I can't believe that 2008 is over, and it has flown by so fast. It seems like every year goes by faster and faster. Maybe it's because I am older, maybe it's because my kids are getting older, and maybe it's just because I don't want them to go so fast. Whatever the reason may be, this year has come and gone, and so much has happened, yet I feel like it was such a small window of time.
This year was one of the most gratifying, crazy, emotionally draining and exciting years that I remember. Like I said, so much happened this year, and as I recap, I am sure that I will forget something (or someone) important.
This was the first full year as a family of 5. Adding Cooper to the list 14 months ago was an amazingly unexpected gift. He was only two months old when the new year started, and to look at him now amazes me. He is my miracle baby in so many ways, and it has been a joy to watch him grow and develop, learn new things and love to be with his siblings. This year would have been completely different if he weren't here.
In January, I made absolutely sure that there would be no more babies. I love my kids, but I am not the mom that can handle more than three. A lot of people asked me if this finality made me sad, and to that I answered "absolutely not." I have three amazing kids, all of which were a miracle in their own way. How could I be sad with all that I have?
In February, Pete and I attended his Senior Ball. This was a lot of fun, and it made it even better that we were with friends. Of course, there were only ten of us not drinking, and when you are sober, and everyone else is drunk, how can you help but laugh?
March was the month Pete took his last, and most important set of boards. Of course, two days before that took place, I got very ill. And so did the kids. Pete avoided it (until after boards, anyway) by sleeping at a hotel for three days. I made him go while I stayed home with three sick kids. My diagnosis was the flu, however after breaking a rib and throwing up multiple multiple times from all the coughing, the diagnosis was changed to Pertussis. Who knew you should get booster shots for that? Pete passed his boards with flying colors.
On April Fools Day, Annie turned 2, and to celebrate we threw her a dress-up party. This was a lot of fun, and all the kids loved it. I can't believe she is two at this point (and now I am freaking out that she is almost three). She is the clown of the family, and frequently has us laughing at her when we should be scolding her. This month, I actually did get the flu.
May was one of the big, exciting months of the year. May was graduation! And fishing! Pete became an official dentist, and was also commissioned a Captain in the US Army. I don't think anyone was more proud of him than me, although his parents probably could have taken me down for that spot. While both sets of parents were in Wisconsin, we chartered a boat and fished Lake Michigan. This was a highlight for everyone, and the kids love looking back at the pictures of the "really big fish that we caught and then cut up." (Annie)
June was a crazy month. Noah turned 5, and we celebrated at the YMCA I was working at. We swam, played on the playground and had lots of cake! Pete took a long drive to Texas for Officer Training, and I took a long drive to Utah while he was gone. The kids and I drove with my wonderful friend Mandie, and her family. It was a fun drive (really, it was), and I was sad to say good-bye to her, however I did see her like, 5 more times before I left. The trip for us lasted until the end of July, and we loved being in Utah. Pete loved Officer Training (again, I am serious). He loved the challenges presented to him, but would have done just fine without the class work. He met many friends here, and I am sure those friendships will last a while.
July was the month we all returned home to Wisconsin. The kids and I drove home with my dad, and Pete flew home a few days later. We spent the next few days packing for our big move.
August was eventful, to say the least. On the 1st, we left our little apartment (and all of our friends) and drove 9 hours to Clarksville, Tennessee. We didn't have a place to live when we got here, so we lived on base, in a hotel, for two weeks. Not the best two weeks of our lives, but it was definitely an experience. A few days after we arrived, I received a phone call telling me that my Aunt Diane had passed away from Cancer. I knew this was going to happen, and I had said my tearful good-bye while in Utah. So I packed our bags, which wasn't hard because we were packed for a hotel trip anyway, and the kids and I flew home. We only got to stay for 5 days, and then we had to get home for Noah's first day of school, and to move into our house. Noah started kindergarten, Pete started work, and I unpacked a house. Pete and I celebrated our 8th anniversary by having our first home-cooked meal in over two weeks, followed by microwave brownies. Just as we got into a routine, September came along.
Exactly 30 days after Diane passed away, my Grandpa passed away from Cancer. This was a very spiritual experience for me.
Here is the whole story. This was one of the hardest things I have gone through, and I still can't think about any of those moments without crying. This experience has changed me; it has made me look at things a little differently. Once we got home, we finally were able to get back to church, the gym, school- our normal lives.
In October, Cooper turned one. Other than that, the month was quite uneventful, which after the previous months, we were ok with.
November came, and brought another long car ride. We drove to Georgia for Thanksgiving to visit Pete's family, and we loved it! We got to see many family members that we rarely see, and some that I have never met. The kids got to play with other kids and lots of animals. We enjoyed our time, and it was a great kick-off to our holiday season.
And December has been a great month. We have had a few holiday parties, and spent time with some great friends. Christmas day was fun, and different, because it was our first Christmas by ourselves. It was great doing our own thing, but it made us both realize how much we miss the Christmases that we remember in Utah. We have had a lot to be grateful for this month.
And as the year ends, we are thankful for many things. Pete and I are thankful for the Army, and for the opportunity it is giving him. We are thankful for our beautiful children, and for the joys (and the trials) they give us. It means we are doing things right. My testimony has grown immensely this year, in part because I have had to give in, and allow the Lord to help me through so many things, and in part because I realize how important the Eternal Family is.
Thank you, to all that have made this year what it was. We love all of you, and hope that the next year is as great as this year was, and that all of you are a part of that.
