Year In Review: 2011
Warning: The longest post ever!
2011 was a very special year for our family, and especially for me. We moved into our new home, added another member to our family, both Jaden and Sienna started at new schools, and we shared many fun family moments throughout the entire year. I would venture to say that 2011 was the best year of my entire life. I don't want to minimize 2005 (when we got married, and then later that year Jaden was born) or 2007, when Sienna joined us, but 2011 was just different. I've been able to enjoy being a mom to a new baby without the worries one has when it's the first baby, and since Sienna was 3 1/2 when Bristol arrived, it was significantly less stressful than having a baby with an almost 2-year-old running around. I've had the incredible pleasure of watching Jaden and Sienna become big sisters to Bristol and that has truly been a beautiful thing. I got to go to Colorado alone with Scott and to take a long weekend away in San Diego with my him unexpectedly (we had originally planned to take the kids) and I got to spend 13 glorious (consecutive) days at Lake Erie during the summer. I got to be crafty more than any previous year and I enjoyed organizing and "breaking in" our new home that my talented husband designed with our every need and want in mind. Scott and I bonded over the first several seasons of 24 on netflix and made date nights at home as meaningful as those when we actually got to go out. 2011 brought us many changes, and with those, much excitement. As a family we adapted, we connected and we loved one another more each day than the previous. So here is the rundown month by month!
January:
We spent our last few nights at our old home:
Then packed it all up and moved out on January 7th:
We took Jaden and Sienna to Disney's Toy Story on Ice:
Jaden was diagnosed with severe farsightedness and picked out the cutest little glasses (Juicy Couture--this girl sure knows her style!):
We discovered as we opened some boxes that were stored outside of our home that mice had invaded our stuff which led to throwing out Jaden's first blankie "bunny" and having to wash EVERY.SINGLE.ITEM for baby size 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, each book, toy, blanket and so forth. Not quite what we'd hoped or expected to do as we were unpacking and getting settled into our new digs, but we made it through!!
Sienna refused to perform at her Little Gym show, but then turned on her charm and smiles at Jaden's Little Gym show:
We met 1996 Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu:
We wrapped up the month with Jaden and Sienna making fettuccine and bread sticks at a kids' cooking class:
February:
We went to Telluride, Colorado where Scott skied with his brother and where I hit the spa and read a few books--a much needed relaxation vacation after the big move and before baby was to arrive!
We went to our friend's annual Valentine's Day Party where Sienna's "boyfriend" gave her the cutest princess lip gloss:
We distributed Valentine candy to the elderly at a nursing / assisted living home:
And we celebrated our last Valentine's day with Scott having just three girls as his Valentines:
I took Sienna on a horse and carriage ride through the snowy park while Scott took Jaden skiing:
Had my first ever maternity photos taken with Kelli from ThisLittlePiggy and LOVED them:
I started making our baby girl a few of her own bows and I got more and more excited to meet my newest baby girl as I prepared for her to arrive!:
March:
Jaden and Sienna's bunk beds FINALLY got put together after a long wait for all of the pieces to arrive:
Scott accompanied Jaden to school for "Pancakes with Dad" on Pajama Day:
We took Jaden and Sienna to the Cleveland Car Show:
I enjoyed hosting a "sprinkle" in honor of my friend Julie who was pregnant with a healthy baby boy after unexpectedly losing her angel Mallory in 2010:
We celebrated my sister Kim's graduation from Cosmetology School:
We enjoyed a family day at the park as the weather started to turn from snow into sunshine:
Scott and his princesses had some fun with play-doh when the weather turned back to cold:
And with the help of my extremely talented and helpful stepmom, I made some more beautiful things for our baby girl:
April:
On Monday April 4th I posed for the 35th and final time pregnant in front of our fire place. I was 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant:
And later that day the world became a little more beautiful as Bristol Grace arrived:
We spent most of April just adjusting to our new baby girl:
We also got out as a family to fly a kite one day:
We had many visitors, including my brother Seth, cousin Tomisa and friend Andy who colored Easter eggs with the girls during their visit:
Sienna got her ears pierced:
And we celebrated our first Easter as a family of FIVE:
We wrapped up the month with my college roommate Carolyn's wedding--Bristol's first big night out!:
May:
My mom hosted a "sip & see" for friends of hers and mine in Columbus to be able to meet our baby girl:
And as we experienced more and more nice days Sienna couldn't get enough of being outside and blowing bubbles:
We took Bristol on her first tip to the Akron zoo where she even rode the carousel at just one month old:
We attended "Day out with Thomas" (the train) and our friend Ava's birthday party:
