I think 2017 can be described as a year of unexpected happenings for our family. Many parts of the year were hard as we dealt with fresh grief from losing Bristol, but there are always blessings to be counted among the trials. Just as I have every year since 2011, I'm going to recap our favorite moments from the year!
January
Looking sweet in our Sunday best,
enjoying a cousin sleepover,
visiting a special person from my past,
and going to Paw Patrol Live! as a family!
February
Celebrating our two two year olds,
road tripping to Missouri to see G-Jo and Grampy,
Brenson turning 5 years old,
Brianna turning 7 years old,
celebrating our February babies with a Lego party,
and paying a fun visit to Mom and Daddy's high school stompin' grounds!
March
Celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday at Library Story Time with a friend,
building creative things at Lego Club,
Brenson getting enrolled in Kindergarten for the fall,
Brooke busting her lip and needing stitches (not a favorite memory, for sure, but certainly significant),
dressing in green for St. Patty's Day,
taking evening walks as a family reminding us that spring was almost here,
(which also meant time for zoo visits),
and finding out about baby Bristol!
April
Egg hunting with Meme, Papa, and Grandma
(Brianna)
(Brenson)
(Brooke)
(Brecklyn)
(Chris and Grandma),
hearing our baby's sweet heartbeat for the first time,
hosting our annual Easter lunch with friends,
making our favorite Easter dessert for the festivities,
going to church as a family,
playing outside with friends and siblings,
and eating breakfast at Brianna's school for "Pastries with Parents"!
May
Hearing our precious baby's heartbeat for the third time,
announcing our joyous news in cyberspace,
road-tripping to Tennessee for my nephew's high school graduation,
cheering Brianna on as she received her 25 mile running medal,
welcoming baby Caroline,
sharing sweet moments with Brianna as she finished first grade,
kicking off the summer with a fun playdate,
transitioning Brecklyn and Brooke to toddler beds,
and spending a great day at the zoo the day before our world came crashing down upon learning our baby had passed away!
June
Cherishing quality time with G-Jo,
having fun and learning so much at VBS,
celebrating Father's Day with Daddy and Grampy,
and finding peace and comfort in a perfectly timed Colorado vacation!
(Georgetown Railroad)
(Mount Evans)
(entrance to RMNP)
(Trail Ridge Road)
(Estes Park . . . our favorite!)
(Garden of the gods)
(Royal Gorge)
July
Happy to be back home,
celebrating Independence Day with friends,
hanging out with cousin Kaylee for a week,
completing the summer reading program at the library,
running around at the splash pad,
splashing around in our own pool at home,
and visiting the zoo!
August
Hosting our friends for our first annual Backyard Back-to-School Bash,
having professional photos taken,
Brianna
Brenson
Brecklyn
Brooke
meeting Brenson's Kindergarten teacher,
meeting Brianna's second grade teacher,
looking cute on the first day of school,
and more outside play while the weather was still nice!
September
Fishing in our neighborhood pond,
enjoying daily twinbie cuteness,
purchasing a new car after the old one died,
being crazy at the school carnival,
and preparing care packages for hurricane victims!
October
Getting ready for Halloween with our scary teeth (ha!),
visiting the pumpkin patch,
hosting our church family for an autumn cookout,
visiting another pumpkin patch,
road-tripping to Missouri to see Grampy and G-Jo over Fall Break,
attending food truck Thursday in costume,
(and getting so tuckered out . . . ),
joining Bren and Bri at school for their class parties,
celebrating Daddy's 37th birthday,
and trick-or-treating at Boologah!
November
Roasting s'mores in our backyard,
carving a pumpkin,
cheering Brianna on as she received her 25 mile running medal (for second grade),
eating Thanksgiving lunch at school with Brenson (and Brianna),
celebrating Momma's 37th birthday,
remembering and honoring Bristol on her due date,
hosting a crowd for Thanksgiving with lots of great family time,
watching Bren perform in his first ever Christmas program,
and the twinbies getting their first ever haircuts!
December
Cheering Brenson on as he received his 25 mile running medal,
decorating the house for Christmas inside and out,
watching Brianna in her Christmas program,
meeting Santa (traumatizing for some),
enjoying the local Christmas parade,
looking festive,
having fun at our church Christmas party,
being adorable in our festive Christmas shirts,
joining Brenson and Brianna for holiday lunch at school,
visiting the West Bend Winterland and trying out ice skating,
having a much needed girls night out with my besties,
hosting friends for a small Christmas gathering,
waking up to snow on the day we celebrated our small family Christmas,
opening gifts,
taking our annual wrapping paper photo,
baking Christmas cookies,
celebrating Christmas with Grampy and G-Jo,
celebrating Christmas with Meme, Papa, and Grandma,
annnnnnd ringing in the New Year!
Whew! What a year it has been! Not every day was easy, but every day had something to be thankful for. Words cannot express how grateful we are for God's love and blessings!
Previous years can be found here:
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