending:)
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
July brought more family visits. My Grandma Myra came for a week-long visit. Hubby\’s Grandma, Aunt and Uncle also came out from Tennessee. We spent the 4th with our friends Darren and Sara in Bellingham. Joel had a ball at VBS. His favorite part was the music - he just loves to be up front and to perform! The most significant event of the month - and probably the year, was finding out baby #3 was on the way - I will always remember July 21st, 2004:)
In August… Joel did Minihawks (week-long sports camp). Then we flew to Minnesota to see family and be at my Cousin Heather\’s wedding. Joel was the ring bearer and Livi was the flower girl (or \”flower princess\” as she calls it!). We got to see family I had not seen since my wedding almost 10 years before! It was a whirlwind, but it was so neat to have been able to go. As our summer grand finale, we went camping the last weekend with over a dozen other families at Camp Casey! There were an overwhelming number of bees (28 stings among the families at our camp), some rain, and an abundance of fun with good friends. Of course, we returned home dirty, tired and thankful for no more bees, and reconnected with friends!!!
It was back to preschool for Joel in September. Livi started back at Music Makers as well. One weekend we went to Cannon Beach (in Oregon) with another family. We just lounged, ate, and rode our bikes in the rain:) The next weekend I went away for 4 full days to Tennessee. I went to the MOPS national convention. It was my longest trip away from the kids - ever! I went with my friend Casey, and we laughed - hard - nearly the entire time! Our kids are the same age, and it\’s hard to find time just to get to know each other — our weekend gave us plenty of time for that:)
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
April provided some much needed down time. No visitors or big trips. Joel took swim lessons and Paul got a bunch of tickets to see the Mariners play - through October!
In May… Livi turned 2 and had a ladybug birthday party. It turned out to be the party month! We were invited to 7, yes 7 kiddie birthday parties, and 2 baby showers. So many of the parties overlapped, so we were only able to make it to 3 birthday parties, and I went to both baby showers:) Joel continued with swim lessons and started his 6 week soccer session, and Livi continued with Music Makers:) I participated in my first road race. It was a 5 mile run! I only messed up one toe and ran the entire distance!
June marked the official beginning of summer… the end of the preschool year for Joel and his birthday! Joel turned 5 and had a pirate party. Livi got to join a mini-preschool class - one day (2 hours) a week for 3 weeks. Her first dose of \”school\”. She loved it! The highlight of the month (in stress and enjoyment) was the Mom\’s camping adventure at Camp Cushman. We had 5 moms and 12 kids. We pitched tents, tent trailers, built fires, lounged by the lake, unpacked and pakced back up… it was the real thing - roar!!! Livi ingested a wee bit o\’ bug repelant (non-deet). Me and the kiddos had a ball, but wore ourselves out!
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy…
In January… we spent Christmas and New Year\’s Eve with my parents in Colorado. I split my \”momness\” between 2 MOPS groups through June (burned out a bit). Both kids clapped and sang in Music Makers through the spring. My mom had knee surgery and Paul\’s dad had his donated kidney (from mother-in-law) removed.
In February… a Superbowl party! Our dear friends came over on the spur of the moment after the party and stayed the night. We stayed up late playing XBox. I mention this because it was such a fun time with Keith, Marissa, and Bryan, and I don\’t have pictures of it (we missed Jenn though!!!)! A few days later, Paul\’s extended family came from Tennessee and South Carolina (Grandma, 2 aunts, an uncle and 4 cousins). It was great to see them and show them a bit of Seattle. The next week my sister came for a week-long visit - more sight seeing! The last weekend I went on a scrapbooking retreat and we squeezed in hosting our first karaoke party - which happened to be a hit!
In March… Hubby\’s Grandma (another one) popped in for a visit, along with his uncle. A few days later, my parents and brother all came to visit during my brother\’s spring break. We planned Olivia\’s dedication so they would be here for it - March 14th. We did the church dedication, but the special part was having our supportive friends and family come over afterwards. We ate and visited and everyone gathered in the living room as we prayed together for Olivia. March wrapped up with me leaving my family for another weekend to go on my church\’s women\’s retreat. Obviously, my husband is spectacular and makes the effort so I can \”get away\”.
My 10 year reunion is in February. Not my high school reunion, nooooo…. My COLLEGE 10 year reunion! 10 years… it’s just crazy…
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