So 2011 was a huge roller coaster of a year. We made some amazing memories and loved watching our littles grow more and more each day. Cole turning into such a toddler complete with a new big boy bed and a big boy attitude to match! :) Ava is turning more into a little girl each day and growing way too fast for us. We did some incredible things and soaked up some great family time. This year was also the year we lost my dad. It's been such a horrible experience but we are so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love & care for us and who have helped ease the pain a little. This has been the year of "firsts" without my dad. We definitely think about him daily but know he would want us to make happy memories instead of dwelling on our loss. So that's what we've been trying to do this year. It's been tough at times but I think we did a pretty good job of making some great memories as a family.
We've also done lots of home improvements on our never-ending to do list. We redid the playroom and master bedroom, we got new windows and new doors. We've changed out the lights, created reading nooks and hung lots of shelves & photo walls. We've gotten some new furniture, a new shed and a new swingset. And there is plenty more for 2012 :)
JANUARY:
We finished the playroom & celebrated Cole's first birthday {yikes!} with a Rookie of the Year celebration. It was a lot of fun and we could not believe how fast that year flew by! Ava had her first trip to the dentist and a gymnastics show! We were hit with snow storm after snow storm and enjoyed many snow days.
February we were hit with more snow. I celebrated the big 2-8 and enjoyed a great vacation with the kiddies. February was also the month that we lost my dad and will forever be a tough month.
MARCH
The snow finally started to melt and we enjoyed some beautiful spring days outside. The kids were busy building with Duplos, making art projects & having fun together. We did some projects around the house like changing out some lights & getting some things hung on the walls. Cole got his first haircut and hated every minute of it.
APRILWe took our first Cape trip in April and celebrated Easter with the family. We took a weekend trip to NYC to celebrate Rich & Megan's engagement. We had a great time in the city! We were so busy soaking up every minute of sunshine after our long, long winter!
MAYWe celebrated Mother's Day with a zoo trip. We splashed in rain puddles. Ava had a Teddy Bear Picnic at her school and I ran my first 5K! May also brought more fun house projects!
JUNESummer is here! We had our first beach trip to the Cape. It was still chilly but the kids had a blast. We celebrated 2 years of owning our home & tore down the old shed to celebrate. Ava had her first dance recital and was oh-so-cute! We set up our kiddie pool and had a fun trip to Davis' Farmland.
JULYWe were in full summer swing with lots of beach trips. We celebrated the Fourth with a beach trip, cook-out, pool time, carnival trip & fireworks. The kids are total beach bums and could spend every day at the beach! Cole took swim lessons with mama & loved it. Ava had a blast at gymnastics camp and we had fun on day trips to the Children's Museum and the zoo.
AUGUSTWe enjoyed some blueberry picking, park trips and lots of art projects. We took our first big family trip to Santa Barbara, California! It was the kids' first plane ride & our first cross country trip. We totally are in love with Santa Barbara and Ava begs us to go back every day :) We definitely have some great memories from that trip---including Ava being a flower girl for Uncle Rich & Aunt Megan's wedding!
SEPTEMBERSeptember meant back to school! Ava started her second year of preschool & I started school again for my Master's in Early Childhood Education. Dance & gymnastics also started back up. We went apple picking and enjoyed one last Cape trip. We soaked up the crisp fall air and enjoyed lots of outdoor time.
OCTOBERSteve & I celebrated five years of marriage with a trip to NYC. We had a preschool party at Ava's school and went to Day out with Thomas. We went pumpkin picking a few times and played in the leaves. I ran my second 5k. Ava turned four and celebrated with an Under the Sea party & her first friend party at her gym. We had our first {and only} snow storm of the end of the year and celebrated Halloween!
NOVEMBERNovember brought new windows, a new door and a new swingset for the kiddies! Ava had her parent-teacher conference, gymnastics show and dance observation week. We celebrated Thanksgiving and took a trip to Wayside Inn. Our elves came back from the North Pole and brought lots of trouble with them this year!
DECEMBER
December was busy! We got our Christmas tree, dealt with elf antics, went to a Christmas parade, saw the lights, and did lots of baking. We got a new kitchen set and the kiddies both got glasses. We started a new Christmas Countdown tradition and had so much fun with all the activities we did. We had a great Christmas, a winter trip to the Cape and enjoyed ringing in the New Year.
