This past year was packed with ups and downs like most years but it seems like the ups were higher and the downs were a bit lower.
JANUARY
My sister Wendy and family moved to Florida in January which made me very sad. But I think God prepared us all slowly for that by first moving them to Simi Valley, then to Bakersfield and then eventually across the country.
FEBRUARY
Dan had kidney surgery in February. His recovery went well and he was back to work by April.
MARCH
I turned 38!
We went to the snowy mountains (Mammoth) with our dearest friends the Higerds in March and the kids got to experience real snow falling from the sky for the first time ever. Winter, Addie and Angus also experienced the worst stomach flu ever the last night we were there. Life.
APRIL
In April we visited our Higerd buddies again in Capistrano beach and the kids had an awesome Easter egg hunt by the ocean and Winter found the golden egg and won an Easter basket.
MAY
Angus turned 4!
Dan and I went to FIJI in May and had the time of our lives and mom survived watching the kids with lots of help from dear friends who helped with rides and provided mom with breaks on the weekends.
JUNE
I took a ladies trip to Palm Springs with Wendy and friends in June. It was the loveliest few nights.
JULY
Dan turned 44!
We made it to the beach a lot in July which included going to Santa Monica to see my sister Stephanie who lives in Michigan and came out to LA for a few days. We hadn't seen each other in about 7 years.
We also visited the Higerds over the 4th of July and got to see breathtaking fireworks over the ocean.
AUGUST
Mya turned 10!
We went camping near Yosemite with our beloved Bakers in August and had the best time.
My brother Christopher's family came to visit from Texas and the kids had a BLAST playing with their cousins.
Toward the end of August Dan injured his shoulder on a fire and has been off work since. He’s been doing lots of physical therapy and will return to work this month.
SEPTEMBER
We got a refurbished soft tub in September and eventually got it up and running and use it a ton. One of the best things we’ve ever purchased.
We went to the Newport beach house for two weeks in September for the last time. While there, we had family photos taken for the first time in many years. We all look a bit older than we did in our last family photos about 8 years ago. We also celebrated 11 years of marriage September 14th.
Also in September Mom and Aunt Deb finally sold grandmas house where I spent most of my childhood. It was hard to see the house sold to another family who have already made so many changes to it. My grandparents' home was always a happy place for me and my siblings and cousins. I’ve also lived there a few times throughout my life. Millions of wonderful memories were made there.
OCTOBER
We started a complete downstairs remodel which included new cabinets (Dan built back in August thankfully before be hurt his shoulder), new counter tops, new appliances, a new floor, fresh paint, new pictures on the wall and new couches, one which arrived New Year’s Eve day. Mid October, we moved out of our house for a week while it was being painted.
Later that month, Grandma Donna and Aunt Debie moved away. There were lots of tears.
NOVEMBER
Addie turned 6!
Also in November, my sister Wendy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which was super scary for all of us but she had surgery to remove it and is doing remarkably well. Turns out, God moved their family to Florida so Wendy would be in very close proximity to the top ENT surgeon in the country who would do an amazing job removing her thyroid and 47 lymph nodes. There was LOTS of prayer happening in November.
DECEMBER
Our family of 6 went to Great Wolf Lodge for the first time and absolutely LOVED it. I'm excited to go back next year when Addie is tall enough to ride the bigger slides.
Wendy's surgery was a success and she healed in time to come out to SoCal for our family Christmas party. It really meant a lot to have so much of our family together in one place.
Mom, Deb and Wendy stayed with us in December so we got to spend time with each of them which was the perfect way to complete the year.
And Winter turned 9!
We are beyond thankful for the many blessings God gives us and continue to thank Him daily.
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