2012 in Review

I can't believe the year is over!  Here is my annual review of the last 12 months.  If you want to look back even further...see below...

2008 in review

2009 in review

2010 in review

2011 in review

January

on the 18th, sweet Smith William turned TWO!  We celebrated here on his actual birthday by going to the Rainforest Cafe but then we also celebrated with Smith's Ski Lodge over the weekend.

February

We enjoyed our last month of winter with lots of time playing at home...

...and lunch dates with our favorite friends at our favorite places.

March

On the 13th, Andrew and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary...we also knew a big secret...on the 15th, Sean left to start filming the Bachelorette :).  We played outside and welcomed spring this month.

April

Andrew celebrated his 31st birthday...

...in the most magical place on Earth!  The 4 of us plus Lovie and Papa Jay headed to Walt Disney World for 8 wonderful days.

May

This guy was home after 11 weeks of filming the Bachelorette.

Sean was home just in time for our cousin Brooke's wedding :)

These two squirts were excited that school was over and summer was beginning!

June

June was super crazy and fun!  We did this (swim with our friends) almost every single day.

We welcomed Poppy Popsicle into the family.

Dad and I went to Fenway Park to see the brick I bought him for Father's Day...

...an awesome piece of history now :).

And every Monday night, I hosted a bunch of ladies for Bachelorette watching parties (and one time, the big guy himself came).

July

Thanks to my brother, I was able to meet one of my icons...Kidd Kraddick :).

We headed to Missouri for some fun with the rest of the Shulls!

I hosted the Bachelorette finale party at my house...there were tears...but the whole time, I knew the secret...Sean was going to be the Bachelor.  Geez...I know so many secrets...it's amazing that I haven't had a nervous breakdown!

August

 We survived our last hot summer month with lots of snow cones, swimming pool time and silliness!

September

We were so happy to welcome in fall!!

Kensington played her first (and probably last) season of soccer.

On the 15th, she turned FOUR!  We celebrated with Kensington's Bistro.

And my little brother became the Bachelor.  Holy Moly.  That's huge!

October

Andrew and I spent 10 days in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.  It was glorious!

But we were so, so happy to come home to this!!

November

The first half of November was a big fat blur.  A huge blur.  But the second half...we relaxed, enjoyed Thanksgiving and ushered in the most wonderful time of the year!

Super relaxing!

December

December was wonderful!  We spent so much time together as a family, we ate delicious holiday food, we sang hundreds of carols, we danced to music, we watched a dozen Christmas movies, we looked at lights almost every night, we laughed with our friends and spent precious time with our family.  December ended our year perfectly.

When we started 2012, we had no idea what was in store.  We didn't know how huge the Bachelorette would be for our family...we had no earthly idea that the Bachelor would evolve from it.  I didn't know that I would be starting (and loving) a travel agency...we had no idea. 

I've blogged before that 13 is my lucky number.  I'm not a superstitious person but I do have a connection with the number 13.  This year is 2013...so far, I know that my brother will star in my absolute favorite TV show and that I'm building my dream home.  2013 sounds pretty good, right?  However, I also know that life changes...life is unexpected...bad things happen...good things happen...the future happens.  I pray that I return here in 12 months happy, healthy, and unscathed by 2013...but you just never know.  What I do know is that the Lord is good.  God is in control.  Every day...no matter what trials I face...God will grant me the strength to endure.  Life isn't easy...I don't pretend like it is.  I'm just super grateful with each passing day that I live in His grace...that I have hope in His future and that I can rely on His strength.  May God bless you and yours this upcoming year.

Happy New Year!

For those of you coming over for Bachelor recaps, make sure you click here to see the first one.  Thanks!