Well like most years, it seems as though 2014 went by quickly. Especially the last half of the year...that seemed to really fly by. Other than my normal lose weight and get healthy resolutions, I plan to be a little more festive in 2015. I don't plan to do anything too over the top, but I do plan to make holidays just a bit more fun. =) And with that, here's a look back at 2014.
January 2014
Blogging always seems to come to a lull in the month of January for me. That was true the first month of this year. We spent just about every Saturday during the month of January watching Evan and Stephen play basketball. Addi and Payton took a painting class together. We also spent an unseasonably warm day at the zoo as a little family.
February 2014
February was a big month for our family. Uncle Chad officially adopted Jessi. We were so grateful to be a part of that day. Evan and Stephen's basketball team took 2nd place in the season closing tournament. Since the boys hadn't won a game all season, they were awarded at school for having the life principle of perseverance. We celebrated Valentine's Day. Evan MC'ed his school talent show. Payton went on her very first non family sleep over. We also spent some time playing out in the snow. We went to Family Fun Night at our elementary school. Payton, Addi, and Karsyn were excited to wear their matching sister coats. Addi also loved showing off her new sparkly purple leo for gymnastics.
March 2014
In March, we watched Evan and Payton play soccer every Saturday. We went to Missouri a couple of times. Once, was to get Jessi and bring her to Oklahoma for a few days over Spring Break. While she was in Ok, we visited the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History with our Uncle Billy, Aunt Kary, Natalie, Emily Stephen, Nana and Papa. On the way back to MO, Aunt Becky and I had fun texting each other road trip pictures. We explored Route 66. Evan and Payton went on their first motorcycle ride. Evan went on a Gifted and Talented field trip and performed as Hercules in his class play titled "What Does The Mortal Say?" We went to the zoo. We also spent some time with our second cousins. It was a fun and busy month! We took lots of road trip selfies. =)
April 2009
In April, our big guy Evan turned 10. We celebrated both Evan and Emily's birthdays with a trip to Incredible Pizza with Nana and Papa. The kiddos and I went back to Misssouri with Nana and Papa to celebrate Easter. Karsyn and I went to Addi's class party. We hunted Easter Eggs at Grandma and Papa's house. We spent a lot of time at the soccer fields. Addi was a cute bunny at dance class.
May 2014
May was a busy, busy, BUSY month for our little family. Jason took a new position at work and it has had such a positive impact on our family. We LOVE being able to spend more time with him. Evan graduated from the 5th grade. Addi graduated from preschool. She was also in her first gym meet. Payton and Addi were in their first dance recital. We enjoyed time at the lake. Daddy celebrated a birthday. Together, we celebrated 13 years of marriage. Evan participated in the 5th grade boys vs teacher basketball game. We celebrated Memorial Day and Mother's Day. Evan and Payton finished out their soccer seasons and had a great end of season party. It was such a busy full, blessed month.
June 2014
School was out for the summer! Payton turned 9 and Addi turned 5. Addi and Karsyn started summer preschool gymnastics. Evan went to a basketball camp and started playing a summer league. We took a big family road trip to Branson, MO. We also made at stop at Devil's Den Arkansas. We spent a lot of time enjoying summer by going to movies, the library, the children's museum, playing at the splash pad and bowling. We also spent a lot of time hanging out at the flip house pool. We also went to Black Gold Days.
July 2014
Karsyn turned 3 years old in July. We had a joint birthday bowling party for Addi and her. Our decade long diapering sweet baby bottoms came to an end when she finally potty trained. Yay! Aunt Ashley and Jessi came down for a fun night of fireworks. We went to Grandma and Papa's house for more fireworks. Payton started taking a summer gymnastics class. We went berry picking. Evan finished up his summer basketball league. The kiddos had a fun photo session with watermelon. They also had all of their summer time check ups. Papa and Evan hosted a World Cup Party. Germany won!!! We visited the zoo 2 times and rode camels. The kiddos also went to VBS.
