Happy New Year!

It's the start of a new year and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I've been feeling a little melancholy today.  The kids are getting ready to go back to school and our schedules are going to get crazy.  I think I've just really enjoyed this winter break!  These past two weeks have been a wonderful end to this past year.  I just really LOVE spending time with my husband and kids!

Looking back at 2011 it was overall a really great year!  My baby sister graduated from high school.  The kids and I had a great road trip to go celebrate with her.  My kids are all in elementary school this year.  Archer for the last year and Princess for the first year.  I've enjoyed working with Feld as an FFA.  I was able to take photographs for many families and help preserve some memories. 

My sister graduating from high school!

Eclipse

Garden of the Gods

Angel

Archer with a bow in the red/green hat.

Princess

Picasso

X-Wing

Looking forward to 2012.  It started off great.  Since Archer turned 12 the last week of December on January 1, 2012 Archer received the priesthood.  In our church boys receive the Aaronic Priesthood when they are 12.  He is getting so grown up!  That evening we had our families over for a family birthday dinner.  It was just a wonderful night.  We spent time talking, laughing, eating, and celebrating Archer.  Seriously a very good start to the year! 

This year I am looking forward to:

• Destination Imagination (all 4 kids are on teams and I'm coaching Archer's)
• Father/Daughter Dance (Princess's first!  One of the uncles is going as Angel's date.)
• Mother/Son Bowling (Girls get a dance with dad, boys get bowling with mom.)
• My sweet husband and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary.
• Continuing volunteering at the school in the classrooms and with the PTO.
• Family reunion!
• A new niece or nephew being born in June.
• Picasso getting baptized.  (In our church we baptize at 8 years old.)
• A new school year.  (Little freaked out about middle school!)
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• All the little moments that just melt your heart.

2012 WILL be a great year!  I am sure of it.  That doesn't mean that there won't be ups and downs.  There will always be those.  However, we don't have to let those moments define us.  The moments that define us should be the good, not the bad. 

So here is to a wonderful 2012!