New Years Traditions {2014 & 2015}

So every year we keep a "memories" jar... and through out the year we fill it with our favorite events, happenings, words, or moments. We then open it up and read through them on Jan. 1st with sparkling juice and breakfast. It's a fun and simple tradition that we look forward to sharing with our kids through the years.
So I have had 2014 and 2015 "memories" on my laptop, saved, and ready to blog but just never have done it. (thank you, no internet) So i thought now would be a prime time to finally spill the beans and get them saved on the blog! Along with some fun photos from those years.

{disclaimer :: they are in no real order or sequence. sorry!}


2014

Oct. 9^th – Eye appts for Milo & Norma : Norma good, no problems. Milo, we're told, will have surgery soon... praying and a bit scared

August 5^th – Reenie starts back to work with momma :) a very cute distraction

As of June, Theo “says” :: tractor, light, dog, bubbles, bath, mom, dad, brother

January 6^th – Ultrasound found a healthy baby GIRL! :)

July 10^th – dinner @ Woolfords... tacos, trampline fun for kids, strawberry shortcake, and great conversation

August 27^th – beach day with Theo, Norma, & my mom

Oct 14^th – 4 mth check up for Norma, 13 lbs. 2 oz. Started rice cereal

Fall – getting back into routine with work, home & boys... challenging

January 28^th – SNOW in North Carolina

Jan-Feb. - Milo loves his “work” days with daddy, going into the office and helping dad prep for things

LOVE watching Milo ride with daddy on the “tractor” to mow

April 4^th – Date night out! Janna's wonderful, extra big waffle, Captian America, and having relaxing adult conversation

June 9^th – 1:48am Norma Irene was born!!!! Super fast labor, started at 9:30pm, spent most of our time in the hospital in the triage room, barely got “checked in” before she came out!!!

End of August Party!!! Aunt CiCi & Aunt Amanda (and cousins) time, girls night out to paint and have yummy dessert, camping up north, evening dinners together, bonfires, and surprise visit from Uncle Craig!!! :) Thankful for being 'home' to make such fun memories with family!!!

Dec. 23^rd – cousin day at Arlene's. All the cousins – choas, gingerbread, nap times, fights, laughter. Absolutely a great day!!

Oct 9^th – Norma rolled from back to tummy and back again :)

Sept. 2^nd – Tim started new job at Servicemaster and I went down to one day a week at the studio to start homeschool with Milo!

April, the month of sickness :/ All were hit, long nights, lots of Dr visits …

Nov. 5^th – Fly Inn for breakfast with Cassie and the kids, followed by story time @ library and an afternoon of play at our place :) such a fun day for us all!!!!

Oct. 17^th – Dinner with Curtis' – stayed late, played games, kids played well together :) fun time

Ringing in the new year 2014 – family slumber party in the living room, morning watching the boys play and reviewing our previous year (2013) and spend afternoon watching the big MSU game with the Rudolphs, eating chili and relaxing :)

June/July – enjoying every minute of newborn time with Reenie Bean :: snuggles, smiles, chuckles in sleep, Baby Magic Baths, and nursing thru the night (just her and I). Realizing how very blessed I am!! Thankful for each moment

Dec. 13-14^th – spent night in Chicago. Saw the christmas lights at Lincoln Park Zoo with Uncle Jake, spend night in a fancy hotel, church with Uncle Jake and Uncle Dave the next morning

Nov. 13^th – First BIG snow of the MI “winter” season – Nov. 14^th spent the afternoon outside playing in it together

August 10^th – Breakfast at the Farm @ Northbridge :) Milo's favorite church day ;)

Nov. 7^th – HOT date night to Hannah's wedding @ Loft310 with the Keith/Austin families, followed by an evening on the town with Craig and Cassie … just adults. No kids allowed.

Sept. 17^th – Reenie's first night in her own room (3 mths) 7:30-2am

Feb. 26^th – Last full day in NC :( picked dad's up, got moving truck (and got moving truck stuck!!), lunch at Lowesville Cafe, packed truck up, pizza with Jesse and Addie, and football with the Wilkinsons. Sad to leave, Hard to leave.

Oct. 1^st – watched Milo write out Nadia's birthday card... priceless!!