August 2014
We were back in Missouri in August to meet and celebrate our new foster nephew's birthday with Nana, Papa, Grandma Shirley, Grandpa James, Uncle Billy, Aunt Kary, Natalie, Emily and Stephen. We spent a lot of time swimming at the flip house. Payton became a glasses girl. We learned a new normal of having 4 kids in 3 different school with a working mama. Daddy's new position allow him to take the girls to school a few times a week. We learned that it takes a village - Aunt Kary and Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James take the girlies to school some days of the week too. Evan started 6th grade, Payton started 4th grade, Addi started Kindergarten, and Karsyn started PK-3. I was so excited to be her very first teacher!
September 2014
After a fun filled summer, we got back into the swing of things with our extra curricular activities. All 3 girls started dance. Karsyn was so excited to take her first class. Evan started Fall Soccer. He was picked to be the team goalie. Evan joined the school band and started playing the trumpet. Daddy helped Payton and Evan both learn how to play. We went to Missouri for the last time of the year. We got to go to Uncle Chad and Aunt Ashley's new church's first service. Karsyn started Pre-K gymnastics. I took Evan and Payton to play Bingo for the first time. We welcomed in Fall. Papa, Evan, and Daddy went to a few high school football games.
October 2014
Addi and Payton got to be cheerleaders for a night. They danced and cheered in a high school football game preshow. We went to the pumpkin patch with Grandma and Papa. We celebrated Halloween by having the best time with Uncle Billy, Aunt Kary, Natalie, Emily, Stephen, and Leon. We spent nearly every Saturday at the soccer fields. We went for a fall swim...in a heated pool. Karsyn always amazed us with how brave of a swimmer she is! Karsyn went on her first friend from school play date. We had fun going to lots of birthday parties.
November 2014
I celebrated my birthday. We went to loads of birthday parties. Evan finished up fall soccer. Evan and Payton started Art classes. We celebrated Thanksgiving and had dinner with our extended family at our favorite Amish restaurant. Grandma and Addi had a Thanksgiving feast at her school. Karsyn and I had Fall parties at school. We put outside Christmas lights out for the first time in years!
December 2014
We went on our very first Christmas carriage ride with Papa. The kiddos got their Christmas pictures made...although I didn't get them back in time to make Christmas cards. boo! Evan had his first band concert. We had breakfast with Santa. Went to our little town's Christmas parade and to the Festival of Trees. The girls all had class parties. Aunt Becky, Uncle Eugene, Kellie, Kyle, Katelyn, Aunt Ashley, Jessi, Spiderman and Superman all came in for Christmas dinner and for our annual light tour. We went to Grandma and Papa's house for Christmas. It was a wonderful month!
I love that our little family got to spend so much time with family and friends over the past year. I look forward to what all 2015 has in store!
April 2009
In April, our big guy Evan turned 10. We celebrated both Evan and Emily's birthdays with a trip to Incredible Pizza with Nana and Papa. The kiddos and I went back to Misssouri with Nana and Papa to celebrate Easter. Karsyn and I went to Addi's class party. We hunted Easter Eggs at Grandma and Papa's house. We spent a lot of time at the soccer fields. Addi was a cute bunny at dance class.
May 2014
May was a busy, busy, BUSY month for our little family. Jason took a new position at work and it has had such a positive impact on our family. We LOVE being able to spend more time with him. Evan graduated from the 5th grade. Addi graduated from preschool. She was also in her first gym meet. Payton and Addi were in their first dance recital. We enjoyed time at the lake. Daddy celebrated a birthday. Together, we celebrated 13 years of marriage. Evan participated in the 5th grade boys vs teacher basketball game. We celebrated Memorial Day and Mother's Day. Evan and Payton finished out their soccer seasons and had a great end of season party. It was such a busy full, blessed month.
June 2014
School was out for the summer! Payton turned 9 and Addi turned 5. Addi and Karsyn started summer preschool gymnastics. Evan went to a basketball camp and started playing a summer league. We took a big family road trip to Branson, MO. We also made at stop at Devil's Den Arkansas. We spent a lot of time enjoying summer by going to movies, the library, the children's museum, playing at the splash pad and bowling. We also spent a lot of time hanging out at the flip house pool. We also went to Black Gold Days.
