Our 2012 in Review

The Lord blessed our family in so many ways in 2012! Here is our year in review:

 

Xavier is now 4 years old (he keeps reminding us he'll be 5 soon though!) and started Preschool this fall.  He is like a sponge soaking up everything he can from the world around him.  He learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this summer (in about 2 hours one afternoon) and recently started reading (sight words, using picture clues, etc), which makes this Mama want to cry!  He’s growing up way too fast!!!  Xavier also stayed busy with swimming lessons, Sunday School, and wrestling.  His favorite things to do are play any sports with Daddy and do “big jobs” with Papa Gary, Daddy and/or his backhoe, crane, and tractors.  He always has to be busy doing something! 

Easton is growing and learning by leaps and bounds as well.  He turned 1 in November and recently began walking.  He is more quiet/reserved than I remember his big brother being, but maybe that’s because he can’t get a word in edgewise with Xavier around! J   Easton now says “Mama,” “Dada,” "more," "uh oh" and sometimes there are resemblences of words like "down," and "thank you."    He also signs “more,” “all done,” and “Oh no!” (the latter is usually when he sees his big brother coming! Haha – just kidding!)  Some of his favorite things to do right now include eating, climbing up and down stairs, eating, eating, and climing on top of everything (including the kitchen table), eating, looking at books, eating, playing catch, eating, pushing buttons, eating, playing with his big brother, and did I mention eating?!  He is SUCH a good eater!  Easton insists on doing everything according to his terms and not a second sooner.  However, we joke around that God must want us to have more kids because he is an extremely good little boy for us!  The boys keep us on our toes, but we wouldn’t want it any other way!  They have their “brother” moments where they make each other cry, but they also laugh at jokes that only the two of them get while heaped on the floor together, which is priceless to see.  We have thoroughly enjoyed watching the bond strengthen and grow between our boys over the past year, and are excited to see what 2013 has in store for each of them and what they have in store for us as well.

Mike and I are half through our 7^th year of teaching.  Mike teaches social science, and is the advisor for the freshman class, yearbook, and National Honor Society.  I am the Special Education Director and Elementary Special Education teacher.  We both enjoy our jobs and the students and staff we work with at our schools.

Another milestone this year was Mike turning the big 3-0 in August (with far more grace and dignity than I will in about a year and a half I might add)!  We enjoyed trips to Iowa, North Dakota, the Black Hills, and our Alma Mater – Black Hills State University (we figure it’s never too soon to start “encouraging” our boys to become future Yellow Jackets! J )

We enjoyed every minute of Easton’s first year of life and all of Xavier’s “firsts” that continue to come at break-neck speed.  We are so thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us over the past year!  We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2013 filled with health, happiness, peace, and love!

 

Goodbye 2012...

Hello 2013!