Feb. 21^st – last dinner @ the Wilkinson's house, followed by a trip to Ikea (just the girls) and of course, BROWNIES :)

Aug. 13^th – dinner with Cam & Kerry... talked missions

Fall at 507 110^th Ave. :) Never thought I'd experience it again. Watching boys rake and play in leaves, bonfires between rainy nights, watching our maple turn gold and drop leaves – bittersweet and thankful.

Summer – praying, looking and searching preschools for Milo …

Love listening to Milo speak, using adult words the wrong way, like “cordially” (uses it as of course). So sweet.

Aug. 7^th – Reenie found her two middle fingers to suck, so adorable.

May 5^th – pizza night at Grand Poppys

Dec. 4^th – Milo's eye surgery. Early morning but Milo did great until recovery. Was chipper, talkative, and ready. Recovery was long and difficult at the hospital but settled down once home and was back to himself by the next day!

Feb. 23^rd – Last youth group dinner at our place. Had Brinner, extended the time, played ultimate frisbee, HATE goodbyes. :(

June 26^th – watched milo play baseball with poppy

Milo calls elevators or escalators, “alligators” :)

Mother's day fish fry! May 11^th

Nov. 8^th – lunch for Dad's bday, steaks on the grill, naps, and relaxed followed by dinner at the Keith's where the cousins wrestled Papa and we ate pizza

Feb. 2^nd – Superbowl party with Jesse & Addie

May 9^th – cousin time at our house while I cut Aunties hair

Aug. 13^th – enjoyed an afternoon outdoors watching a cropduster fly overhead, over and over.

Sept. 14^th – Uchurch core group starts at Jon & Cheri's … 11am service, 12-1 lunch, followed by Q&A or teaching from Ray

Fall – still missing our NC friends and the south … praying for a contentment and a peaceful mind

Oct. 31^st – trunk or treat at Northeastern with cousins, boys went as Batman and Robin, it was COLD and SNOWING, Reenie went as princess and was so good

Dec. 30^th – Evening spent with Cassie and Craig, playing cards and being adults :)

Nov. 3^rd – informational and detail eye appt – surgery date set. Praying through anxiety and nerves

Oct. 21^st – leaf war outdoors with boys

Fall – love homeschooling and watching milo learn. Can now count to 20! Enjoys math and is doing great in handwriting

End of August... found out the Keith fam will be adding 2 more cousins!!!

May 16^th – pizza night with the Lights :)

February – prayers and struggles over our move... harder then expected

March 30^th – dinner with Lights, boys LOVED playing together

Oct. 11^th – Dani finally wore real jeans all day that fit!!! BIG news! Worth sharing. :)

April 14^th – a very long day of viruses, coughs, pink eye, and snow

Feb. 27^th – tough day of unpacking and adjusting

August – Theo's talking more, saying: Dusty, bible, woof woof, dog, dad, mom, brother, sister,

Aug. 18^th – spontaneous bonfire with family. grandpa&grandmakeith, NadNad, Isaiah, Aunt CiCi, Liam, Caitlyn,

Feb./March – theo loves milo and imitates him, caught onto sign language, got his first haircut (2-5-14), really loves ZuZu and follows her around, has all 4 molars, naps the same time as milo

July 10^th – breakfast with Jes, Deb & kids, played all day with cousins :)

Oct. 10-12 – trip to Toledo, met with Pastor Williamson, spent nights with Joel & Alaina, relaxed, had Chic-fil-a, boys spent time with Poppy and Nanny

Feb. 5^th – huge snow storm in NC, spend day in the snow! Making giant snowmen, sledding with neighbors, snowball fights, hot cocoa, close to whole state shut down!!

Aug. 14^th – college bonfire :) our place

March – a sea of unpacking boxes and settling back into Mi :)

Aug. 15^th – girls night out with Cassie and Micki, 4 Roses dessert, painting at HappyOurArt

May – prayers for wisdom and guidance as to fall decisions for milo's schooling and work for myself

Feb. 23^rd – last Sunday with Providence, big potluck following service and mini shower for Reenie Bean :) said our goodbyes thru tears and hugs

Sept. 26^th – milo's bday party! John Deere style (again)! :) Overalls, bonfire, friends, pics at the farm, walk to the cows

Dec. 26^th – Theo's 2^nd bday party – Planes style. Poppy made big Dusty to play in & we had a house full of family!! it was a fantastic and choatic afternoon!!

