It seems unreal that I am writing a goodbye 2011 post. This year went incredibly fast, it never even really felt like Christmas! If I had it my way it'd still be August.
Russ spent the better part of 2011 in Korea, we were able to see him a couple of times throughout the year. Hailey was in preschool, Hunter in 3rd and Owen at home with me.
We had quite a year! Take a look and see.
January
Our silly little full of life daughter turned FOUR years old.
She had a fun Hello Kitty party at home with a few friends. which you can see
Arizona Nana got us a zoo membership best gift ever! We must've gone at least 50 times this year.
and little bubs turned a half a year old. Here is his 6 month blog SIX MONTHS
February
Hunter started February losing some teeth
and Owen was making friends with Max... and then everything changed on us.
We ended up on a flight to AZ to visit my Sister Julie in the hospital, and we were all able to say goodbye to the queen of our family.
I wrote more about my beautiful Julie HERE.
I miss her immensely every single day.
Russell was also able to fly home to see Julie and stay in AZ a few weeks.
With Uncle James and Daddy!
Looking through photo albums with the husband
Owen and his papa
Owen and his daddy
and we did a mini trip to the grand ole canyon
March
Happy March Owen!
Happy March Owen!
and living in Colorado we get to visit with some of my oldest friends :)
read about his new age HERE
APRIL
Hailey was as cute as ever in April. She really missed her daddy and didn't understand the gone for a year thing.
Our friend moved to where we are! It was nice to see a familiar face.
Owen accomplished mt everest! aka as the stairs
We spent many, many, many hours on skype talking to daddy. Thank you skype!
Owen turned NINE months old! See the blog HERE
and Owen was initiated in to the Colorado Rockies cub
May
Spring has arrived!
We discovered an awesome hike minutes from our house, lots of ponds and rivers and a nature center.
We decided to bring in summer with a new swingset! The kids were thrilled, after the hours upon hours and hours it took me to assemble the darn thing.
Hunter played on a local soccer league and averaged 5 goals per game! Future Beckham?
Our lovely dog Max picked up an awful habit of running away, this is the last picture I got of him. We sure do miss you Max!
Being able to visit the grandparents nearby again is great, we made many trips up there this year.
Just another near backyard location, we are so blessed to be here!
Hunter welcomed summer vacation with open arms.
June
Hooray for summer vacation! Sleeping in, staying outside til 9pm, the colorado nights...ahh bliss living here!
I went a little insane and got the kids a puppy. Her name is Stella and shes a neurotic chocolate lab, but oh do we love her.
Owen found out what a swing was, doesnt he look thrilled?
Hailey was proud to be an american all summer long.
Another great neighborhood perk we found.
We spent 98% of the summer in our backyard.
and the circus came to town!
going to that circus parade that day, led me to going to Zumba...which changed everything. It was my mommy escape, i was able to get one whole hour to myself twice a week. I loved it!
Now I am an addict, and a certified instructor!
July=hose time! Owen loved it.
Since our little man was turning ONE, Daddy got to come home from Korea for a couple of weeks!
We were so excited to go pick him up!
Hooray for being together!!!!
Mr. Owen the bully, grew up super fast and had his first birthday.
We had a really fun party for him which you can see HERE
We soaked up Daddys love as much as we could, and the 2 weeks went by in a flash too.
It was so nice to be able to have him home for such a big occasion.
Russells aunt and uncle happened to be nearby us a couple of days before he went back so we were able to see them too!
and then we went to the top of the world.
because thats just what we do here.
August
We spent as much time as possible outside at the parks because sadly, August means back to school time.
We traded in our old crappy minivan for a suitable mountain car. I love my jeep!
Brothers are the best, we loved having Hunter home from school all day.
My little Hailey started PRESCHOOL!!!!!
Hunter went to THIRD grade
and Owen and I found ourselves all alone at home again.
Goodbye summer, you were a great one!
September
I began the launch of my Photography company in September. IT did really well!
Stella survived the horrible parvo, we are so lucky to have our puppy home and okay!
We found a local gymnastics class and Hailey LOVES to go, she said shes going to be in the olympics someday.
Sharing is caring <3
Hailey is such a great big sister. I love watching them play together.
and I love these two together also. We are so very blessed!!!
September was a good one.
October
Fall in Colorado is magical.
We spent many hours with the golden aspens. I missed it SO MUCH when we were in AZ!
MY kids got really good at being immune to my photo shoot tricks.
We made new friends in town and went to the pumpkin patch!
Painted pumpkins
enjoyed the fall weather,
and wen trick or treating
We had a pretty damn good year, but when Daddy came home in November? AWESOME!!!
The kids has no idea he was coming, we kept it a secret and surprised them.
Have you seen this video yet?
THAT was fun :)
We even got all the grandparents in ONE room!
Then we spent a lot more time at the zoo, because we are members and the zoo rocks.
We love the zoo
and we love having friends with us at the zoo too.
Then it was time for Thanksgiving, and our friend Ninny Muggins returned for the Holidays!
December
Between the end of October and right before Christmas. I did a photo shoot, sometimes two a week. I was crazy busy! I loved every minute of it, but it kind of killed me being a paparazzi to my own kids. Woops! I only have pictures from 6 different days in December.
I started December by going away! A whole weekend of relaxation with some of my best friends. It was so much fun.
We got a great snow day a few days before Christmas! We had a blast.
Owen didnt know what to think about all the white stuff.
Hailey loved throwing powder snow balls at me.
We even scored this awesome sled at a antique store for 10$ a few days before!
Santa came just in time for Christmas morning!
One of my best friends came into town, played with the babies and took me away for a night of fun.
The kids all got so much bigger.
and learned to be even more awesome than before
2011 you were good to us.
We made GREAT friends, found amazing places, finally settled into a good good life. I cant wait to see whats next!
Bring it on 2012!!!
