2018 In Review

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.

Trips Taken:

• Frankfurt, Germany (John)
• Raleigh, NC (John)
• Rome, Italy
• Gulf Shores, Al / Rainbow City, AL to visit Grandma
• Cape Cod, MA
• Sharon, VT
• Portland, ME
• New Haven, CT
• Houston, TX (Kristin)
• Antwerp, Belgium (John)
• Colleyville, TX
• Little Rock, AR