Lots to say...

I have not done a good job keeping this blog updated in 2012. Facebook helps me keep family and friends up-to-date for the short term on this kind of stuff, but it is not a proper commemoration of life's highlights, which is what I intended this blog to be. I must say that it has been a difficult year, with much that I care not to revisit, which is probably why this has been neglected. However, there have also been celebrations and good memories, and things I should have memorialized here. So I will try to catch up now :)

Three years of grad school have come and gone since I started this blog, and I am relieved to tell you that I made it through and graduated on May 12th (also my 11th wedding anniversary)! That day had been on the horizon for so long, and it's arrival was surreal. I'm not really sure how I managed to pull all that off, but it's done and I am grateful! Hopefully one day it pays off.

After graduation, we took off for DISNEYWORLD!! We had all been anticipating this trip for many months, and the kids were so excited to finally go. We spent a week at Disney and visited everything multiple times, did tons of walking, spent lots of money, and had some fun:)

 

 

I barely mentioned Jacob's 5th birthday here, and failed to mention Terese's 13th birthday at all. Yikes! My first baby officially crossed over into the teenage years. Words just cannot describe how astounded I am at how fast she has grown up. She is a beautiful, smart girl and I wish I could slow down time a little bit. She'll be moving out before I know it, and then I'll be turning 40...I better have plenty of wine handy! Anyway, here are a few photos from the party, which was a hotel sleepover (minus the sleeping) the day after we got back from Florida. I was one tired mama!

Let's see, next we had a few weeks of summer at home before we ventured out on family vacation again, this time to Galveston and the beach. We drove, stopping at Dad's in Dallas on the way there, and stopping in Sweetwater, TX on the way home. The drive really wasn't that bad, and we will probably do it again next summer. The beach was really nice, the weather and the water were warm, and it was MUCH more relaxing that the constant go-go-go of Disney. Can't wait to go back!

 

 

 

Not long after we got back, the kids started school and it was back to the daily grind. I did at least manage to post pictures of that!! Miss Audrey celebrated her 10th birthday, and with that I have two double-digit kids! She had a mani/pedi-party at the nail salon, and then a sleepover to commemorate the big day :)

 

 

 

 

Audrey decided to quit taking ballet class and start gymnastics, in which she is quite a natural and she has really enjoyed it. She and Terese seem to have really found the activities which suit them physically and make them happy. Terese has been playing volleyball for the YMCA and attending different clinics with a couple of clubs and UNM, and tried out for club volleyball this year. She made the regional team! We will be doing some traveling for tournaments and I am excited to watch her develop as a volleyball player.



Right after graduation, Brian and I joined the gym and began watching what we ate. After about 4 months of that, we were proud to say that Brian lost about 45 pounds and I lost about 20!! We had new family photos taken since the kids had grown so much since last time, and Brian looks much different. Here's hoping the new physique's are here to stay!

As 2012 winds down and we get ready for Christmas, it has been good to reflect on the year's positives and be reminded of my blessings. I will do my best to be a better blogger from now on!

Much love until next time.

The Places You'll Go...

...You have brains in your head
And feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose...

Happy first day of Kindergarten buddy! We love you so much.

Another day of firsts

Yesterday, my girls started the 4th and 8th grades. Terese's last year before high school - thinking about that gives me goosebumps! I just can't wrap my mind around her having gotten there so fast. Or that I could possibly be old enough to have a teenager. She turned 13, a milestone, and I didn't even comemorate it here. I feel like she will be moving out and I will hardly even remember her as a child, it has gone so fast. The next few years will be the true test of how we've done as parents. I have faith in us, but will pray nonetheless! She is a great kid.

My little Audrey did not get the teacher she hoped for, nor is her best friend in the same class. But she is resilient and makes friends easily, and I am not worried for her. I know that's easy for me to say, and that these things mean everything when you are a kid. But she came home yesterday feeling better about the year already, and I feel better too. She has decided to quit ballet and begin gymnastics, perhaps a little inspired by the Olympics. And that's fine, she has the aptitude for that and I think it's interesting how the kids naturally gravitate toward what they are really suited for on their own, eventually. And if she never makes it to the Olympics, that's fine too.

Jacob met his Kindergarten teacher yesterday, Ms. Macklin. She seems great and he was right at home in her classroom. He is excited about starting school tomorrow, and we are excited for him. His last day of preschool at Heights Christian was a weepy one for me, saying goodbye always is. They were good to him and good for him, and have affected the person he is and will be. I will try not to harp on how fast he's growing up, how it will feel to send my last baby off to Kindergarten tomorrow. Being sad will not stop it from coming, although I would be remiss to not recognize the sentiment of it all. Something tells me that won't happen - wish me luck!

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Slacker!

Wow I've really been neglecting this blog! Nearly six months with no update, not even Audrey's birthday - bad Abbie! Life has just been so busy. I just finished the semester from hell, barely making it through a finance class with my sanity, which was all-consuming. Terese is halfway through 7th grade and Audrey halfway through 3rd grade, and Jacob is only a few months away from turning 5. That is just incomprehensible to me, how fast he went from baby to little kid.

In 4 months and 3 weeks, I will be D O N E with school! I can't wait. Just cannot wait. I get little slivers of what it's like to not have homework or studying on my mind during short summer and Christmas breaks, and oh how I miss it. I sometimes feel like grad school has taken too much of my time when I should be focusing on the kids, but then I also feel like I am showing them that you can do anything if you really want to, though it may be hard. I hope to reward my family's sacrifices over the past three years with a trip to Disney next summer, fingers crossed! Here's hoping for a decent tax return and bonus, cause Florida is friggin expensive!

I feel bad that I didn't make it here to commemorate Audrey's 9th birthday, but better late than never! My littlest girl had a bowling party and then a sleepover. She joined a cheer/dance team at school this year and not only loves it but she is pretty darn good. She is still taking ballet classes also, for as long as she is still interested. Most importantly, she is good and smart and important, and I am infinitely proud of her always.

I love you miss Audrey!

The Big 1-2

Twelve (12!) years ago today, I crossed over into the land of motherhood, never to go back again. Although I was not much more than a kid myself, I was blessed by a supportive partner (now husband) and family, and some understanding of how important decisions are in life. And though I want my own kids to make some different choices than I did at that age, I would not change having had Terese for anything.

I love you and am SO proud of you, Terese! I hope you have the Happiest Birthday ever.

Swim party at Grampa's:

Make a wish!

Mmm, Reese's ice cream cake...

(left to right): Jillian, Alyssa, Claire, Terese & Sam

Time for highlights!

My little man is 4!

Happy Birthday Jakey-poo!!
I know I sound like a broken record, and I say this at every birthday you and your sisters have, but another year has gone by so quickly. I remember so vividly holding your little infant body in the rocking chair and thinking about how briefly I would be able to do that. When I carry you sleeping into your room, I marvel at how I can barely walk with you down the hall and not turn sideways :) You are such a smart, funny, sweet little boy and I can't imagine life without you. Today, at your Spiderman party!, your friends Christian, Joshua and Joseph came from school and you all played in your new Mustang powerwheel. Just one more short year and you will be getting ready for Kindergarten! Slow down, just a little bit, baby boy.

I love you, stinky face.

Always-
Mom