A Year in Review - 2012

I've always wanted to do a year end recap, but always passed on it because I thought it would take me forever to highlight everything we did each month.  But, this year I am going to tackle the challenge.  I have to say it's been fun going through pictures from 2012 and reliving all the good times we've had this past year.  It's been a good one!

JANUARY:

- Alexa kicked off the year right being chosen as Student of the Month in her class.

- Our winter continued to be a mild one with minimal snow and above average temperatures.

- We spent a lot of time at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis ice skating.  It was the girls' first year of really getting the hang of it and they just couldn't get enough.  My brother's girlfriend, Kelly, is a professional figure skater and gave lessons at the rink.  The girls had a blast getting tips from her.

- Alexa joined TAGS {Thompson Academy of Gymnastics} in Apple Valley.

Alexa was Student of the Month for January

Ice Skating with Kelly

FEBRUARY:

- Lilli celebrated 100 days of school by wearing a hat with 100 buttons on it.

- We attended Akin Road Elem. school sock hop

- Celebrated Valentines Day

- Alexa and Lillian's Flat Me's started their journey around the country.  {click on the tab above to read more}

Alexa and Lillian at the Sock Hop

Valentine boxes

Alexa and Lillian's Flat Me's 

MARCH:

- We went to Disney on Ice with Kelly

- Celebrated Uncle Tiny and fiance' Courtney's Birthday's

- Lillian got a horrible case of 5th Disease

- Alexa was invited to join the TAGS gymnastics training team 2!

Disney on Ice with Kelly

Alexa was asked to join the TAGS gymnastics team.

APRIL:

- Alexa had her Animal Fair at school.  She chose a zebra and had to do a research paper, write a book and make a model of a zebra to present to her class and their families.

- We took out our horseshoe pits in our backyard and put in a new bonfire pit and put in our new swimming pool.

- We celebrated Easter just the 4 of us this year - we went to an egg hunt at Daddy's work.

Animal Fair

Alexa's zebra project

New bonfire pit

Easter 2012

Easter Egg hunt

MAY:

- We visited my Grandpa {for what would be the last time}.  We spent the entire day with him.  Took him outside and ultimately said our goodbye's.  

- The girls and I participated in Earth Day clean up.

- My brother Ben, who had been living with us since September, moved out and Adam's sister, Andrea, moved in with us for the summer.

- My Mom and Dad came to celebrate Grand Day with Alexa at her school.

- I had the best Mother's Day with my girls at the May Day parade in Minneapolis.  {Due to weather the parade ended up being rescheduled for Mother's Day weekend}

- Adam and I chaperoned Alexa's class trip to the MN zoo.

- I turned 30!!  In the middle of my surprise birthday party I got the phone call that my Grandpa had passed away.

Visiting my Grandpa for the last time.

Earth Day Clean Up

Alexa and Grandpa Tom and Grandma Diane - Grand Day

Mother's Day - May Day Parade

Alexa's class trip to the MN Zoo
Alexa, Ms. Reynold's & Hannah

My 30th Birthday - Surprise Party

Grandpa's funeral.  My dad, brothers, husband and nephew's dressed up to look just like Grandpa....jeans, a polo and suspenders.

JUNE:

- We went to Lillian's school's Family Fun Night.  We picnic'd and played at the park with all the amazing kids and families that are apart of All Stars Montessori.

- Lilli continued gymnasics at the local community ed gym, Twists & Tumbles.

- Alexa and Lillian were flower girls in my cousin Chris's wedding.

- We spent many many hours in our swimming pool.

- We celebrated Father's Day by taking Adam on a picnic lunch and playing in the rain at the park.

- My little brother Tiny married his love..Courtney.  Lilli was their flower girl, I was a bridesmaid and Adam was a groomsman.

- Alexa attended Kid Connection in the summer.  Lilli continued at All Stars Montessori and they both attended MANY fun field trips over the summer.

All Stars Montessori Family Picnic

Lilli at gymnastics

Lilli and Alexa were flower girls for Natalie and Chris's wedding.

My cousins wedding

Our new pool

Father's Day 2012

My brother Tiny married Courtney

Lilli was the flower girl and my nephew joey was the ring bearer.

Summer Field trip t-shirts

JULY:

- Adam worked on the 4th of July, but the girls and I celebrated with some good friends and neighbors. - It was over 100 degrees for a consecutive number of days.  Too hot to swim in our pool even.