Our awesome new church plant team!

2015 

Jan. 11th - saw wizard of oz in theaters with my mom and aunt mary

Having our windows OPEN in December!! LOVE!

Nov. 15th - Splurge dinner to Applebees as a family after church - yummy and fun conversations

Feb. 27 - CROSS '15 simulcast at WMU with Uchurch. Got to watch 1/3 of it before being called back home to a sick kid.

Sept. 8th - Started Unit One of My Father's World ... Homeschooling commences - Milo is THRILLED

Dec. 18th - Baking day at my mom's and pizza night, Bri and kids joined us for the AM. lots of yummies and family time 

March 3 - Uncle Craig deployed ... boys cried, and we all began constant prayers for him and his fam

Nov. 7-8 - Family night and day in Toledo. Stayed in hotel, swam in pool, Chic-fil-a Dinner with Williamson family and Tim preached at church there 

Oct. 31 - Halloween night, pizza, trick or treating with Curtis Family in their fun neighborhood (Milo was buzz, Theo was woody, and Norma was a lady bug) 

April 5 - Easter Egg Hunt at Arlene's with cousins!! Always crazy and fun and filled with laughter

Sept. 25 - Date Night by the bonfire <3 great stars and clear moon, good conversation, called Nicole and chatted together, played with the coals while relaxing ... it was a beautiful. 

Sept. 25 - zoo day with Amanda, Owen and Micah 

Jan. 2 - pizza and brownies at the Curtis Casa 

April 2 - day with Cassie and kids :) We watched the kids catch ladybugs all day. had tacos for dinner, the 3 older cousins spent the night with grandma and grandpa while Isaiah spent the night with Theo. The three moms had a girls night! 

April 5 - Easter ... Rise and Run with Sarah and new friend, Aasha 

July 12 - St. Joe Beach day with college grp. as a family 

Nov. 6th - date night with Woolfords @ Olde Peninsula, then just us had dessert at 4 roses. 

Jan. 17-18th - Date night in Lansing (just the two of us). stayed in fancy hotel, visited Steph and Caleb and ate out. Loved our warm meals and uninterrupted conversations

May 23 - Norma took 3 big steps outside, chasing her brothers!!!! 

Dec. ?? - Cookie day with Tressa and kids. messy, yummy, and ate lots. Roast for dinner together. it was a crazy fun day! Loved it. 

Loving discipleship with Kerri on Thurs. evenings. Blessed by her encouragement and honesty. 

May 2 - Late night Avenger's date with our dad's on opening wkends. (mom's watched kids sleep) 

Jan. 17th - Duncan Aviation Tour with Alan. Boys were in heaven!! 

May 3 - Dinner, bonfire, and play with Norton Family 

May - started discipleship with Emily ... Crazy Love. Excited to get to know her and see God work in us both. 

Aug. 8 - Breakfast @ the Farm (I was sick, so Tim took boys). Boys enjoyed, worked with Cow (aka Jewel), and helped set up. LOVED all the John Deere

Dec. 7th - Bounceland with O.T. as a family :: Santa visit, yummy treats, and every bounce house imaginable!

May 27 - Norma's one year photo shoot and took 6 steps before dropping to crawling!!!! 

March 9th - started attending Bible Study @ Bishop house

Norma can say -mom and dad - yes/no - Milo, Theo - thanks - ZuZu/dog - snow - nanny/poppy - papa - NadNad/"saiah" -"Al" - doll - shoe -ball - music  ... all by the end of Dec. 

Aug. - made decision to homeschool and for Dani to stay home full time ... last day at studio is Sept. 1st. (scared, excited, and anxious) 

Jan. 5 - 2nd post op check up went great for Milo's eyes. He took his eye drops like a champ today too! 