We all survived a week of crazy weather including a scary tornado warning where we all hid out in my craft room in the basement as the town tornado sirens sounded (funny sidenote--as we saw the weather report that interrupted regular programs on TV that night, they pointed an arrow in the path of where they expected the tornado to go. I, not knowing where we lived according to the map shown asked Scott where we were in reference to the line and all he did was look at me. Needless to say, we were all in the basement within the following 3 minutes!):
Our whole family watched Jaden perform her preschool end-of-year program:
We attended a super fun birthday party for our friend Joey:
We celebrated Memorial Day by watching the parade (it was HOT):
And later that day went to my stepmom's house for some "hillbilly" water fun as we called it!:
June:
We went to Memphis Kiddie Park with friends; the girls LOVED it:
Jaden was our little star performer in her first dance recital:
Jaden earned her 6th medal for completing a semester at The Little Gym:
We took the whole family to Scott's cousin Kevin's wedding to Krissy:
My littlest sister Amanda graduated from high school; we went to her graduation party:
We enjoyed a week in Columbus with family including our cousins Allyson and Chloe from Florida:
During that week we not only hit up Zoombezi bay where I got to ride about 10 waterslides (woohoo!! Thanks to my aunt who kept an eye on Jaden and Sienna!), but we also had a great day at the Zoo with all of the kids and my brother Seth:
We celebrated the two best dads in the entire world--Scott and his dad Rob:
Jaden attended Safety Town and graduated:
July:
We went to the lake house for the first time all year and Scott's brother Ryan and his beautiful girlfriend Jenna flew in from California to spend the 4th with us!:
We took Bristol on her first boat ride and watched the fireworks from the water:
Jaden and Sienna rode in their first Independence Day bike parade:
And we spent 13 AMAZING days at the lake all together:
We had a fun night out with family from Georgia (my mom's Aunt Gail, her daughter Julie (not pictured) and granddaughter Rachel; Aunt Elaine, my mom's other aunt was also with us):
My cousin Destry graduated from high school and we all went to his graduation party:
My step-dad gave me tickets to Jimmy Buffet for my birthday and it was a fun night being a parrothead!:
Jaden and Sienna started swimming lessons:
We spent my 29th birthday at the lake--could not imagine a better place to spend it, or better company to spend it with!:
We went to South Bass Island on Lake Erie for a day and traveled around the island on the longest golf cart ever:
August:
My sister and I took Jaden out for her first back-to-school shopping spree where she got to pick one item from each store we walked into. We hit some awesome sales and Jadie-girl got a lot of nice stuff within our budget!:
We all attended Family Day at the Browns stadium:
We spent another week in Columbus at my mom's where Bristol took her first dip in the baby pool Grammy has:
Jaden started kindergarten! I went to school with her for her first day; a few days later she went by herself for the first time and even rode the school bus:
September:
Scott and I went to San Diego for 5 days, just the two of us, and had a wonderful time celebrating the wedding of Scott's friend Kevin and his gorgeous bride Ericka:
Sienna started her first year of preschool:
Bristol started eating fresh baby food made by mama:
We celebrated Sienna's 4th birthday with our family:
Scott & I went to the Cleveland Browns 2nd home game together (and they actually WON!):
Bristol hit one of my favorite baby milestones--she started sitting up unassisted:
October:
Scott took a Wednesday off work for "family fun day"--we had a day FILLED with fall fun!:
We celebrated Jaden's 6th birthday with a party in the park:
My sister and I took the kids to a halloween event at the fire station:
My Grandma Lulu came to see our new house and visited with us for a day:
We trick-or-treated with our cousins:
And the following night went out again to beg for candy in our neighborhood:
November:
We went to Scott's cousin's wedding in Maryland:
We spent a day with our friends who had moved to North Carolina and were visiting Ohio:
We rode on The Polar Express:
We celebrated our first Thanksgiving as a family of 5 at Scott's dad's house:
And I wrapped up the month with an afternoon at our local winery for an ornament exchange with a group of girlfriends:
December:
We decorated the house for Christmas and everyone enjoyed hanging ornaments on the tree:
We went to our preschool parents Christmas party where the girls all loved Santa:
We celebrated Scott's 34th birthday:
We went to Kraynak's to see the annual Christmasland displays (a tradition that goes back to my own childhood):
We went on our annual adventure to Country Lights at Lake Farm Park where Bristol decided she did not like Santa anymore (ha!):
We spent Christmas Eve going to church and then at Scott's cousin's house with his family:
We hosted 17 family members for Christmas at our house:
We hosted New Years Eve at our house with my sisters, stepmom, nephews, brother-in-law and soon-to-be brother-in-law:
See what I mean when I say it was an awesome year? 2011, you will never be forgotten. 2012, bring on more family memories and special times together!