July 2014
Karsyn turned 3 years old in July. We had a joint birthday bowling party for Addi and her. Our decade long diapering sweet baby bottoms came to an end when she finally potty trained. Yay! Aunt Ashley and Jessi came down for a fun night of fireworks. We went to Grandma and Papa's house for more fireworks. Payton started taking a summer gymnastics class. We went berry picking. Evan finished up his summer basketball league. The kiddos had a fun photo session with watermelon. They also had all of their summer time check ups. Papa and Evan hosted a World Cup Party. Germany won!!! We visited the zoo 2 times and rode camels. The kiddos also went to VBS.
August 2014
We were back in Missouri in August to meet and celebrate our new foster nephew's birthday with Nana, Papa, Grandma Shirley, Grandpa James, Uncle Billy, Aunt Kary, Natalie, Emily and Stephen. We spent a lot of time swimming at the flip house. Payton became a glasses girl. We learned a new normal of having 4 kids in 3 different school with a working mama. Daddy's new position allow him to take the girls to school a few times a week. We learned that it takes a village - Aunt Kary and Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James take the girlies to school some days of the week too. Evan started 6th grade, Payton started 4th grade, Addi started Kindergarten, and Karsyn started PK-3. I was so excited to be her very first teacher!
After a fun filled summer, we got back into the swing of things with our extra curricular activities. All 3 girls started dance. Karsyn was so excited to take her first class. Evan started Fall Soccer. He was picked to be the team goalie. Evan joined the school band and started playing the trumpet. Daddy helped Payton and Evan both learn how to play. We went to Missouri for the last time of the year. We got to go to Uncle Chad and Aunt Ashley's new church's first service. Karsyn started Pre-K gymnastics. I took Evan and Payton to play Bingo for the first time. We welcomed in Fall. Papa, Evan, and Daddy went to a few high school football games.
October 2014
Addi and Payton got to be cheerleaders for a night. They danced and cheered in a high school football game preshow. We went to the pumpkin patch with Grandma and Papa. We celebrated Halloween by having the best time with Uncle Billy, Aunt Kary, Natalie, Emily, Stephen, and Leon. We spent nearly every Saturday at the soccer fields. We went for a fall swim...in a heated pool. Karsyn always amazed us with how brave of a swimmer she is! Karsyn went on her first friend from school play date. We had fun going to lots of birthday parties.
November 2014
I celebrated my birthday. We went to loads of birthday parties. Evan finished up fall soccer. Evan and Payton started Art classes. We celebrated Thanksgiving and had dinner with our extended family at our favorite Amish restaurant. Grandma and Addi had a Thanksgiving feast at her school. Karsyn and I had Fall parties at school. We put outside Christmas lights out for the first time in years!
December 2014
We went on our very first Christmas carriage ride with Papa. The kiddos got their Christmas pictures made...although I didn't get them back in time to make Christmas cards. boo! Evan had his first band concert. We had breakfast with Santa. Went to our little town's Christmas parade and to the Festival of Trees. The girls all had class parties. Aunt Becky, Uncle Eugene, Kellie, Kyle, Katelyn, Aunt Ashley, Jessi, Spiderman and Superman all came in for Christmas dinner and for our annual light tour. We went to Grandma and Papa's house for Christmas. It was a wonderful month!
I love that our little family got to spend so much time with family and friends over the past year. I look forward to what all 2015 has in store!
Tracy, This is an awesome post! I am always amazed at how prompt you are at getting your posts up! What is your secret? One of my goals for 2015 is to blog more consistently (at least 3x a week) so any tips would be appreciated. I love your goal to be more festive! I think making the holidays special for our families is very important. I look forward to seeing what all you implement. Happy New Year, friend! :) Lana
ReplyDeleteI love reading this. I loved following along with you this year and it was so fun to recap it all. You really had a fun, full, family oriented year and that is so great! I am wishing you every good thing in 2015.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great summary of your year! I love the picture progression. And isn't it amazing to look back and see how much kids change and grow in a year? I mean Karsyn looks like such a little lady now with very little "baby" left. :-)
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