2009 - Year in review

This 2009 photo collage idea came from Stacy Julian's Challenge to quickly scan through 2009 photos and pick 12 favorites. Man - that's a hard task. I had so many favorites and wanted to pick 50 more that highlighted our year. I got all teary-eyed and laughed and smiled at many.

My kids grew up so much this year - wow! I felt so blessed looking through all our adventures and family photos from the year. Not that it was always hunky dory ... but overall it was a good year.

Observations about 2009:

~ Don't leave q-tips where a 2-year-old can reach them.
~ Boys have lots of energy.... LOTS.
~ We love fresh fruit such as peaches, clementines, grapes, apples, bananas.
~ Hannah is sure a girly girl full of creativity.
~ Engineer husbands build AWESOME swingsets.
~ Bake rolls long enough so they aren't doughy.
~ Don't leave toothpaste where a 2-year-old can reach it.
~ Hikes are dirty challenging adventures ... but make for fun family memories.
~ Newborns are oh-so-tiring, but oh-so-worth-it.
~ Frozen Pizza saves many a crazy evening.
~ If you make chocolate chip cookies enough, your cookie baking skills improve.
~ Prayers from 5-year-old Abraham are so sincere and sweet.
~ Husbands named Jimmy save their wife by being so helpful and kind.
~ Glow sticks and forts make a cold wintery day inside more fun.
~ Maxwell loves to "go-go-go."
~ Remember mosquito repellent when walking on the river trail.
~ Even big heavy swingsets can blow over in the Utah wind.
~ Hannah loves to read and read and read some more.
~ Smiles from kids make their faces glow.
~ Reinforcing little boy's jeans is much easier than mending them after the knees rip out.
~ Don't leave anything in the bathroom drawers when a 2-year-old is around.
~ Hannah and Abe both hit a growth spurt right after I bought them new school jeans.
~ Quaking aspen's struggle to survive when planted in 100 degree weather.
~ Abraham loves summer the most.
~ When 2-year-olds learn to take off their clothes - watch out!
~ 4-8 p.m. always seems to be the most hectic time of day.
~ Mom needs lots of quiet times and mom-time-outs with 4 tots around.
~ We are grateful for antibiotics.
~ Dates with Jimmy are few - but fun.
~ Max loves popcorn.... even for breakfast.
~ Planting 50 tulip bulbs the weekend before you have a baby is physically challenging but still fun with tots helping.
~ There are ups and downs that come with employment ... even at the Church.
~ We love having a house where the boys can run laps around the entire downstairs... 47-48-49-50.
~ 7-year-old Hannah's are superb helpers.
~ The kids love watching football with Jimmy. They choose who they will cheer for by the color of uniforms.
~ Never buy stuff from an info-mercial. It's a rip-off.
~ Blueberries turn your entire mouth very, very blue.
~ Abe does a wonderful job at emptying the dishwasher.
~ Even Max can be gentle with a newborn... sometimes.
~ Home cookin' is comforting.
~ Whenever a commercial comes on tv, Abe will say, "is it going to be right back?" ... every time.
~ Pregnancy is hard.... even when it goes as well as possible.
~ Chocolate milkshakes, hot chocolate, and dark chocolate are family favorites.
~ Don't leave the fridge water unlocked or Max will pour water ALL OVER the floor.
~ Hannah and Abe love outings alone with mom or dad.
~ Mom loves to see the light in kid's eyes when they achieve something or learn something new.
~ We may have a crazy houseful of kids and parents, but overall, we really LOVE each other and have fun together.


A friend on facebook asked the question:

What's the best thing that has happened to you in 2009?

Even though I could list several highlights with each of the kids, I'd have to say the highlight for our fam was having Truman join our family. It's so sweet to have a newborn around.
How about you? What was something good that happened in 2009?