Ok, so I fell off the bloggy bandwagon. Again. But it's a new year, so here I am trying again! I love this blog so much. I spent last night perusing old posts and getting all sentimental about little things - which is the exact intention!
Since I've failed miserably at blogging throughout this year, I've decided to do a quick review of 2017! I've so enjoyed looking at pics from the last year and compiling them here! It's amazing how much we've done and even more amazing how much the kids have grown!
January
We celebrated the New Year in Michigan, but spent most of that evening in the bathroom with Charlie. Three out of four of us ended up with the that nasty stomach bug. Gross. Then the kids got to start at a new school (
which I actually did blog about)!
February
In February we took an AMAZING trip with my baby brother and sister in law. Devin and Katie just called us up a couple months before and asked if we wanted to flit off to Paris for Valentine's Day! We spent 5 days in Paris and 2 in Brugge, Belgium. I started out documenting the trip and then fell off that bandwagon pretty quickly! Whooops. Here's what you need to know: While Paris was great, Brugge was the highlight of our trip! I would definitely go back. Those waffles?! HEAVENLY.
March
At the beginning of March, we welcomed our new nephew, Parker Brooks Hill!! Oh my goodness he is ADORABLE. We're smitten!! As I write this, nine months later, it feels like just yesterday. The kiddos love him - especially Charlie. She is baby obsessed!
We also took a trip to St. Louis this month AND I became a book lady! It was my official start with Usborne Books & More. I sincerely just signed up for the discount, and now I'm approaching my one-year mark and am SO THRILLED with how this journey has panned out!
April
April was a blast! If you don't know, Brian LOVES to come up with new ideas. He's an inventor and entrepreneur to the core. So in April, he auditioned for Shark Tank!! While he didn't make it through this time around, it was SO much fun to watch him work toward something he loves so much. This month, he also made his first investment into crypto-currency. He's spent all year learning and trading, and has done a FANTASTIC job! This guy keeps me on my toes, for sure!
April also included Easter festivities and a trip to the beach! It was both kids' first time seeing the ocean and was such a fun family get away!
May
In May, we celebrated our 6th anniversary with a trip to Chicago! Usually we take a big couples trip, but since we went to Paris in February, we decided to keep this one low key. We spent most of the week with the grandparents, but did get to squeeze in a quick getaway! We stayed in a cute hotel a couple towns over and recreated a "teen" date night. Went to Dave & Busters, a movie, and dinner at Ruth Chris! While in Chicago, we also visited with Grandad at Navy Pier and the kids attended their first fair with Nana and Papa!
June
In June, I got to attend my first convention with Usborne. It was a total blast and really confirmed how perfect this company and I fit together. Then, since we'd been in Tennessee for almost two years. DJ and crew decided it was time to come down for a visit! We spent the week playing and exploring together, and Avaya got her ears pierced!
July
We started July off with a bang! We took a road trip alll the way to Dallas (about 15 hours, one way, with kids) to meet our newest love, JACKSON!! Swooon. How are my baby siblings PARENTS?! It was so fun to be with Katie and Devin for the birth of baby Jack. I can't wait to meet number TWO (coming soon!).
We spent the rest of July traveling as well! It included a trip to Cincinnati to visit my bestie Katie's home and parents. Then my college roommates (Katie and Rachel) and I took a girls trip to Clearwater Beach, FL! It was a BLAST!
August
In August, Charlie turned two (
read more about that here), Brian turned 33, and Nicole and Hector came for a week long visit!! What a fun month!
September
Also in August, we lost our dear Uncle Wally. So in September, we made the trip to St. Louis for his BEAUTIFUL Celebration of Life. Uncle Wally was BRILLIANT in the kitchen, very easy to talk to, and definitely the guy that you wanted on your trivia team! He loved the Cardinals, and of course, Uncle Darrell. The holidays were not the same without him. We miss you dearly Uncle Wall!
Later in September, we spent two weeks in Chicago for a flurry of big family events! My friend Krystle got married, we had an engagement party for Nicole & Hector, attended Alyssa's bridal shower, and participated in Jack's baptism! Have I mentioned I get to be his Godmother?! Melt. The whole crew was in town, so in between festivities, we also squeezed in a trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze, and a day at the orchard!
October
In October, I got to plan a fun Nash Bash (Nashville getaway) for Brittany's big 3-0 celebration!! It was soooo much fun. I wanna go back tomorrow. 14 of us headed to Nashville for a weekend all about celebrating B! Also in October, my kiddos went trick or treating for the first time! Their faces we so fun to watch. This age is such a blast! So many new things to experience!
November
In November, we had our 6th annual Harvest of Talents, a fundraiser for world hunger that I've been able to be a part of since the beginning! We also took the kiddos to Disney on Ice that weekend! It was MAGICAL and made us decide it's definitely time to do a family Disney trip!! Also in November, Beckett turned four! We celebrated with a day all about him - including breakfast at IHOP, a trip to the store to pick out a toy, making our own pizzas, and of course, CAKE!
Later in the month, the whole family road tripped to Dallas to celebrate Thanksgiving! We stayed busy with parks, the zoo, an interactive aquarium, and more birthday celebration for Beckett! And of course a ginormous feast, care of Devin and Katie, the family chefs.
Since we were all together for the first time since Jack's arrival, we also decided it was a perfect chance to have family photos done! They turned out so beautiful!
To catch the full story on that, as well as more awesome pics, click here. Soon, Devin, Katie, Jack, and baby boy #2 will be moving to the St. Charles area to be near the rest of us, and we'll be together like this aaaall the time!! We caaann't waaaiiit!
December
In the FIRST WEEK of December alone, we packed our entire house into pods, hosted a big company Christmas party, hauled to Kentucky for Alyssa's wedding, and made the final move to St. Charles. Four days later, my parents arrived and we celebrated our first of three Christmasses! It was a whirlwind but we managed to truly enjoy our Christmas season this year and look forward to being settled and unpacked soon! As much as we love Tennessee, we feel HOME being back here in St. Charles. It's so awesome being near both of our families, and we love watching the four cousins together. Now if we can only get the rest of the family (Brian's brother and my parents) here!
2017 was crazy-pants. We have big plans for 2018 as well, so say a prayer for us! We love this crazy life we live, and have so so so many things to be grateful for as we enter into a new year!
Happy New Year, friends!