- Adam's Aunt and Uncle visited from Texas and we had a fun get-together with his side of the family.

- Alexa and Lillian participated in a catfish contest at Powderhorn Park (where my husband works).  Out of about 70 fisherman, Alexa caught the BIGGEST catfish and Lillian caught the most.  

- We went to the Auquatennial Torchlight Parade in Minneapolis.

- I met a wonderful group of Minnesota bloggers who have now all become such close friends of mine. I could not be more grateful to all of them for making this hobby of blogging so much more fun.

- Adam and I celebrated 8 years of marriage and went on an over-night date to Stillwater.  It was the first night I had been away from both girls.

- We obsessed over the Olympics and fell in love with the Fierce Five.

4th of July

Get together with Adam's family

Alexa's winning catfish

Their plaques for winning the catfish contest

Torchlight Parade

MN Blogger Happy Hour

8th Anniversary

1st night away from the kiddos

Olympics

AUGUST:

- The girls and I made a trip to my hometown to celebrate their annual festival "Flekkefest" while Adam stayed home and had to work at the Art Fair in Minneapolis.

- Found out my oldest brother and his wife are expecting their 3rd baby.

- We hosted a National Night Out event in our neighborhood.

- A new playground was built at our favorite neighborhood park, Lake Julia.  Adam is on the Farmington Park and Rec Board and played a major part in getting us a new playground and picking out the equipment.  We love it and spent lots of time breaking in the new playground.

- Adam hosted his annual Fantasy Football/Guys Weekend at our house.  The girls and I stayed at a hotel, went swimming and to a movie - a total 'girls weekend' for us.

- We said goodbye to Andrea - she moved to New York to attend NYU.

- Just weeks before school started both of the girls got head lice.  I didn't blog about this because it was possibly 2 of the worst weeks of my life.  However, I learned some very intricate braiding techniques to  keep the girls' hair up.

Flekkefest

New Park - Lake Julia

National Night Out

Fantasy Football

Girls Weekend at the hotel

Saying goodbye to Auntie

Halo Braid

SEPTEMBER:

- Alexa began 2nd Grade and Lillian started her 3rd year of Pre-School at All Stars Montessori.  I did several back to school posts...interviews, supplies, open house, fashion show, spa night, first day of school.

- The girls and I visited the MN Zoo to say goodbye to our favorite dolphin's Alli and Semo.  They are replacing the dolphin exhibit, to do some renovating, with a sting ray exhibit.

- All Stars Montessori had another Family Fun Night. 

Alli and Semo

Lilli and her friends Marin and Elliana

OCTOBER:

- Alexa turned 8 years old on October 1st.  She celebrated by having a slumber party sleepover with 9 of her friends.  We also had a photo booth.

- Lillian turned 5 on October 4th and had a rainbow themed party with her friends.

- We went to the pumpkin patch.

- We attended a party at the school to celebrate Kid Connections 25th year in service.

- Halloween parties at Lilli's school and church.

- Alexa dressed up as super girl this year and Lilli was a cowgirl.

- Lilli got her first major hair cut from Grandma Diane.

Photo Booth at Alexa's Birthday Party

Lilli and her friends - Rainbow Party

Pumpkin Patch

Kid Connection Party

All Stars Montessori Halloween party

Before

After

Super Girl and Cowgirl

NOVEMBER:

- Election year - I VOTED!

- Adam turned 29.

- We celebrated Thanksgiving at home and Adam made his first Turkey.

- We had a play date with our new friends Avrie and Azalea.  

Happy Birthday Adam

First Turkey

Melissa, Azalea, Andrea, Avrie and Lilli and I

DECEMBER:

- Alexa and Lillian have a new pen pal in Florida, Payton.  They have sent and received letters already. Such a fun way for them to build a new friendship and learn about life in Florida.

- We went to Farmington's Dazzle Days and saw Santa and Mrs. Claus.

- Alexa had her team gymnasics pics taken.

- Lillian lost her first tooth

- Elfie kept watch on the girls for Santa until Christmas and brought us tickets to Disney on Ice.

- We celebrated Christmas with both sides of the family and the girls had a great time with their cousins.

Letter to pen pal

Dazzle Days

Team Picture Day

Lilli lost her first tooth

Elfie

Disney on Ice

COUSINS

We were so blessed with an amazing year and are looking forward to another in 2013!!!