I never realized how much I would cherish those lines from one of my favorite Rascal Flatts songs. It seems that my days tend to drag on and cluster into moments of mass chaos, loud laughing, toddler tantrums, and the sounds of two boys playing throughout my house. At times I wish those days would speed up but then I am here at the end of another year and I want those moments back!
As I say for most of the years, 2011 was our craziest and most awesome year yet. Joel and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary! It seems like we have been married forever and I love it. Our love was challenged in many ways this year and we always came out a much stronger couple. Despite our deep love for Christ, we attempted to handle our lives all on our own. Well we learned pretty quickly that would not work. Our relationship is deeper and we are more in love than ever. We also learned how valuable it is to put our marriage first in order to be better parents. Because of that we are taking more date nights and focusing on us. It has made us more loving parents and a better couple.
Right after our anniversary, we welcomed our second baby boy into our lives! Noah Robert came into this world on March 19th. He was a whopping 9lbs 3oz. He has then sweetest calmest personality anyone could hope for. His smile and laugh brighten up our lives. Now that he is 9 months old, he is crawling and cruising everywhere, he eats everything insight (including veggies!), he plays with his brother, and he loves to be cuddled. I pretty much love this boy more and more everyday!
Joel was promoted to store manager and that meant another move. That would be our 5 move in our short time together. But it was the opportunity that Joel was looking for and after some prayer we moved to elk grove, California. We are just south of Sacramento and enjoy a wonderful suburban lifestyle! When we moved, we also decided that buying a home and setting some roots down is what was best. After a crazy escrow process, we closed on our home on July 22nd. It was pretty much move in ready, but Joel and his dad have been working in projects all over the house to really make it our own.
Nathaniel turned two this year!! I cannot believe how big my baby boy has gotten. He has turned into a wonderful toddler. Despite the terrible twos that we are still experiencing at times, his personality is amazing. He has the best character. He loves to dance and sing. He is developing a love for Legos, blocks, and trains. He is not fond of me reading to him or meat,but we are working on it! He is also becoming independent. He loves to brush his own teeth, and wash himself, he wants to pick out his own clothes and put them on. But my favorite thing he does is independently coming over and giving kisses and hugs! I love it.
We celebrated a wonderful holiday season right here a home with no traveling and it was the least stressful we had in years! I braved the open skies, alone with the boys, to visit family in PA and attend my brother's wedding in early December. The boys traveled so well and it was a great time visiting with family and friends.
We are excited to see what 2012 will hold for us. While I am not a fan of making resolutions (that will fall by the wayside in early February), I really wanted to make some lifestyle changes with the family.
- Read 25 books in 2012 (myself) and incorporate more family reading each day
- Plan a family schedule to organize our lives.
- Continue going to the gym 4-5 days a week
- Cut down on processed foods
- Cut down our financial debt by 75% by end of the year
- Stick to a budge
- Daily devotionals and reading through the bible in a year
So from our family to yours, we wish you a very happy and prosperous 2012!
