2019 Year In Review

I end this year so very thankful! 2019 was one for the books!  We went to fun places, experienced lots of new things with the ever growing kids, and added another precious baby to the family! A year ago, I wasn't in the best of places.  I wanted to feel normal, but I just didn't.  For anyone who has tried to get pregnant without success, there is some coming to terms that happens around the 1 year mark and Christmas and New Year's just happened to hit around that one year mark.  Between hitting that milestone and passing November when our chemical pregnancy was due (November 23rd due date to be exact, the same date a year later we would welcome Ayla), I was struggling. January was definitely a come to Jesus time in my life and while I still don't understand why things worked out the  way they did, I would not give up the spiritual growth I experienced this past year. Boy can a lot change in a year and I am so grateful and thankful for where we are at the end of this year and the memories that have been made. So here's a quick recap of the year we are leaving behind. 

In January we took our first family trip to Hawaii!  It was a complete blast and we still find ourselves talking about it often! Can't wait to go back there someday!

Eli turned 8 years old, had pink eye for his birthday so had to reschedule all the festivities for later but we eventually got to celebrate him the way he deserved! 

We did not get much snow at all, we were told we were going to get dumped on with snow but were once again disappointed by the weathermen with a little bit of snow but it was enough to make a snowman and the kids were happy.  

2 days after my 33rd Birthday I thought I saw a hint of a line on a pregnancy test and was confirmed the next day with another faint line.  As this picture depicts it may have taken a little while to help me believe it was happening and that this baby was gonna stick! I could not have been anymore thankful for this little gift on the way! 

In April, Malachi turned 9 and Sabrina turned 7.  They celebrated with a joint batman party! 

We had a fun Easter, made even better when we got to tell the kids that their dream of a new baby was coming true!

To close out a very busy April, we also made a trip to Disneyland. I was very very sick with morning sickness on this trip so I didn't make the best of memories from it but the kids had a blast and that's what matters most! 

Eli played up a year in baseball which had a steep learning curve but he did pretty good and learned a lot and most of all grew in his love of the game! 

LB graduated preschool! 

We celebrated Father's Day and Peter's first as a father of 5! 

For 4th of July we headed down to Coos Bay and had a great time! 

In the summer LB turned 5 years old, wow time has gone fast! 

We also got to catch a glimpse of our special little baby! 

And celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary

In August we got away for a couple days to celebrate our anniversary and the last getaway before baby! It was a good time! 

We also celebrated our family day with a very fun day at the beach with the kids.  The valley had a weird August and we weren't sure about the weather but as soon as we got to the ocean it was beautiful! 

We were growing growing growing in the fall.  The kids have kept us busy with soccer, dance classes, piano, and now basketball.  We also started another very busy, but going great, school year!   

And of course the highlight of our year was the birth of beautiful and precious Ayla! She is such a dream come true! 

And last but not least, we celebrated our very first Christmas as a family of 7 (plus Groot)!  Two weeks before Christmas my dad had a heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery. Between being 2 weeks post partum, caring for a newborn, Peter trying to balance an insanely busy time at work with home life, and my dad having these issues it has been a stressful December to say the least.  But I can't end this year with anything but thanksgiving in the gift of this amazing family God has given to me and that my Dad has made it through surgery and recovery with flying colors!  2019 has not been an easy year but man has it been a good one!