2011 was a very special year for our family, and especially for me. We moved into our new home, added another member to our family, both Jaden and Sienna started at new schools, and we shared many fun family moments throughout the entire year. I would venture to say that 2011 was the best year of my entire life. I don't want to minimize 2005 (when we got married, and then later that year Jaden was born) or 2007, when Sienna joined us, but 2011 was just different. I've been able to enjoy being a mom to a new baby without the worries one has when it's the first baby, and since Sienna was 3 1/2 when Bristol arrived, it was significantly less stressful than having a baby with an almost 2-year-old running around. I've had the incredible pleasure of watching Jaden and Sienna become big sisters to Bristol and that has truly been a beautiful thing. I got to go to Colorado alone with Scott and to take a long weekend away in San Diego with my him unexpectedly (we had originally planned to take the kids) and I got to spend 13 glorious (consecutive) days at Lake Erie during the summer. I got to be crafty more than any previous year and I enjoyed organizing and "breaking in" our new home that my talented husband designed with our every need and want in mind. Scott and I bonded over the first several seasons of 24 on netflix and made date nights at home as meaningful as those when we actually got to go out. 2011 brought us many changes, and with those, much excitement. As a family we adapted, we connected and we loved one another more each day than the previous. So here is the rundown month by month!
January:
We spent our last few nights at our old home:
Then packed it all up and moved out on January 7th:
We took Jaden and Sienna to Disney's Toy Story on Ice:
Jaden was diagnosed with severe farsightedness and picked out the cutest little glasses (Juicy Couture--this girl sure knows her style!):
We discovered as we opened some boxes that were stored outside of our home that mice had invaded our stuff which led to throwing out Jaden's first blankie "bunny" and having to wash EVERY.SINGLE.ITEM for baby size 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, each book, toy, blanket and so forth. Not quite what we'd hoped or expected to do as we were unpacking and getting settled into our new digs, but we made it through!!
Sienna refused to perform at her Little Gym show, but then turned on her charm and smiles at Jaden's Little Gym show:
We met 1996 Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu:
We wrapped up the month with Jaden and Sienna making fettuccine and bread sticks at a kids' cooking class:
February:
We went to Telluride, Colorado where Scott skied with his brother and where I hit the spa and read a few books--a much needed relaxation vacation after the big move and before baby was to arrive!
We went to our friend's annual Valentine's Day Party where Sienna's "boyfriend" gave her the cutest princess lip gloss:
We distributed Valentine candy to the elderly at a nursing / assisted living home:
And we celebrated our last Valentine's day with Scott having just three girls as his Valentines:
I took Sienna on a horse and carriage ride through the snowy park while Scott took Jaden skiing:
Had my first ever maternity photos taken with Kelli from ThisLittlePiggy and LOVED them:
I started making our baby girl a few of her own bows and I got more and more excited to meet my newest baby girl as I prepared for her to arrive!:
March:
Jaden and Sienna's bunk beds FINALLY got put together after a long wait for all of the pieces to arrive:
Scott accompanied Jaden to school for "Pancakes with Dad" on Pajama Day:
We took Jaden and Sienna to the Cleveland Car Show:
I enjoyed hosting a "sprinkle" in honor of my friend Julie who was pregnant with a healthy baby boy after unexpectedly losing her angel Mallory in 2010:
We celebrated my sister Kim's graduation from Cosmetology School:
We enjoyed a family day at the park as the weather started to turn from snow into sunshine:
Scott and his princesses had some fun with play-doh when the weather turned back to cold:
And with the help of my extremely talented and helpful stepmom, I made some more beautiful things for our baby girl:
April:
On Monday April 4th I posed for the 35th and final time pregnant in front of our fire place. I was 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant:
And later that day the world became a little more beautiful as Bristol Grace arrived:
We spent most of April just adjusting to our new baby girl:
We also got out as a family to fly a kite one day:
We had many visitors, including my brother Seth, cousin Tomisa and friend Andy who colored Easter eggs with the girls during their visit:
Sienna got her ears pierced:
And we celebrated our first Easter as a family of FIVE:
We wrapped up the month with my college roommate Carolyn's wedding--Bristol's first big night out!:
May:
My mom hosted a "sip & see" for friends of hers and mine in Columbus to be able to meet our baby girl:
And as we experienced more and more nice days Sienna couldn't get enough of being outside and blowing bubbles:
We took Bristol on her first tip to the Akron zoo where she even rode the carousel at just one month old:
We attended "Day out with Thomas" (the train) and our friend Ava's birthday party:
