Quick trip to New Orleans

Brian and I have been talking for years about going to New Orleans together. He lived there for 2 years while serving his mission. It was fun to have a personal tour guide with me and to see all the places he lived and served. We also did a lot of the tourist type activities while we were there.

 We walked around the French Quarter and had lunch at The Gumbo Pot. Delicious!

We ate beignets and hot chocolate at Cafe Du Monde, ate lunch on a steam boat on the Mississippi river, and listened to some very talented jazz musicians. 

What a great trip I had with Brian! I loved every minute of it! So thankful for these little opportunities to get away as a couple! And I am also thankful for my best friend who watched our kids while we were gone. Thank you Liz!

September

On September 8th, a new baby was born into our family! My brother and his wife had tier 2nd child child and she is a cutie!

Welcome Elsie June (with big brother, Nolan).

We also reflected on the floods that took place 1 year ago this month...

There are not many days when I feel strong emotionally or physically... but in this photo I felt strong and capable of doing anything! My best friend was there minutes after my house flooded and stayed until the very end of the clean up. With her help, God's help, and the help of so many others, we were able to accomplish so many things! We retook that picture today on the year anniversary, just so we could be reminded that we were given this life because we are strong enough to live it. Thank you Liz for sticking by my side through all the ups and downs.

 I love looking at this before photo and the after photo of my neighbors house. They felt helpless and like no one cared, but God had other plans and sent angels to their rescue. Thank you to everyone that made a difference and served during that time.

August

Most of the first part of our August consisted on driving down to Colorado Springs daily to visit Sharon (My mother-in-law), who had a heart attack while visiting family there. We are so thankful that she was okay and got the care she needed!

We also had back to school time for the kids. They are so cute and I love how each of them are continuing to improve in school and make good choices. 

July

This July was filled with so many great things!

We celebrated the 4th of July by watching the local parade and spending the rest of the day with our best friends swimming and lighting fireworks. 

We went to a Rockies game together, and although it rained while we were there, we saw a beautiful rainbow afterwards!

We did some service projects for our friends.

We went to Utah for our annual fishing and camping trip with Uncle Gerald and his 2 girls. On the way there, we stopped by the Vernal Temple and took a few pictures.

May/June

May was a busy month, but a fun month! My little sister got married, school activities, a trip to Utah, and Mother's Day! The pictures with my kids are what really amaze me. They are really growing up so fast! My oldest is already so much taller than me!

Looking back, I think June was such a fun month too! We spent the first little bit of the month visiting with family in Utah. We play lots of games, the kids love hanging out with cousins, and we eat yummy food.. Like pancake apple pie, right Amy?
I also was able to go on my first hot air balloon ride with my mother in law. We had gotten her tickets over a year earlier, and with many failed attempts to go, we finally did it! It was amazing and so much fun! The perfect person to go with too!

 We celebrated Father's Day, did a car wash fundraiser, and had lots of play dates with friends!

 Another highlight of June was being able to go to girls camp with Courtney! This was her first year and I was so lucky to be one of her leaders along with my best friend, Liz! What a great time we had all together! Other than it being super cold at night, it was the best camp ever! Hope I get to go with her again sometime!

April

April was full of  great activities like field days for the kids, field trips, family fun time, and of course Easter!

 I am still laughing at some of the Easter photos below. My sister was hiding a couple eggs by her elbows in her sweater and it was funny how no one noticed...(Looks so natural!) And the photo of Brian and I makes me smile because we were both supposed to be making goofy faces, but this is the only photo we took where he smiled so cute! I wish I would have been smiling with him! (It kind of sums up our personalities though!)

March

March was a busy month with lots of school and church activities!

We had the Pinewood Derby, a field trip to the Capital, a hand chimes concert, a choir concert, a school market day, and many projects to make. Love seeing each and every thing that my kids are involved in!

February

February was a fun month! Evan turned 8 and got baptized! We are so proud of him! Isn't he just the cutest 8 year old? I love him to the moon and back! We also had park days, the kids helped with the cooking, and Courtney fell in love with a little puppy at the pet store. (No, we didn't buy him....)

January

I have felt so terribly bad for not keeping up with my family blog, so I am going to try to recap just a little first and then hopefully not fall so far behind again.

Starting where I left on from my last post in early January this year, we had a great rest of the month! Courtney celebrated her birthday at school, we played in the snow, Dillon became quite good at shooting his bow and arrow, Evan's did terrific at his showcase, and Brian had his birthday!

 Love the picture of Jacob eating a huge slice of homemade pizza! And Courtney and I made some little owls together that turned out super cute!

The year in review

What a year 2013 has been! It seems that part of it has flown by, and others have lasted longer than they should. I am going to do a quick recap of some highlights first...

January: Kids making treats in their Easy Bake Ovens, Jacob's feet grew bigger than mine (and I wear an 11!), Grandma Alexander and Aunt Amy came for a visit, Celebrated Brian's birthday, and Dillon went to the temple for the first time.

February: Evan from heaven turned seven, Courtney made her first batch of caramel cinnamon rolls by herself, and geese took over the world. (Okay, it just felt like it!)

March: Family trip to Estes with the Lowrys, Bowling party hosted by my mom and step-dad, Kite flying, Lots of school concerts, Sledding, and a great Easter!

April: Disney on Ice with Grandma Kittler, 14 inches of snow, New kitchen floor, Grandpa and Grandma Means came to visit, and Field days at school.

May: Family bike rides, Cinco de Mayo pinata party, Scout sleepover, Field trip to Centennial Village with Courtney, Rocket launching, Field trip to Eliches with Jacob, trip to Utah, Jumped off the roof onto the trampoline (and will never do it again! LOL), Last day of school.

June: Sprinkler + Trampoline = FUN!, Dillon shoots a 22, Fun trip to Estes with friends, Played in the Lyons river, I went to Girls Camp for the first time!

July: Parade, Fireworks, Movies, Slip n' Slide, Lego exhibit, swimming, Rockies game, and lots of time with friends!

August: Family camping and fishing trip, Carriage ride, Drive-in movies, Back to school, and corn picking.

September: Flood, Cleaning, Crying, Friends who amaze me, Maroon 5/Kelly Clarkson concert

October: Birthday parties, Trip to Iowa, Jumping in the leaves, Roller skating, and Halloween.

November: Jacob's birthday, Volunteering, Thanksgiving, and Christmas shopping.

December: Ornament parties, Christmas concerts, Christmas, Courtney's birthday, and New Years with the Lowrys.

 

This year has caused me to reflect on things and what matters most. I highlighted a lot of events that happened this year because I didn't want it to become the year of the "flood". That was only part of it. I have heard so many people say that they are glad 2013 is over and they would never want to relive it. Even though I can see where they are coming from, I disagree. I think we are given trials to strengthen us and grow from even though they seem unbearable at the time. I watched alot of my friends go through much harder trials than a flood, and yet they are strong and I see them leaning on Heavenly Father and knowing that He has a plan. The thing I want to take away most from this past year is this quote: "God doesn't give us what we can handle, but instead helps us handle what we are given." I have leaned on Heavenly Father to pull me through the trials in my life and he has never disappointed me. He bears our burdens with us. He sent people into our lives this past year that made our trials lighter, that showed us Christ-like service, and that were truly answers to prayers. I cannot think about this past year without being thankful to my Heavenly Father.