I had wanted to do a Year in Review post, but I had a hard time deciding what images I wanted to use for each month. I decided to stick to a one-image-per-month rule to narrow it down. Today, being the first of 2015, feels good and fresh. I’ve been feeling a bit flat lately with the holidays and ending of another year. This is the first time in my life that I can remember not welcoming the ceremony of sweeping out the old year and accepting the new one with wide open arms. The last part of 2014 really wasn’t great and there was such a sense of loss in my family that I’ve been sad about…
Here’s 2014 in Review. You can see 2013’s review HERE.
JANUARY
Little Audrey turned one and we went to Harrison Hot Springs to celebrate. That place never, ever disappoints and we went with my whole side of the family. By far, one of the best ways to celebrate.
FEBRUARY
In keeping with our tradition of going somewhere for our birthday celebration, we stayed for a few days on Bainbridge Island to celebrate my birthday. Barry took a few weeks off between transitioning jobs. It was a month that went quickly, but most of our time was spent together.
MARCH
We replaced part of our fence in the back yard, adding a gate and easy area to get to our garbage/recycle area. My dad and Izak did most of the work and it turned out better than we’d anticipated. My grandparents came over and helped, my mom planted some things in our garden, and I made everybody food. We also buried the biggest rock in the Universe.
APRIL
We celebrated Maggie’s 4th birthday. She specifically asked for a party and so we stayed home. Her birthday fell on Easter, which we hosted our families/framily for a celebration. Over 20 people at ONE table ate fresh-caught salmon in our yard and later Mags danced for us all while we had a sing-along inside. We also hosted a friend birthday party, her friends came dressed as princesses, kings, queens, and pirates. A month to remember celebrating our first baby.
MAY
The start of just being at home and reveling in the goodness of our backyard. Also, the first time I have ever changed my hair, trying a ‘ombre’ look….blonde at the end. Ha! Mother’s Day with Elvrum/Lowman/Rabin clan in Anacortes, so many little cousins and loving faces.
JUNE
Maggie finished school for the year (yahoo!!) and Barry did a triathlon at Martha Lake. Lots of time spent at home, eating popsicles and splashing in our mini pools. Barry and I went to Las Vegas for a weekend. It was glorious with the weather super hot. I read probably 24 books.
JULY
Got together with our awesome-sauce group of friends for Fourth of July, watching all the fireworks on the drive home. I did a couple photoshoots of friends and went up to Anacortes a few times. Introduced the girls to the goodness of Trafton Lake, the lake of my childhood days. PNW summer-time is the best.
AUGUST
A number of years ago, my dad did a very rough sketch of what our front driveway should look like if we were every to get rid of our yard. We finally decided to take the steps to do it. Never before had conditions been so miserable on a few days of digging before any of the ‘real’ work needed to get done. The popsicle consumption increased ten-fold for these couple weeks. Lots of entertainment for the girls, but I’m certain my dad and Izak were o-v-e-r it when the job finished. We love the driveway. And my dad wears billowy pants to work in….
SEPTEMBER
Oh, September. We went to Seabrook with the Campbells to celebrate Barry’s birthday, but it became quite clear that my grandma’s health was deteriorating quickly. I made it back home to be with my family, the trip became more sad than happy for me. My grandma died peacefully at home and in the short span of time that it took for her body to shut down, I learned so many lessons about living, dying and everything in between. I will forever be thankful for the support of Barry, the pure joy my children exude, and the closeness of my family during that time. Maggie started her second year of montessori school, so confident in every way this year.
OCTOBER
October was trips to Anacortes and Alger; however, it was also the loss of Sparky. Still reeling from the death of my grandma and other family shifts, him being hit by a car in front of our house was a shock. Although he was a Little Shit in every, single sense of the description, he was also a family member. The girls dressed up as an Mary Poppins and an owl for Halloween, hinting that the coming years will be SUPER fun in that department. I also attended a photography workshop that was encouraging.
NOVEMBER
Thanksgiving and photoshoots. The weather shifted to start feeling cold and for the first time in a long, long time our weekends were mostly open with us just being home. Playdates to make treats with Nicole and Caroline and lots of time visiting Great Grandpa.
DECEMBER
Like November, December was mostly about being home with our little family. We set up our tree early and learned to say ‘no’ to events. Christmas was spread out and we really got to enjoy each and every part of our family. Maggie got to see The Nutcracker and The Grinch, two plays that were a high light for her. The Elf on the Shelf came to stay for the month and both girls really, really liked that. A tradition that’ll continue, I’m sure. I also did a few more shoots, investigating photography dreams.
Lots of reflection and thought about saying goodbye to this year.
