Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 Year in Review

http://www.theopen-road.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2013.jpg

It’s that time!  My annual recap of the year!  I started this several years ago, and every year I really enjoy reading over previous years….  Here are the recaps for 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 if you’re interested….  It’s fun to look back and see what I had to say about those years and how much our lives have changed since then!

As I looked over 2012, some of my pictures are missing :(  I don't know what happened there.....  Makes me sad....  :(

Nothing I can do about it now....  Here's the 2013 recap:

January:
 
Shea turned 4 and got her ears pierced!  She was very, very brave.  Michael and I took her out, just the three of us to celebrate :)  And, Michael and I traveled to Austin, TX with the MUD Board for the Winter Conference ;)

February:
In February, I traveled to Dallas with Jessica to run the Hot Chocolate Run :)  It was C-O-L-D!  We had fun, but neither of us really *do* cold, so we probably won't sign up again....  LOL
  

Then, the next week our family participated in the Run 4 the Children, a race that benefits Adoption.  


Also in February, our long time Pastor retired.  It was SO hard to let him go, but he has big plans (with God), and we're excited for him.  I cried through every sermon for 3 months from the time he announced his retirement to when he actually retired....  I just really love this man of God, and his wife.  They are such a wonderful force in this world, who make the world better.

 


March:

 In March, Auston and Gregory attended the KACH Formal.  They both looked great.  Here they are with Auston's friend Kaitlyn :)


We also went camping at Lake Texana Park.  It was our first "real" camping experience with the Littles, and it didn't go *too* bad......

 

 

 

I participated in my 1st Marathon Relay- the Lucky Trails Marathon with Jessica and some other girls from my Mom's Run This Town Chapter...

 

I considered trading Michael in for a new model.....

 

AND, as if that weren't enough, Calley was baptized!

 

AND Easter....

 

 
Have I mentioned how much I love that Michelle attends church with us?????

April:

In April, Jessica, Trishia, and our family participated in the Blue Bell Fun Run in Brenham....

Shea ran her first race- 1 mile
 
All the girls got matching shirts...
 

 

That afternoon, Jessica and I traveled to Austin to participate in the Austin 10/20 the next day, a 10 mile race....  In hindsight, this might not have been the best idea...  but we still finished and it was *mostly* fun....

 

Auston's choir sang at the Lanier Theological Library...  that was pretty cool!

 

Our church had "Pizza and Praise" night, and I just had to share this picture of Shea with her friend Sarah....  this girl can catch some AIR!

 

May:

In May, Trishia, Jess, and I participated in the Esprit De She....

 

Our church did their annual Hat day for Mother's Day...  here I am with Danielle in one of my Grandma's old hats :)

 

And Gregory turned 14...  but I have no pictures?????   

June:
We started cutting William's hair at home....  not bad, huh?

 

We also went camping with the Joneses....  Here is Shea with her first fish and a very proud Uncle Roycey...

 

 
I just love this picture of the Littles in front of Lake Meridian

Jayden Graduated from Sealy High...
 

Michael and I traveled to Corpus Christi with the MUD Board for the Summer Conference.  Here we are at a dinner that was held on the USS Lexington...

 

They had a Sea Turtle release while we were there, so we got up before the sun to watch them go....  It was COOL.....

 

Michael was promoted to Sergeant...  I am SO proud of him!

 

We won't talk about the Littles tearing apart the Constable's office and jumping on his couch......  

 

July:

The Boys and I headed out to Oklahoma again for Boy Scout Summer Camp...

 

 

Camp is so boring....

 

Also in June, I became a Pampered Chef Consultant....  I had NO idea what I was getting in to! Why did I wait so long?????

Michelle and I took the kids to Sea Center Texas....

 

July:

In July, William got his first stiches....

 

Trishia, Jess, and I participated in the Summer Virtual for MRTT- Running Mad...  Trishia and I did the 10K (I'd been sick) and Jess did the Half...

 

 

We also celebrated Gwenn's 40th Birthday and got to hook up old with old friends....  like from when our kids were toddlers....  It was  a Mom's Group reunion....

 
Pictured: Jodi Crum, Jennifer Butler, Gwenn Townsend, Me, and Danielle Regensburger :)

Also in July, Michael and I celebrated 17 years of marriage, but we had pretty much celebrated already while we were in Corpus Christi, so we just went to dinner ;)

And, Michael and the boys went on a Mission Trip to Galveston with our Troop and did work for Galveston Urban Ministries :)

August:

We tried to institute a Family Game Night.....

 
Yeah....  we'll try again in another few months LOL 

Auston, Jessica, and I participated in the Watermelon Run for the Fallen

 

And Back to School happened...  
Auston is finishing up at HIS Classes, with Worldview III and taking Dual Credit Classes at Lone Star College and is in Choir again for his Senior year *gasp*.
Gregory, Shea and William started attending Liberty Classical Academy, a homeschool program here close to the house :)


 




September:

In September, Auston, Jessica, and I started the Bridge Series with a 10K over the Kemah Bridge...


I ran the Texas 10 Katy, and Jessica volunteered instead of running this one...

 

Michael traveled to St. Louis for the COPS Coworker's Retreat again and we were VERY busy with the "stuff" of life...

October:

We participated in our neighborhood's Annual National Night Out Party

 

 

Sandy and I, who have been on the HOA Board together for several years now...

 

The kids and I went to Dewberry Farm again...

 

Auston turned 17....  I'M NOT READY!

 

Another race in the Bridge Series down..

 

Fancy Day at Liberty Classical Academy...

 

And Halloween....

 
Zeny was a Gypsy, Shea a witch, and William a Sock Monkey.  We later decided to say William was Shea's "Flying monkey"  ;)

 

 

 And we blinked and it was November!

Our Church held their annual International Festival, and Auston manned the Sri Lanka Table (since our pastor retired, and he loves Sri Lanka SO much)

 

Nerd Day at Liberty Classical..

 

 

William turned 4....

 

The final race in the Bridge series...  the Half Marathon, which was Auston's first *official* Half, Trishia's first half, and Semalee completed it while coming down with Shingles....  For the Win!  LOL

 

Thanksgiving in Conroe for the first time in several years....

 
 He still likes me <3 p="">

 
Mom and Jim

 
Da Boyzzzzz

 
Da Littlezzzzzz

 

December:
And, before we knew it, it was almost over....
We went to Spring Creek Growers for our tree..

 

Michael continued to torment me.....

 

 

 

 

Auston survived another Ministry Season with Joyful Sound Choir

 

Michelle and I made Gingerbread houses with the kids...

 

And Shea participated in the Christmas Pageant at church...

 

And in a snap...  Christmas was here...

 

In a word, 2013 was busy.  Too busy.  We had a lot of fun, but, I hope in 2014 to slow down a little.  Auston will graduate, and time is only speeding up....  I hope you had a wonderful year in 2013 as well.

 

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God"  Hebrews 12:15