I know very few people who loved 2016. I think I can fairly safely say that it was a heavy year for a lot of people. I’ve been one of those people. This has been one of the longest years of my life. So. Much. Sickness. In a very quick calculation, I learned that our family has been sick for roughly four cumulative months this year. That is a lot of snot, coughing, gagging, barf, bathroom accidents, interrupted sleep, attitudes, and doctors visits. There have been some hard things. BUT, in reflecting a little bit deeper, past what I’m feeling currently, our year has been amazing! So, we recap.
We officially moved out of out Radisson house this year! It made for a pretty insane new year, but while I hold no contempt for that house, it was good to close a chapter and begin our next adventure.
This was the last picture we ever took in that house. So long, Radisson house!
Early in 2017, our plan to build our home was finalized! As a family, we went to celebrate, and we broke ground together.
It was awesome!!
After our family ground breaking, the real work began!
That was even more awesome 🙂
The next leg of life was rocky and sick and hard, so we’ll skip over that and go to our next milestone, which was Brady’s and my seventh anniversary!!
Surprise surprise, we were all sick, hahaha! I am thrilled to say that at seven (and now, almost eight) years married, I still have the most real love for my husband. I KNOW that love is a choice, and not always a squishy, romantic feeling that you feel, and sometimes, you have to choose to have love, because love takes work. We know about that. But I think we are very blessed to still feel a lot of those squishy romantic feelings for one another. Bring on another seventy years, my love. I’m in.
Rowan turned one!!!
This kid is SO great! I’m a huge fan of him, and him turning one just seemed huge. Possibly because he was quite so huge? He was still SUCH a baby for us. He didn’t walk yet, or say anything, and was SUCH a snuggler. He still is 💙 Love that boy.
Through the first half of 2016, our home was being built!! I can’t exactly include every single stage of that in this post, but we had a riot coming in and out of the house, observing the steps taken to make it just right for us.
Even before the place had legitimate walls or a roof, we loved it.
Oh. See my belly? I was pregnant in that first half of the year as well! Bringing us to the next notable milestone…
We welcomed this little dude to the family! Solomon Brady came into our lives the last day of May, and settled in quickly. The other kids accepted him immediately, and he asked for so little. He was EXACTLY what I had prayed for when I asked Jesus for him.
He made the next four days of meetings/appointments/commitments so easy, as he came along with us as a witness to finalizing our home purchase!
Only four days after his birth, we moved into our home!!! The anticipation was NUTS, and the house was a long time coming, but I couldn’t have asked for a smoother move. We had an unreasonable amount of help, and everyone who came through in some form or another was efficient as well as super positive, which I know isn’t always the case in high stress situations. We were truly blessed in that whole situation.
After living here for a couple of months, Dekker Thomas turned FIVE!
And very soon after that birthday, he started KINDERGARTEN!! It was a rough start, but literally, he was sold after day one. He has grown up immensely this year! I’m sure proud of you, Dekker Thomas!
Quickly after Dekker started school, Laela turned THREE!
This little miss seems FAR older than she is. I still can’t quite get it through my head that she isn’t going to school next year! Possibly preschool, if she wants, but I swear, she’s “ready” for kindergarten!
Shortly after Laela’a birthday, I took a course and got certified in makeup artistry.
This was a big stepping stone of confidence for me 🙂 Not some lofty goal achieved or anything, but a selfish, exciting thing that I did. No regrets, thats for sure. I’m very glad I took that class.
Our most notable event from the last chunk of the year is our new vehicle!
We bit the bullet and bought a 12 passenger van. While it is still grossly overkill, we haven’t been private about desiring to continue to grow our family, and we figured it would be wiser to jump into the end result rather than first purchasing a couple of “transition vehicles.” Right to the good stuff, hahaha! So that happened, which feels good, and secure. Its nice to have room, and to be able to take other people places with us again.
And now that we’ve been sick for the last 6-7 weeks, we don’t have anything of substance to really note. No milestones hit, no big trips taken or goals achieved, but we did make it! And THAT in itself feel like an accomplishment 😉
So! Cheers to 2016, and bring on 2017! I’ll talk some goals/inspirations/super vague resolutions another day. Today is all about reminiscing. Whats the best thing that happened to you this year??