Monday, December 31, 2012

A Year End Review

Every year I take a look back at all that the year brought and share a few highlights.  Sometimes I focus on just the good, sometimes I focus on the most memorable, and other times I focus on the things that I have pictures of on Facebook.  That is my life in a nutshell.  Sometimes good, sometimes simply memorable, and other times I can't remember it all unless I am reminded.  On Facebook.  This year i will try to do a little of each.

We started the year with a family party that lasted until 6 AM.  For most of us.  Like me, and the big kids.  January also brought snow, and David's third birthday.  We had many days off in the first half of the school year and tried to buckle down and get things done in the second half.  But I had extreme morning sickness often, so it was hard.

February rolled around, and we were still trying to push through school.  We had a a nice visit from Uncle Dave, however I spend some of it in the hospital.  More morning sickness.  But the rest of the time was movies, games, the Science Center, and Chick Fil A. 

March was another long month of morning sickness and school work.  My school work, school work with the kids, and observation hours.  We started up our homeschool co-op classes again, and the CLP play held auditions and began practices.  We did community service, and lots of it!  The days were getting much nicer as we prepared to have our Easter cantata and celebrate Easter.

April brought Easter, Honk Jr., a cantata, Remembering Adam show, and more co-op classes.  April for us is always a time of performing!  Andy had a few shows, too.  My morning sickness was easing up and I was headed into a nice spring and beginning of summer without any problems other than being busy and tired. 

May started with Honk Jr at CLP, the end of co-op, shows for Andy, and yet another behavior specialist for Faith.  We had a huge yard sale and took a trip to the Creation Museum.    We also got to catch a movie at Sarah and Anna's outside.  School was finishing up for the kids and we were scrambling to complete things before the end of the month.

June was a fun month, and quite busy!  Andy had shows, we finished school, and took a few mini vacations.  First up, though, was a fun family day at my dad's power plant learning more about what he does and what the plant does to generate power.  Contrary to my high school belief, he is not a spy.  Or is that what he wants us to think??  We got to see Tony in Cats, we did community service, and we celebrated Father's Day early because Andy and Isaac went to Sandbox Camp. We had our year end evaluations. That was only half the month!  After Sandbox Camp we took the kids camping for 11 days!   We also got to see a Curve game.  During camp my nice trouble free time of pregnancy wrapped up and I was taken by ambulance to the ER with heat exhaustion and the beginnings of my high blood pressure problems.

We came home from camp on July first only to turn around and take the girls back to Pony and Swim Camp.  The boys and I had some fun while hey were gone.  The week after picking the girls up my blood pressure became enough of a problem that I was on bed rest.  for most of the month.  Missing birthday parties, VBS, and summer.  I did sneak to Spirit Fest, and one day of VBS to ward off the unending, mind numbing boredom of bed rest.  And the messy house that I could do nothing about.  We spend some time doing school early to keep the kids occupied, and Angel became the head chef of the Raehl household.  I had an overnight hospital stay, and we did not get to have a birthday party for Faith.

August brought more hospital trips, and I finally had enough bed rest.  We had a birthday party for Faith the first weekend, and on our anniversary we had our sweet Micah!  I was finally feeling better, and got an awesome gift, my sweet son!  The SC Raehl family came to meet Micah, and I began to dig our house out from under about five weeks of bed rest.  We enjoyed the rest of summer with a trip to Lakemont, a family reunion, and began to look towards the new school year. 

September came so fast!  We celebrated the month's birthdays, including a trip to Slinky for Isaac's birthday.  I began the kids school in full force, and my observation hours, too.  We had a few field trips, and Andy had several shows.  the girls began taking baton lessons.  We were still trying to catch up from my bed rest. 

October was just as busy with baton, co-op, classes at IUP, choir in preparation for Christmas, and youth group meetings.  I had more observation hours, and the countdown to my student teaching is on!  Angel had her birthday party and then we went bowling.

November rolled around with more of the same activities, plus Thanksgiving!  And of course, Black Friday!  Although my crew was thinned a bit this year we had a blast, as usual.  Angel really enjoyed her second year, and I still had to call Josh for directions.

December brought snow, Christmas, and the end of this looong year.  It is the first time that we have reached our halfway point before Christmas, so we celebrate by taking a long school break to prepare for Christmas.  We made tons of cookies, wrapped presents, decorate, and then ended up in the hospital with Angel and a severe stomach virus.  But it is the end of the year, we are beginning to feel better, and soon 2013 will bring more surprises, more joy, and more laughter.  We are ready, bring it on 2013!!

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