Good-Bye 2016

Recap of Previous Years:

2008: {Surprises}

2009: {Happiness}

2010: {Peace}

2011: {Change}

2012: {Hope}

2013: {Reflective}

2014: {New}

2015: {Fun}

2016: Growing Up

I picked the word growing up to describe this year, because I just feel like the kids are growing up so quickly. I am amazed about how big of a jump 1st grade was to 2nd grade. Overnight, Jake seemed so much older. And Hollon went from being a baby to being a toddler. Robbie is growing with his company, received a promotion and I could not be prouder. We are just growing up. 😊

To start the new year, Hollon got a {new hair-do}. In January, the kids got to go to their first hockey game and we celebrated my {dad's retirement}. Jake celebrated his {7th birthday party} with friends in February. Jake participated in the {Mercedes Marathon} and we were so proud of him! Jake was also {Tater of the Week}. I scheduled the kids check-ups at the same time in March (Jake {7 year} and Hollon {18 month} and will never do that again! Hollon got her first pair of {tennis shoes} and a {new ride}. Jake played {baseball} this spring and we visited the Easter Bunny. We celebrated a wonderful Easter with family and then during spring break, the kids and I went down to Fairhope to visit best friends. Tons of pictures were taken of both events, but I never got to see them, because the camera was stolen when Rob's truck was broken into. {Whomp-whomp} Robbie and I celebrated our {8th anniversary} in April. Hollon had her first art show, Jake learned to ride his bike without training wheels and Robbie & I had a quick weekend get-away to Ashville {here}. Jake had a blast at his class field trip to Old Baker's Farm, field day and baseball {here}. In May, we celebrated Mother's Day {here} & {here} and a new {bubble machine}. Hollon had her last day of {1YO MDO} and Jake had his last day of {1st Grade}. Hollon got her {first haircut}. To kick off summer. we had our annual Memorial Day Beach Trip with the Stricklands {here} and {here}. During the summer, Hollon went to {daycare} and Jake split his time between {Oak Mt State Park Camp} and Grandparents Camp. Jake attended {Dawson VBS} and {FBC VBS}. In June, we celebrated {Father's Day} and Jake got a big boy bike! We spent a TON of time this summer {outside}. Jake got to go on {vacation to NC} with Mimi, Granddad & Cousin Jackson. Our friends from {Fairhope} came to visit! Robbie and I both enjoyed separate {girls & guys weekends} away. In August, my parents treated everyone to a fun weekend getaway at {Stone Mountain Park}. We had our annual pre-back to school trip to the {zoo}. Jake started {2nd Grade} and Hollon started {2YO MDO}. We had Hollon's {2nd Birthday Party} and she had her {two-year-old checkup}. During the fall, we were in Auburn most weekends {Clemson}, {Arkansas State}, {Texas A&M}, {LSU}, {ULM}, {Arkansas}, and {Vanderbilt}.   Also in the fall, we celebrated {Maw-Maw's Birthday} and Jake played {fall baseball}, and we spent fall break at the {beach}. In October, our niece/cousin {Mae Stanley Harvard} was born! After fall break, Jake started school in their {brand new building}. For {Halloween}, Jake was Anakin Skywalker and Hollon was a bunny. During November, we enjoyed a {Thanksgiving Feast} at Jake's school and {Thanksgiving} with our families. In December, we celebrated with {parties} and with the {Hollon} and {Bush} families. Jake turned {EIGHT} and we celebrated {Christmas Eve} & {Christmas Day}. 

What a growing year it was.

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.