2016 in 12 Pictures

Revolution in Love is hosting a “2016 in 12 Pictures” linkup.  What a perfect way to get back into blogging after my thinking break.

 

We had a lovely spring and summer of 2016, but the fall and winter have been challenging.  It’s hard to look back at pictures of Cee walking, running, and playing because she can’t do that now.  But that’s why our family must treat every day as a gift.  Everything could change tomorrow.  Everything has changed.  Thank you for your prayers and support in 2016, and I hope you enjoy this photo-reflection as much as I do.

 

 

In January my dad made us a bookshelf for the living room.  We <3 books, and they need places to stay.  The kids instantly adopted this new hiding place as their own.  (Since January, the globe bit the big one, and we had to stop storing books on the bookshelf because Bea developed into a ripping machine.  I feel like an Alanis Morissette song.  “A house full of shelves, but not a book in sight...” )

 

Cee wanted to earn her Cake Decorating Badge for American Heritage Girls.  She delighted in following the recipe and decorating the cupcakes.  Since we used traditional recipes, we gave the cupcakes away, but she didn’t even mind.  She went with a pink frosting and blue stalagmites (my description, not hers).

 

 

Even though it was technically her 2nd St. Patrick’s Day, Bea wore her “My First St. Paddy’s Day” onesie again to mark the feast.  The kids dressed in all their greenery and listened to David’s Irish Pandora station.  Elle is such a good little mama to Bea.  Her nurturing nature is evident in many of the pictures this year.  What a sweetie!

 

 

First Communion!!!  I can only punctuate sentences like this !!!  when writing about it!!!  Sooooo beautiful!!!

 

 

In May the old corn crib on the acreage where I grew up was torn down.  My siblings and I hauled all manner of junk treasures into the corn crib growing up, so it was furnished rustic chic before rustic chic was cool– rust, old tin, barnwood, twine– the corn crib had it all.   This is one of my favorite pictures of the kidlets, in front of barnwood on an actual barn.  I didn’t realize how hard it would be to see it go…

 

 

Our Make-A-Wish trip to Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons was probably the highlight of the year, maybe even the decade.  The “cave” above at The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center was the source of much enjoyment and howling during our adventure.  How can we make one of these in our backyard?!?!

 

In July The Bubs (as she’s most often called), turned one!  She went from a lump to a walker to a super climber in 2016.  As I said in our Christmas letter, her favorite place is sitting on the kitchen table.  It’s hard to imagine life before our little ray of sunshine.

 

Moe.  Got.  Potty-trained.  All my bribes and timer-settings and reminders were useless.  He didn’t care.  Once he made up his mind, though, it was pretty much over with diapers.  There was much rejoicing.

 

Posed by a statue of Jesus at the Shrine of St. Francis Cabrini in Boulder, CO, the kids pulled off two (!!) mountain vacations this year when we traveled in September to a family wedding.  After having never really taken a family vacation, we were grateful to squeeze two out of 2016.

 

 

October was a tough month.  I lost my grandma and Cee’s arthritis started flaring.  We opted to stay in for Halloween and wore costumes ALL DAY.  Elle was a princess, Bea was a cave girl, and Moe was a chef.  (Cee was a princess as well, but she was at the hospital for an infusion when we took the pictures.)  Chef Moe put his mixing bowl on his head, so you can’t see his awesome chef hat (made from construction and tissue paper).

 

Ugh.  This picture is as cute as it is irritating.  I was in the hallway scrubbing crayon off the wall, and Moe and Elle covered a laundry basket with a blanket and set a spread of play food right next to me.  That way I could play picnic AND clean at the same time.  So thoughtful!  Hey guys– maybe we shouldn’t write on all the things ever.

 

The kids woke to boots of plenty on St. Nicholas’ feast day.  Moe is holding his flashlight, Bea is ignoring her headband, Elle is hiding her sewing kit, and Cee is plotting to sneak away and read her new book.  The chocolate St. Nicholas’ and oranges were the star of the show for sure.

 

 

The other day, my cousin posted a word search 2017 predictor.  You’re supposed to note the first three words your eyes naturally find, and those will be your Big Themes for the upcoming year.  Honestly– the first three words I saw were “pus,” “run,” and “pine.”  I don’t know what 2017 has in store for me, but it might involve an infection and hiding in the woods due to the zombie apocalypse.  Cheers to 2017!