2012 in Review

Last year, I did this awesome recap of 2011.  I looked back at it a few days ago and realized how much more time and energy I had before a certain someone entered the world just a few weeks later:).  So I told Jeff my recap for 2012 would be...

I SURVIVED!!!

By God's grace and a lot of help, I survived the first year of having 4 children.

There were times I wondered if we would.  

There are still times I wonder how we survive. 

It's chaos.  

But it's also full of life and joy and moments I wouldn't trade for anything! 

So here is a summary of all that the chaotic year of 2012 held for our family...

{JANUARY}

I finished up my favorite nursery of all time:).  Seriously, I love this room! 

And more importantly, we welcomed our fourth miracle into the family!

Anna Mitchell was born two weeks early via c-section (after laboring all day) on January 19.

What a sweetie! 

{FEBRUARY} 

 We decided to add more crazy to our life and put our house on the market to try to get a better house plan to accommodate 4 children, and move school zones.

 All the while still having a very fussy newborn in the house...

We also celebrated Ellie Kate's 5th birthday at a local gymnastics gym.  She loved her party! 

{MARCH}

 I must have started feeling more like my old self and was itching for a creative craft so I made over a little night stand I had picked up from Salvation Army months before. 

We also had the flu which was NO FUN with a newborn in the house...but thankfully she didn't get it! 

Samuel also started his second year of baseball. 

{APRIL}

Just a lot of living life this month.  I think I posted about feeling overwhelmed and frazzled...hmmm I may have had some sort of post like that every month this past year:).  

We had a quick trip to the beach for a conference...that is always an adventure:).  

My discipleship group had a My Favorite Things Party that was so much fun! You can read about that HERE

{MAY}

This month may have proved to be the craziest of the year.

We sold our house...and moved into a new one less than 3 weeks later.

 

 Anna Mitchell also got baptized...

Two days after we moved into the new house...we packed up and left for Miami where we would spend the next 6 weeks. 

{JUNE} 
Chaos in Miami is what I like to summarize June as.  The kids loved it...me not so much.  Thankfully, we had a student named Paige with us who was a true gift from God.  She allowed me to be involved with the project, and she helped me so much with the kids!  I wouldn't have made it through this month without her!  Most of our days were spent at the pool...

Anna Mitchell at 5 months old started creeping and scooting and was officially on the move! By the end of the month she was crawling.  


{JULY}
 We made it back home and spent this month unpacking and getting settled into our new house and neighborhood that we LOVE!  Anna Mitchell pulled up in her crib for the first time right at the end of her 6th month and scared me half to death.  She is a monkey for sure!  The girls went to gymnastics camp and had a blast.  Samuel spent time helping me organize closets and rooms (he is really good at that).

My big project of the month was my farmhouse table!  I had someone build it for me, but then I stained and painted it.  I also recovered the upholstery in my chairs. 

 {AUGUST}
Time for school to start!  We were all a bit nervous about the new school and Ellie Kate starting Kindegarten and she and Samuel riding the bus...but the first few weeks of school went great!

    
I also tackled another project that I had been waiting to do.  My first chalk paint and upholstery attempt on some garage sale chairs.  I love them! 

 

{SEPTEMBER}
I managed to gut out four posts this month.  Apparently, it kicked my butt as I mentioned in two of the four posts:).  This month is Jeff's busiest time of year on campus and with kids in school full swing, I think it was just a little crazy. 

Anna Mitchell turned 8 months and is busy busy busy!

 

{OCTOBER}

Always a busy month...but we welcomed fall with some mums and pumpkins! 

We also had our very first family photos taken by the talented Heather Durham! Still obsessed with them...

Our big boy turned 10!

 {NOVEMBER}

We celebrated Abigail's 4th birthday with a pajama party...

And Samuel's 10th birthday with a kickball party...on the same day as Abigail's:)

We also had a lice outbreak with the big kids that was awful.  I would not wish it on my worst enemy.  I HATE LICE!  We celebrate our 7th adoption day with Samuel.  Can't believe he's been in our family for that long.  We are so thankful for our boy! 

I also finished up a DIY Advent calendar to use for December to help our family focus on Jesus at Christmas...

{DECEMBER}

We enjoyed the advent season and celebrating Christmas with school parties, programs, friends and family.  Another highlight was our real tree again.  I always love decorating this time of year and it was especially fun being in our new home...