LOVE our family pizza and picnic nights, every Friday night 

Sept 27 - Anniversary Sunday at Northbridge. 8:30 service, bday lunch with grandparents, 4pm flag football with girls ... and evening at ER for broken finger 

June 13 - Norma's Bday Party ... loved her baby dolls, wasn't a fan of cake, wore her frilly, pink dress, rainy so we moved indoors, lots of people in our tiny home to celebrate her, gave her a big kitchen , cart, food, and dolly. 

Christmas 2015 - Jes and Deb were here!!! Ended with a bunch of sickies, enjoyed star wars with Jes and Deb, had all the cousins on BOTH sides here and around to play with!!! 

Sept. 17-18 - watched Nadia and Isaiah :: did school together, soccer night with them dinners, listened to them chatter at night and in the morning, painted nails with Nadia and Norma, lots of outdoor time to find bugs and climb trees. 

Feb 22-28 - week from hell, allg ot sick with multiple doctor visits and very little sleep :( 

March 15 - Boys got bunk beds put in their new room. had a celebrating dinner with grand poppy and poppy and nanny and hung all their new john deere decore around the freshly painted room. the boys LOVE it and can't wait to sleep in them. 

June 21 - Father's day! church AM, potluck at Aunt Jean's with Bonhomme family (had fishing, swimming, and lots of jello), Tim got Georgie shirt from kids 

June 29 - Zoo day with nanny 

July 18-25 - Vacation with North Carolina!!! Tim's work conference, time with Providence family, cook-out and chic-fil-a meals, pool time, staying with the Ives, youth grp dinner, lunch at the look out @ the airport, Lowesville Cafe w/the Shales, a Wilkinson night (complete with watermelon), a Rudolph family dinner, meeting Miss Liberty, extra day for the zoo trip (family time) = great trip!!!

Oct. 6 - walked to ponies, fed them, talked with Les, theo got shocked by fence a little, but had great weather and recovered quick. 

Feb 1 - superbowl ... snowed in! couldn't even make it around the corner to A & K's ... super deep

March 4 - morning hitting sales with mom with no kids... just like old times

April 20 - finally got ZuZu to groomers and Milo swallowed a penny - have to watch him the next few days

Aug. 1 - SEVEN years together. spend day as family, watched wedding video, went to zoo and had dinner with A & K's 

October - Norma found my american girl and loves playing with it. 

Aug. 11 - ordered curriculum and signed up for AYSO

Jan 16 - "Daddy, I love Jesus so much, my heart is filled with love and joy. That's what hearts are suppose to do" - milo man 

Dec. 10th - rheumatologist appt. in Ann Arbor ... running lots of blood work

Nov. - ZuZu girl tore ACL and allergies caused open sores, x-rays and meds. and lots of extra love 

Oct. 26th - found out about another precious ARROW, coming soon to the Keith family 

Feb 21 - built bunk beds at grand poppy's basement, ordered pizza and enjoyed his company 

Aug 15 - Milo/Mommy morning spent getting school and soccer supplies! also stopped at pet sore to see fish and cats 

March 20 - spontaneous park day with kids 

Sept - Oct. - Milo's soccer games Thurs. nights 6-7pm 

CityGate starts Dec. 12th 6:30pm @ Milwood Community ... SO EXCITED

Aug. 13 - Milo's evaluation went well, not autism but referred to sensory testing and OT 

Sept. 13 - Uchurch starts back up! with new schedule 

March 17-24 - Tim in Costa Rica with Cam ... long week with kids filled with grandparent time 

Memorial Wkend Camping and family time!! :: new camping spot in back, bonfires each night, papa spent night with boys, party with family and friends, parade mondya AM with papa, unexpected cookout at A&K's with cousins to finish it out! 

Aug. 4 - Pizza dinner with Jason :) 

March 2 - Tim started new job at the Gospel Mission 

LOVE our zoo membership! all our day trips to the zoo and with friends 

Dec. 22 - Milo graduated from OT!!! :) :) :) 

Sept. 26 - Milo turned FIVE!! spent day as family @ Mooville ( cow tour, petting zoo, play ground, and ice cream), lunch at McD's, an afternoon at Potter park Zoo and dinner at home (tacos)

March 10 - got news that Milo could possibly go to kindergarten in fall, where did time go!??!

end of April - Weekend to Remember, free tickets. @ Radisson, stayed at Hendersen Castle - lots of little dates and open conversation and great reminders

June 24 - got new van from  mission. super low miles, great price and amazing timing

March - Theo's really putting sentences togher and loves words that end with "ie " or "Y", loves Corduroy the book and and a bear after him that he takes everywhere, took paci down to just naps and bedtime uses

Feb. 12-17  - trip to KY to see Craig, Cassie, and kids :: saw helicopters and army planes, special surprise bday party for Craig, fun nights playing games after the kids went to bed, lots of good cousin time, and got snowed in for an extra fun day!

