Memory Lane- 2011

I cannot believe how fast time is going.  I will be saying that often, but it strikes me as true every time!  As so many take this time of year as a period of reflection, I figured I may just join in on this Memory Lane Monday and give a brief run down on the past year and the changes in our family.  As told through the pictures on Facebook, because I have no idea where I put last year's planner.  Or this year's.

We kicked off 2011 in style at our house, with Mom,Dad, Josh, Tony, and Mariah.  We had a great time, and the kids stayed up all night.  Well, not David.  He crashed way before the sun came up.  However, I am pretty sure I am still finding the same glitter from the party poppers.  We also had David's second birthday, a firefighter party.  He got many new firefighter toys, including one to ride on!  We also took a trip to what Faith calls Disneyland for nerds- the science center.  Andy got to go this time!  Which means we drove there and back without the ghetto side trip from the year before!  We got to go sled riding at Mom's on a wonderfully snowy day.

In February we had a homeschool Valentine's Day party.  We also began the task of moving the school room.  We had the Rock-A-Thon at church. I think that was February.  We kept trucking through school, making progress in our studies and with Faith.  I had yet another class in math.  And I lived.

March brought a new school room location, which was beneficial for all of us.  We celebrated Pi day with all kinds of pie, like pizza, Boston Creme Pie, and Pi shaped cookies.  We also celebrated St. Patrick's Day and Read Across America Day.  There was lots of oobleck.  And chocolate.  Andy was inducted into Phi Theta Cappa.  I was so proud, and we really enjoyed the day out.

Easter was back in April where it belongs.  We took Firefly on the road to an Autism Awareness Fundraiser and a fundraiser to sent Betsy to Alaska.  We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese as a reward for collecting good behavior tokens. 

May brought warmer weather, weddings, playing outside, the Children's Theatre at CLP, and a fun Mother's Day outing.  Any outing for which I do not have to cook is considered awesome.  I also was given some nice gifts, and breakfast in bed.  We ended May with a nice walk to the parade for Memorial Day.

June was very busy for us this year, like every other year.  We had to finish school and get our evaluations.  Isaac and I took a nice trip to Sandbox Camp, our last time! Tony graduated and we took our graduation trip to Hershey Park.  VBS prep was in full swing, and I was busy writing the material.  The SC Raehl's came for a visit.  Faith was baptized.  We hit the zoo and brought home an animal, I mean, Uncle Dave.  Who did all kinds of crazy fun stuff, like take my kids bowling. 

In July Faith turned 10!  Now she is two handfuls!  The girls went to Pony/ Swim camp. We had our Demi reunion, with a bouncy house.  And the church picnic.  And then VBS!

August began with a bang!  VBS was a success.  Andy had already been busy for most of the summer with shows and ride set ups, and that did not slow down.  The only way I got to celebrate our anniversary was to tag along!  We got away over night, but he had ride set ups and two shows.  We tried to cram in so many things before starting school, like a trip to see the Wizard of Oz at CLP, a trip to Lakemont, and the Demi family camping trip. 

September brought some great fun days as well.  We have three birthdays to celebrate.  We also discovered that David's hidden talent is looking like Rick Moranis.  We started school and had an awesome opportunity to visit Kennywood. 

October came super fast.  We had Angel's birthday, a final bonfire at Mom's, fire prevention, and Halloween.  There was snow for trick or treat, but that did not stop my kids.  And there is still too much candy around here!  My computer crashed and so did my washing machine, so Andy's dad had to travel this way to save the day.  We took a trip to Bilger's Rocks.  We also started a wonderful series of co-op classes and made some new home school friends.  We had our family portraits taken.

November was a busy and challenging month for me.  We lost Hope.  We were finishing the dining room.  I was bogged down with school for my self and the kids.  Thanksgiving was very difficult for me, and I struggled for the first time in offering a sacrifice of praise to God.  We still hit the Black Friday sales, and had much success there.  We also started a youth group, beginning with a sleepover. The kids also went to a show with us, Angel doing her first face painting gig. The fireman's banquet was wonderful.  And the Christmas parade was fun, but rainy.



It was a wonderful, terrible year.  We struggled.  We laughed.  We cried.  Most importantly we ended the year together.  And the love we share, the love we have from God, has sustained us.  We have been blessed beyond measure, despite any trials, and we have learn to choose to be thankful and choose to praise God in all things.