A Year in Pictures - 2014

Ah...the end of 2014 has come and the first day of 2015 is here!  2014 was a good year - everything in our life remained fairly status quo .  No new changes in our lives or routines this year, no major highlights, but no losses either.  Jobs - those are the same (love/hate relationship), money - that's the same too (we still don't have enough - ha!), no new cars, houses or babies to brag about.  At the end of the day staying status quo is awesome and we wouldn't change it for the world!!  Here is a review in pictures of the two precious gems who did everything BUT stay the same this year!

January 2014

The snow fell, it was cold and cloudy.  That was about 27/31 days of the month.  But we made do and survived the very bitterly cold winter.

February 2014

Valentine's Day with our little loves is always fun.

March 2014

Just a couple of weeks before the first day of spring and a good size snowstorm hit us!  Riley got a snow day (and mommy did too).  

April 2014 

Easter fell on April 20th.  We celebrated Easter and our 7th wedding anniversary.

May 2014

I LOVE May, not just because my birthday is in May but because I get to celebrate Mother's Day with my two babies.  This year I got just what I wanted - a run a Beaver Lake and exploring with the kids after and a nice quiet day at home with my little family of 4.  I also love May because it is almost summer, it's the official start of BBQ season and I love being able to hang out outside with kids!

June 2014

Riley had her 2nd dance recital.  She performed perfectly!  She also lost 2 teeth this month (on the same day - daddy's birthday!!)

July 2014 

Riley learned to ride a 2 wheeler!!!  In just one day she was riding around in the streets as though she had been riding most of her life.

August 2014 

My first "baby" turned 6!  She's seriously her own person.  Such a little lady.  Per Riley's request it was a butterfly themed birthday bash.

September 2014 

Riley started 1st grade (and loves it still).  Avery started in the 2-year-old class at daycare a few weeks before her 2nd birthday.

October 2014

Somehow in the blink of an eye, Avery turned 2.  Doc McStuffins was in the house - as she had a Doc themed birthday party brunch.  Halloween was so much fun, the kids went to Zoo Boo and both had Halloween parades at school.  They made out like bandits trick-or-treating.

November 2014

Happy Thanksgiving - we had a lot to be grateful for.

December 2014

Mac came back!!  We decorated for Christmas!  Both girls got everything they wanted (and more) from Santa.  It was a great year!!

Looking ahead into 2015 we're hoping for continued health and happiness.  We're looking forward to Laurie and Matt's wedding and all the festivities that go with it.  It will be a busy year that's for sure.  Happy 2015!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Wow, first off, how in the world did weeks go by without ANY blogging?!?!  I guess life has not been all that exciting and we really haven't been all that busy.  Of course that's with the exception of the holidays!  Thanksgiving was fun - we spent it in Orange County.  It was great seeing everyone and the food was spectacular too.

Getting ready for the holidays was fun.  Christmas shopping was started in late October, so by the time December rolled around we were more than halfway done.  The kids had pretty simple lists this year (mostly because Avery is happy with anything these days).

They got everything they wanted and more!!  Riley's biggest request was a doll house - which Santa thought she was good enough to get.  It was a great holiday, everyone was happy.

Before Santa showed up:

The aftermath of opening presents:

Riley's biggest request = fulfilled!!

Avery has Frozen fever and there is a lot of Let It Go playing in our house these days!!

Hope everyone had as amazing of a Christmas as we did.  Next up, a week off just mommy and the girls, a year in review of pics and New Years!

Halloween Parades and Trick-or-Treating, 2014

This Halloween we attended both Riley and Avery's school parades.  Thankfully the rain held out and they were both able to be held outside! 

Then it was off to trick-or-treat around our neighborhood.  The girls had a blast and after just over an hour, Jeremy went home with Avery and Riley and I went to several more houses.  It was a perfect Halloween night.  The girls got lots of candy and everyone survived!!!  

Halloween fun!

One of our favorite things to do when Jenn and Keira come to visit in October is to go to Zoo Boo.  So off we went again this year - just Jenn and myself with a pirate, super hero and doctor!

New this year, Jenn and I brought Keira and Riley to a Trunk or Treat at a local church.  It was a great idea - the girls got to trick or treat from car to car, go on a hayride, get their faces painted and bounce in a bounce house.  It was yet another fun year celebrating an early Halloween together!!

Avery Parker turns 2!

Look at that face!  When did this happen?  How has Avery already been part of our lives for 2 years??  We're so lucky to have this crazy little lady as part of our crazy little family.  

Avery's birthday fell on a Friday this year and ironically enough, Riley had off from school for a staff development day, so it was a pretty easy decision to request the day off and hang with Riley and the birthday girl.  We got up on Friday morning and headed to Billy Beez in the mall.  We have never been there, so I thought it would be a great place for Avery to spend her 2nd birthday.  She (and Riley) had a blast.  After Billy Beez, it was off to Moe's for lunch because the birthday girl INSISTED on tacos for lunch.

We also got to see Dr. Rufa today for Avery's 2-year appointment.  Avery was one tough customer.  Stone cold looks was all she would give the doc, but no tears until the shots came out!  She got 2 shots and blood drawn from her finger for a lead test.  

The latest stats on Avery are as follows:

Height:  34.5 inches

Weight:  26lbs. 10oz.

Head: 19 inches

She is growing beautifully and is right on track developmentally.  No more doctors appointments until she is 3 (or at least we hope).

After the appointment it was back home for a lovely nap!!  Then we had dinner, cupcakes and presents!!

On Sunday, 10/26/14 we had a birthday brunch for Avery.  Avery chose the theme of Doc McStuffins.  She received lots of awesome presents and had an awesome time with her family.