Norma Irene @ 10 mths :: 5 teeth , loves real people food, says dada, momma, doggy, signs all done, super speedy crawler, pulls up and cruises on things, LOVES outdoors and swinging, can't be separated from brothers, can get hair into tiny sprout head.

May 16 - shot Brock and Khrystie's wedding for Melissa

March 31 - Cassie in town with kids, went to Gull Lake for cousin time and evening in the bounce houses. so much laughter!!! plus the boys slept great

March 20 - Bri spent night with kids. We were both alone so we joined together and made a party of it! An enjoyable night of chatter!

July 14 - bday dinner at Mom's .... fish fry!! YUM

Dec. 15- story time @ Starr with Arlene and kids. "candy cane lane" themed

March 27 - prayer and snacks at the Bishop's ... was a nice middle of week "date"

June 17-19 - Girl get away with Cassie :: locked keys in car to begin trip (ha!), yummy food, Christy, Bible time, lots of chit chat, sunshine, walks and deer sightings

Oct. 2 - second date night of the school year :: walked campus and invited peeps, dinner at Old Peninsula, movie @ home (Avengers) , slept till 8am on Saturday!!

July 16 - Milo's first dentist appt. He ROCKED it!! did amazing and has healthy happy teeth!

Oct. 6 - finger surgeon said NO surgery needed!! Praise the Lord! Just another month of good healing.

Sept. 12 - Family trip to Chi Town for Bostwick Reception! Rainy beginning made for awesome muddy play for the boys, puddle jumping, yard games, and sunshine to end it all.

Once a month date nights ROCK! so thankful for grandparents

Aug. 19 - prayer walk on campus w/Uchurch :: walked with Bishops, milo struck a tebow pose every time we prayed, stopped for ice cream after ... a late but fun night!

Dec. 22 - Keegan's bday party with cousins. Had nerf war, and dinosaur cake

July - Allergy challenges with Theo... he still can't have eggs, peanuts and should avoid milk

March - started new mind set both personally and with the church :: refocusing and giving our all where we are NOW w/out looking back. thankful for forgiveness!

May 10- mother's day lunch and small bonfire that got rained out ... roast for lunch with mom's, Cooties game, smores and cousin time for bonfire. i got flowers, cards, pepsi and a pretty plant (spoiled)

Sept. 4 - first date night of the school year ... South Haven! sunset, card game, yummy ice cream, and got to sleep in

Sept. 19 - bonfire and pizza with Strait family :: great sunset, kids played well together and adults got to talk!

Labor Day dinner with Potts family ... always fun!

Dec 26 - Theo's THREE!! morning with Uncle Jesse, had oreo cupckaes and got both toothless movies and dragons

Nov. 5th - interview on skype with GEM, excited to see where God could take and use us ... looks like small trip is first thing

Feb. 21 - Uchurch brunch @ Bishop's, waffles and fellowship

June 8 - zoo day with keith cousins

March 23 - last day of Tim's costa rica trip ... not a great one. panic attack, nervousness, kids melted down. SUPER thankful for a great hubby that we love so much and can't seem to live without

July 27 - almost end of August - long, horrid allergic reaction turned swelling problem. three rounds of steroids, swollen eye lids, 3 ER visits, ambulance ride, allergist visits, 3+ blood draws, and some high anxiety. SO thankful for a momma who helps so much and a hubby who could take time from work to be with me and calm me. Did some extra cleaning but ended with results of being referred to rheumatologist and a possibly contact allergy

One of our awesome weekends spent with Uncle Craig, Aunt CiCi and the kids

A winter family favorite ... hot cocoa with marshmallows