twenty eleven. in closing.

2011, a year of good and happy.  And a little sad, here and there, but even the sad was marked with fond memories and growth and new beginnings.  But mostly?  There was just a whole lot of contentment, laughter, and happiness.  My babies grew and grew (and grew).  I turned 30.  I dragged my feet all the way there and held back kicks and screams as I bid my 20s adieu (with a bucket filled with beer and great friends on hand), but found that 30?  It's a seriously good place to be.  I'm grown up.  I'm strong.  I know what I want, and I'm not ashamed to be who I am, say what I think, ask questions when I don't understand.  To let bygones be bygones.  To dream, to try, to take leaps of faith and hold my head high doing so.  To fail with grace, to learn some lesson from it all.  To appreciate our families for their steadfast presence, for the way we grow closer through time and changes and occasional strife - but come out stronger, more understood.  To hold tight to girlfriends.  Old girlfriends, new girlfriends, somewhere-in-the-middle girlfriends.  Because those good friends, be they old or new?  Those ones that support you and hug you and bring a smile to your face when their name pops up in your inbox and who understand when the response is harried or delayed or ends with akjnvs;jknfdvkajnsdvknasdv because a toddler got ahold of your laptop?  They're priceless.  I'm so thankful for my friends.  And that includes you, people who read my blog and leave an encouraging comment or send a Facebook message saying hi or thanks or "here's what worked at our house...."

I go into 2012 optimistic.  Encouraged.  Blessed.  Inspired.  Loved.  Happy.

(And excited to be an auntie!  To a niece!)

Enough words.

Our year, snapshot style.

my babies are actually babies.  it's cold.  we hibernate.  I zumba.

the littlest little is one.  a cupcake party with loved ones all around.  it's cold.  we get colds.  green bay wins the bowl.  tahoe takes a licking, keeps on ticking.

our first family mini-vacation.  the dells.  tub jets are a petrifying fail.  it's still very cold.  we get more colds.  vivi steps.

easter baskets.  the easter bunny terrifies vivi.  mama turns 30.  good friends come together to party.  anderson speaks more every day, fears subside.  wahm becomes sahm.

spring arrives.  we plant on mother's day.  then it snows.  we're cold.  we get another round of colds.  sun comes out.  memorial weekend bbq with friends.

mommo arrives and brings summer with her.  funfest at the long awaited robbie/jackie wedding.  seven years married.  we boat.  auntie megs moves north.  my dot visits from austin with her babe.

mimi and papaw stay in the brown house.  we boat.  we're warm.  a madison trip for ma & pa.  we ooh and ahh the fireworks display from our front porch.  the princess embraces the pretties. 

we boat.  we meet goats at the zoo.  rhigtg is a smashing success, nobody eaten by bears.  big boy bed struggles drive me to drink.  i start a new job, i love a new job.  learn to believe the one door closes, one door opens bit.  cali with my best girls.

our boy is three.  cowboy party.  happy hello to norman.  hard goodbye to griffin.  bunk beds.  we sleep well again.  the boy halfway potty trained. 

go pack go.  mommo and grandpa head west.  halloween is too scary to celebrate.  chester comes home.  we pretty much die of cuteness attack.

it snows.  i craft.  i photograph much.  thanksgiving in california.  kids travel beautifully.  santa terrifies vivian.  chester triples in size.

holiday music 24/7 and that's no lie.  glitter on everything.  vivi speaks in sentences, cuts molars, goes diva.  the boy fully potty trained.  cozy christmas at home.  we say goodbye to 2011 on the west coast (around 10pm, I'm sure, because we're old.) 

Happy New Year to all.  May this be the year you make your dreams happen.