2013 where did you go?

Or maybe… where did I go?

Well, all I can say is it sure wasn't where I planned. It never is. But that is okay, because in the end He has the perfect plan.

So on one hand there is a lot that I want to forget about 2013. I don't want to remember the mice, the rental house, or my attitude.  But then on the other hand I want to remember my days at home, my babies (especially the one in her first year), the laughter, the happiness, the dreams, and the love.

So with that, here is a recap of 2013!

October obvious brought Norah.  But November was about celebrating Miss Addi!  A monkey 2nd birthday was quite appropriate for this little monkey.  In November we also moved into the rental house.

December was a non stop Christmas celebration.  We had fun with Advent activities, including frosting cookies, snowmen pancakes, and fancy hot cocoa!

January was pretty quiet, but included a trip to Grandma and Papa's where the girls were treated to s'mores in the fire place!

February brought more snow and stories of a house that a farmer needed moved off his land.  Ever since the sale of our house, we had been keeping our ears open for such a lead!

March was Aunt Laura's wedding!  And that meant three sweet flower girls!! Both Cori and Addi made it down the aisle, and Cori surprised us all by standing up with the big girls during the entire wedding!!

Sunny and warm days were back for April so we attempted some kite flying to celebrate.  We also made some paintings and Norah had her first tastes of food.

May meant 6 months for Norah!  But is also meant saying goodbye to some dear friends. (we miss you)

Summer was in full swing by June (yes, mommy misjudged the size of the kiddy pool).

Norah learned to crawl, we loved being outside, and tried our best to keep cool!!

July was a mash up of all things summer… more pool time, small town Fourth of July, and county fair.

When the girls look at pictures it is the month of July that seems to be their favorite!

August was camping and cousin camp.  Yes, camping… but we sorta cheated.  We "camped" in a cabin at the lake, the weather wasn't the greatest but small quarters with your closest friend was a blast.

Cousin camp was new this year!  This meant we had lots of quality time at Grandma and Grandpa's and got to take advantage of big city life.  

September = School!

What!!! Really, how can this be! But it was true, 5 years have really flown by! But we are blessed that she has a great preschool to attend with a wonderful teacher and wonderful friends!

Year one for Norah was in the books when Halloween rolled around in October.  Addi was easy to convince to be Little Red Ridding Hood, Norah had little choice to be the Big Bad Wolf, and once Cori voiced her opinion that Grandmother should have glasses and wear a skirt she was on board too!

After what seemed like forever, we were finally making visible progress with a new house by November.  I do believe that God has a perfect plan in all of this, but I will admit that doesn't make it easier to wait on things/people who are out of your control. Now it is the next stage of this journey that will probably throw us some more curve balls, but we are excited for all that lays ahead.

And as a little teaser, until I can post again… here is our home sweet home:

(December 2013)