Well, after doing that I realize that we fit quite a lot into 2012.  I am thankful for all the fun things we were able to do as a family and all the things I was able to accomplish.  I truly love having some time to do creative things every once in awhile.  Thank goodness I have a supportive and helpful husband who indulges my desires for time to do them:).   Our God is so good to us and words aren't adequate to express our thanks to Him for all He has done in our life even in the ups and downs of life! 

Here's to another great year for our family! 

Christmas 2012

Our Christmas festivities started Sunday night with our annual minivan express!  We started this last year after seeing something on pinterest where I could print out the tickets.  Then I posted about our experience with it last year HERE and that post went viral on pinterest in November and December this year.  So fun!  Anyway, this year the kids were so excited again and loved it.  We were able to find the best little spot in Tuscaloosa with a cute neighborhood all decked out (mostly tastefully). 

Christmas Eve we got to have Jeff's parents down which was nice.  I cooked a good lunch and then we had our candlelight service at church.  After church, we read our last advent reading and the traditional Night Before Christmas book that was mine when I was little.  Kids went to bed sooo excited of course!

 Christmas Morning!!!!!! 

Samuel got some construction stuff (he is into building right now), a new scooter, books and a few small toys

Ellie Kate and Abigail got American Girl dolls.  They were so excited!  I was excited, I mean "Santa" was excited, because he got two of them and several outfits for the price of one doll thanks to our local facebook garage sale and a Today Show steal/deal.  The big girls also got a little bunk bed for their dolls, books and a few other little things.

Anna Mitchell got a pottery barn chair, books, a ball and that dog plush toy that she loves!

The aftermath...and my christmas morning breakfast of monkey bread and breakfast casserole muffins.

We had a great Christmas and enjoyed being home for the second year in a row making our own family traditions and memories!

Joy To The World!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
We hope and pray you have a wonderful time celebrating
that Emmanuel has come. 
 It is truly a joyous day as we celebrate Jesus. 
Through Him, and him alone can we have peace and hope.  

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow :"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

Christmas Programs

Friday was the last day of school for all three big kids so it was quite a busy day for this mama.  I ran back and forth between 2 programs and 3 parties all before lunch!  It was so fun and I am so blessed!  Jeff was able to go to the programs but he then stayed with the baby so I could help with the class parties.

Abigail's precious program...she was an angel and for the first time was not embarrassed or shy. 

 She sang her little heart out and did all the motions.  I'm so proud of my girl.  Abigail is really growing up:). 

They had a Happy Birthday Jesus party back in their classroom.  She has such a sweet teacher who is a friend of mine and a great little class. 

Abigail loves this little boy Thomas.  Like really loves him.  Her love for him has toned down a little bit this year, but for awhile there she actually sort of wanted to BE Thomas:).   So cute! 

Ellie Kate and Samuel had a sing a long at their school.  It was really special, especially in light of it being exactly a week after Newtown/Sandy Hook tragedy.  The principal said some sweet words, we had a moment of silence, and then 26 students got up and did a little handbell tribute.  There was not a mama in the auditorium with a dry eye.  We are so thankful for our little school and our wonderful teachers!  Each class had a song they sang and it was adorable.  Unfortunately I had my camera, but had forgotten to put my SD card back in.  Oh well. 

Then it was party time!  I was able to run back home real quick and get my SD card for the camera so I could get some pictures:).

Ellie Kate's class had a fun lunch, decorated cookies, made a few crafts, and had a book swap.

Ellie Kate and her precious friend Riley.  I hope they remain friends all through their schooling years.  She also lives in our neighborhood so I have a feeling they will always be good friends:).

precious precious Mrs. S.  Ellie Kate LOVES her!

Ellie Kate's class

Samuel's class had a pizza party.  I enjoyed sitting with him at the table and chatting with his friends. 

This is his class.  So sweet! 

another precious precious teacher, Mrs. M.  Seriously, she is amazing and has really made Samuel bloom this year:)

I love this time of year, because the children all came home with so many different crafts and things.  I still haven't found the best system for saving these things.  I thought I would take a pic of a few of the girls things that they have done...

Abigail's manger.  They sang 'Away in a Manger' in their program and it's her favorite song right now

love that both girls have made these in their 4 year old preschool class

Some ornaments they girls have made this year...

I hope everyone has enjoyed this holiday season!  It has been a busy one for us...but in the last week, I feel like even in the midst of mourning for children I never knew and for the evil of this world, I have truly been able to rest in the joy that we have a Savior.  The suffering and tragedy has truly pointed my heart more to the feet of Jesus and to rejoicing that He came.  Our family is ready for Christmas.  We hope you and yours enjoy the next few days of fun, food, and celebrations!