blissful deviations: 2018

2018 was a wonderful year. Here are some of my favorite memories from this year!

Winter

In January we celebrated 8 years of marriage.
We found out I was pregnant with Emma which was really exciting and also a little surprising at how quickly it happened.
Lucy's hair finally grew in long enough for pig tails. I am terrible at doing her hair but I try.
We survived another year of snow in the northeast. This winter was a lot more mild but still had plenty of snow.

Spring

In March John and I went to Rome. John had a work trip and I tagged along for a long weekend. I was sooo exhausted from pregnancy and jet lag but we had a nice time. I taught a lesson at church a few weeks later on the great apostasy and need for a restoration and used lots of facts I learned in Rome.
In April we went to Alabama and introduced my grandma to Lucy. We also went to Gulf Shores with my parents and spent a lot of time enjoying nature. Gulf Shores State Park was gorgeous!
We spent Memorial Day Weekend Camping with Nana on Cape Cod. We had so much fun - the kids love being outdoors.

Summer

We bought a minivan in preparation for being a family of 5. I actually love my minivan and convinced my sister to buy one, too!
Bennett finished his first year of pre-school in June and was adorable in his preschool pageant.
Both Bennett and Lucy loved working with me in the garden. Lucy became known as the "strawberry bandit" and would run outside to find berries. I made a lot of fun things from the garden this year, everything from ratatouille, saurkreuat, tons of pickles and flower arrangements. I think my flowers might have been my favorite part.
We spent a magical week in Cape Cod over the fourth of July. Bennett still talks about this trip. It was so relaxing and is definitely something we hope to do again.
I went to girls camp for two nights to wrap up my time as young women's president for the last two years. It was bittersweet to be released from this calling, I loved my experience working with our young women.
My colleagues threw me a baby shower - it was so kind. I was not very patient waiting for Emma to come. I expected her to come early because Bennett and Lucy were early. She took her time.

Fall

Bennett started pre-school and Lucy began a 1 day playgroup through early intervention.
My Mom and Dad arrived to meet Emma, except she hadn't arrived yet! My Dad had to leave before she came. She came 4 days after her due date. It was the strangest and most calm birth - almost zen like. The lights were low with calm music. I was induced but they only had to break my water and she was born just a few hours later after just a few minutes of pushing. I loved her instantly.
We then entered a phase of blurry days and nights. My mom left the day after I came home from the hospital and John really picked up the slack.We also had a lot of help from our nanny Rose and friends nearby.
Bennett turned 4 - we had a fun little dinner to celebrate. I made him a dinosaur cake inspired by my new addiction - the great british baking show.
Lucy turned 2! Mom and Dad came for her birthday party and halloween activities. We made another fun cake.
Kathryn (my mother in law) came for a week and we had a great time visiting. We blessed Emma at church while she was in town and had many dear friends join us.
I threw a big Dia De Los Muertos Party at church to celebrate family history. It was a blast.
In November Emma and I went to Houston for a girls weekend with my sisters and Mom. We had a blast going to Nutcracker market and just hanging out together.
John had multiple music performances of Christmas music he had been working on. His favorite commute activity is transcribing music.
We did an early Christmas at Home before heading to Dallas and Arkansas for the Holidays. We have had a great time being with our loved ones here and having the kids get to know their cousins better.