We all survived a week of crazy weather including a scary tornado warning where we all hid out in my craft room in the basement as the town tornado sirens sounded (funny sidenote--as we saw the weather report that interrupted regular programs on TV that night, they pointed an arrow in the path of where they expected the tornado to go. I, not knowing where we lived according to the map shown asked Scott where we were in reference to the line and all he did was look at me. Needless to say, we were all in the basement within the following 3 minutes!):
Our whole family watched Jaden perform her preschool end-of-year program:
We attended a super fun birthday party for our friend Joey:
We celebrated Memorial Day by watching the parade (it was HOT):
And later that day went to my stepmom's house for some "hillbilly" water fun as we called it!:
June:
We went to Memphis Kiddie Park with friends; the girls LOVED it:
Jaden was our little star performer in her first dance recital:
Jaden earned her 6th medal for completing a semester at The Little Gym:
We took the whole family to Scott's cousin Kevin's wedding to Krissy:
My littlest sister Amanda graduated from high school; we went to her graduation party:
We enjoyed a week in Columbus with family including our cousins Allyson and Chloe from Florida:
During that week we not only hit up Zoombezi bay where I got to ride about 10 waterslides (woohoo!! Thanks to my aunt who kept an eye on Jaden and Sienna!), but we also had a great day at the Zoo with all of the kids and my brother Seth:
We celebrated the two best dads in the entire world--Scott and his dad Rob:
Jaden attended Safety Town and graduated:
July:
We went to the lake house for the first time all year and Scott's brother Ryan and his beautiful girlfriend Jenna flew in from California to spend the 4th with us!:
We took Bristol on her first boat ride and watched the fireworks from the water:
Jaden and Sienna rode in their first Independence Day bike parade:
And we spent 13 AMAZING days at the lake all together:
We had a fun night out with family from Georgia (my mom's Aunt Gail, her daughter Julie (not pictured) and granddaughter Rachel; Aunt Elaine, my mom's other aunt was also with us):
My cousin Destry graduated from high school and we all went to his graduation party:
My step-dad gave me tickets to Jimmy Buffet for my birthday and it was a fun night being a parrothead!:
Jaden and Sienna started swimming lessons:
We spent my 29th birthday at the lake--could not imagine a better place to spend it, or better company to spend it with!:
We went to South Bass Island on Lake Erie for a day and traveled around the island on the longest golf cart ever:
August:
My sister and I took Jaden out for her first back-to-school shopping spree where she got to pick one item from each store we walked into. We hit some awesome sales and Jadie-girl got a lot of nice stuff within our budget!:
We all attended Family Day at the Browns stadium:
We spent another week in Columbus at my mom's where Bristol took her first dip in the baby pool Grammy has:
Jaden started kindergarten! I went to school with her for her first day; a few days later she went by herself for the first time and even rode the school bus:
September:
Scott and I went to San Diego for 5 days, just the two of us, and had a wonderful time celebrating the wedding of Scott's friend Kevin and his gorgeous bride Ericka:
Sienna started her first year of preschool:
Bristol started eating fresh baby food made by mama:
We celebrated Sienna's 4th birthday with our family:
Scott & I went to the Cleveland Browns 2nd home game together (and they actually WON!):
Bristol hit one of my favorite baby milestones--she started sitting up unassisted:
October:
Scott took a Wednesday off work for "family fun day"--we had a day FILLED with fall fun!:
We celebrated Jaden's 6th birthday with a party in the park:
My sister and I took the kids to a halloween event at the fire station:
My Grandma Lulu came to see our new house and visited with us for a day:
We trick-or-treated with our cousins:
And the following night went out again to beg for candy in our neighborhood:
November:
We went to Scott's cousin's wedding in Maryland:
We spent a day with our friends who had moved to North Carolina and were visiting Ohio:
We rode on The Polar Express:
We celebrated our first Thanksgiving as a family of 5 at Scott's dad's house:
And I wrapped up the month with an afternoon at our local winery for an ornament exchange with a group of girlfriends:
December:
We decorated the house for Christmas and everyone enjoyed hanging ornaments on the tree:
We went to our preschool parents Christmas party where the girls all loved Santa:
We celebrated Scott's 34th birthday:
We went to Kraynak's to see the annual Christmasland displays (a tradition that goes back to my own childhood):
We went on our annual adventure to Country Lights at Lake Farm Park where Bristol decided she did not like Santa anymore (ha!):
We spent Christmas Eve going to church and then at Scott's cousin's house with his family:
We hosted 17 family members for Christmas at our house:
We hosted New Years Eve at our house with my sisters, stepmom, nephews, brother-in-law and soon-to-be brother-in-law:
See what I mean when I say it was an awesome year? 2011, you will never be forgotten. 2012, bring on more family memories and special times together!
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