A Look Back At Twenty Eleven

I can't believe that I am sitting here getting ready to recap Two Thousand and Eleven, but yet I am. It seems like it was just yesterday (I know, so cliche) that we gave a proper farewell to 2010, seen here. and welcomed 2011 with opens arms and frankly, its kind of sad to have to say good-bye to another blessed year. But lucky me, I have this little thing called a blog and I can relive 2011 whenever I want to!

So let's get going. I decided to try and choose one picture or memory to represent each month. Notice the word try, some months just may need more. I got this idea from Shutterfly.  I was contemplating a New Years card but then figured that since this actually reaches more people that it was the only way to go. So here goes nothing or in our case, everything!

January.
The passing of a GREAT man, my Grandpa. He was a husband. A father. A grandpa. And a friend to many. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. But I suspect thats exactly how its suppose to be for someone that you loved so dearly. Love you and miss you so very much.

February.

Our trip to Milwaukee to see the Garrett Family. I love that it is such a quick and cheap flight to see them but it still stinks to have them so far away! Good thing we hopped on plane and came to the Cheese State for NYE!

One of my favorites of Kaden.

March.
Kaden got a "new" room to go with his new role as a big brother! He loved the little decal on the wall with his name-okay so he might not have noticed his name but he certainly loved the car! And I loved his expression. Doesn't get much better than that!

St. Patrick's Day. So maybe it was the day that Justin and I "technically" got married 3 years prior but this year we were able to enjoy a few of the festivities that this holiday has to offer and better yet, with some great friends. This was our first time at the Brookside St. Patty's Day Parade and it did not disappoint-calendars are already marked for this years trip!

Another of my favorites. 

April.

Brought bigger bellies, birthdays and a new living room.

Justin turned 30 and while he was turning 30 in Houston at the Final Four, we were at the zoo wishing him a very happy birthday. 

May.

One word, well name, Logan Beckett. He was our biggest blessing of the year. 

June.

We got a trial run at what a family of five would feel like. My nephew, Blake, came to town for a few days and boy did we have a great time. We got to go see the Royals play-Logan's first game. We took a trip to Deanna Rose. And we ate dinner at a japanese steak house. 

July.

Was hot. So what better way to cool off than with a trip to the lake for the 4th of July. We might have lost power one night but the boys still had fun. 

July was also the month that we took our big FAMILY trip to Minnesota for the 2012 South Baseball Tour. This year it wasn't just Justin, Kaden and I-we took the whole family and then some.

August.

Monkey turned two! He had a big birthday bash full of dump trucks and hard hats. It the perfect way to celebrate his special day with all his family and friends. 

September.

Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My. The circus was in town and Kaden was at the perfect age for his first trip. Another trip that we will be making again in 2012. 

Another big event for September, Logan rolled over for the first time. He was getting too big, too quickly!

October.

Was full of family, pumpkin patches and Fall Bucket List items were checked off one by one. The highlight was a tie. Between Logan being baptized and the kids in their costumes for Halloween. Have you seen anything cuter??

November.

Thanksgiving is suppose to be about family and friends. Well, this year, Thanksgiving wasn't all that great. We made it to one family gathering but halfway through Kaden got sick and we spent the next few days trying to get everyone healthy. Normally the highlight would have been Thanksgiving but this time it was taking Kaden to his first movie.

Another highlight and probably one of the most important of the year was traveling to Joplin, MO with colleagues to help plant trees for those who lost homes and had their lives turned upside down. The stories that we heard will be forever etched in my mind. 

December.

Was all about FAMILY. We had someone very special turn 97. We had a HUGE announcement for the family. Logan started standing up on his own. And we celebrated Christmas with all our family, unlike Thanksgiving. Even as I type this we are adding to our December highlights, Milwaukee with the Garretts but more to come on that later!

Overall, Twenty Eleven was pretty fantastic and although it will be sad to say goodbye, I can't wait to see what Twenty Twelve brings for our family. Thanks for taking the journey with us. Happy New Year to you and yours, may it be filled with lots of love and laughter.