2013 Year in Pictures!

2013 I feel should be called the "Year of major life events/Year of Ava."  Ava pretty quickly made herself known in 2013.  She was born 11 days into the year and has been a constant joy and how do I say it, delightful challenge ever since.  She came out wide eyed and made it known pretty quickly that sleep would never be her favorite thing.  We struggled with that a lot the first 6 months of 2013.  In that time we also, moved, bought our first house, celebrated Ariy's 2nd birthday, Rick started a new and first 9-5 job, I also started teaching Gymnastics very part time.  A LOT of changes.  By Ava's 6th month birthday, things had mostly settled down and we were really in the swing of things in this "new life."  Fall and Winter of 2013 were challenging in different ways.  The weather no longer permitted our daily outdoor adventures and both myself and Rick lost close relatives.

For myself personally, the end of 2013 was an emotional whirlwind.  There was some hard stuff going on for friends and family including the passing of my Great Aunt Barbara.  She was someone I highly respected and always took great care of me and my entire life.  She was a teacher, told amazing story's and an artist as well.  She knew all my closest friends and always asked how they were doing.  She was someone who truly cared.  I am soooo thankful that at the age of 88 she was able to take a trip out here and meet Ariy for the second time and Ava for the first.  It was very special to me.  The trip back to Boston for the funeral was an amazing trip for me.  I was so thankful I had enough miles to pay for a ticket back so last minute.  I was really happy to see friends and family that I have not been able to see for a while.  Ava was quite the sassypants on the trip but everyone loved her.  I really miss every back east but this was the first trip I got a good amount of quality time with family which I really needed.  I have a lot of "unfinished" business with my past.  I had a number of questions and was anxious to ask my Aunts all about it.  The digging really lead to some pretty huge things but great things.  I am excited to process this more and maybe share eventually.

 Coming home to two little kids and the thick of winter and Christmas was hard for whatever reason.  I was tired and just emotionally spent.  This all came out on New Year's day.  We all got sick the week of Christmas and it was finally my turn.  I felt horrible and was tired and angry.  I was finally broken enough to share and be open with Rick.

I think that low day has really catapulted me into a new year of motivation to really set some goals and make long term changes.  I don't think I am starting from scratch with some of these things and some are habits I used to have but have fallen away from.  I am confident I can make these changes with help and support and lots of prayer and grace.  Goal lists to come on another blog later.

2013 in Pictures

January brought Ava Noelle to us

Miss Lara flew out and was able to be part of the birth

February - learning to smile and so much cuteness

March - where did all the pictures go this month?

April 20th - Ariy turned 2! 

April - Easter

more easter 

May - I started teaching a fun interactive Mommy and Me class. The first class included a lot of friends and we all made new friends.  

The last day of class in hot weather meant popsicles for all the kiddos.  They were not sad about this. 

June - we did a great family photo session with our good friends Photo Macy.  I also celebrated my 30th Birthday!

July in Newberg means "Old Fashion Festival" time.

In August we crammed in a day at the beach which I had been itching for all summer long.  This was from our really fun stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

September was when we welcomed our new housemates and new found friends Aria and Tim.  With a name like Aria, it was meant to be.  Aria provides mommy with much needed down time during naps and the kids are pretty much smitten with Tim.  We are so thankful to have them living with us. It also was the start of football season. 

One of my favorite things to do out here is visit a pumpkin patch in October.  I was on bed rest last year so I never got to go so this year I made up for it and went twice!  We love getting pumpkin and apple donuts made hot and fresh.  

The year pumpkin picture (someday I will get around to doing a comparison)

I was beyond excited for halloween this year.  Downtown Newberg puts on a great event where you basically go trick-or-treating to all the downtown businesses.  It's pretty busy but so fun to see everyone out in their costumes. We were farmers and these two were our cows.

November meant a big family Thanksgiving up in Washington.  This year we all showed our support for Rick's Aunt and simultanously supported a GFU student Haley by all buying and wearing the EFF CANCER MOVEMENT shirts.  It was a "fun" way to be together celebrating thanksgiving.

It goes without saying, December means Christmas!!!!