A Look at 2013

I really enjoy taking a look back at what my family experienced each year. I hope to do this with my kids as they get bigger. =] So for us Walkers, here's the highlights:

{Vacations}

• We all went to Hawaii for the first time for my brother's wedding

{Jobs}

• Joe changed companies this summer and now work for Rio Tinto doing maintenance 
• I subbed the first half of the year and then decided to take the next school year off to be home more with my girls

{Family Changes}

• We had a baby girl, Brynlee Joy Walker, born on May 13th, the day after Mother's Day!

{Big Purchases}

• I finally got an iPhone and LOVE it! (What took me so long??)
• I got the bedroom furniture set of my dreams along with a king-sized mattress
• We found the PEFECT big girl bedroom furniture for Brenna's room
• Joe got a new bow that he really is excited about

{Family Events}

• Brenna and I went to two months of "Story Time" together at the library
• I got kidney stones while pregnant (again) and had surgery, a stent for two weeks, and had kidney failure after it was removed. I haven't been to the hospital so much in my life!
• Joe turned 30! 
• Survived living another year with my parents! 
• Joe was with his dad when his dad shot a large elk
• Joe participated in all three days of "Total Archery Challenge" at The Bird
• Brynlee finally eats well, sleeps 10-12 hours at night, sits up, crawls, says "Mama", eats solids & puffs and can drink through a straw. That's a lot for a baby. :)

Compared to last year, it looks like almost nothing happened! I can't believe it! But because I was pregnant and the baby is still really little, we knew we would be home more and keep things simple. We also spent a lot of time with family this year and visited all sets of grandparents often. It was a special year because of Brynlee, but a harder year overall. I am definitely looking forward to a fresh start!

Welcomed November

For the first time in years, I was glad November was here. Brynlee has added some of this excitement to our family again!

Eek! I'm 29!

We started the month with birthdays! Mainly mine. Turning 29 was so much better than I anticipated! A few days before, I went to brunch with my mom, grandma and aunt to my favorite bakery- Gourmandise! I got my favorite dish:

The next night, we had a little family celebration with my side of the family. Brenna and Brynlee did help blow out my birthday candles of course! My mom made a delectable dinner, too! They were such good sports and played games. (My favorite thing to do!) Family Feud and Mexican Train.

The night before my birthday, we went to dinner with Joe's parents and my two brother-in-laws and celebrated their birthday's too- David, Matt & I have our birthdays within seven days of each other. It works out well! No kids either…

The day of my birthday, my dear friend Anna invited me and the girls over for lunch and a playdate! It was so nice getting mommy-time in and enjoying each other's little ones. When I got home I played with Brenna and relaxed. My mother-in-law offered to pick Brenna up to play with her cousin so Joe and I got to enjoy a nice, romantic dinner that he made while Brynlee slept!

We ended the night by going to Leatherby's for some sundaes!

Oh, and we discovered by the end of the night that Brynlee is learning how to sit up on her own! I was excited and sad at the same time!

{Shooting}
I haven't been shooting in so long. I forgot how. I also forgot how nervous I get to pull the trigger! But I ended up having a blast and shooting every gun there. I think it's important to know how to handle a gun safely and to be able to defend yourself if needed. It's also a hobby Joe and I can do together, which is what we've been looking for.  Hopefully we'll go a lot more often in the spring!

{So You Think You Can Dance Tour}
I got to cross another thing off my "30 Before 30" list! My sweet mother-in-law wanted to take ME to this tour for HER birthday! We went to dinner at the Cracker Barrel first and then watched the show together at the Maverick Center. The dancers were so entertaining! I had many favorites! I laughed when Rachelle told me her favorite dance was the hip-hop rap one. :) It was such a fun night! I was only disappointed that the lighting was so dark in there that her and I didn't get a picture together.

{Dance Class…. Again}
I told Brenna after she took dance classes for a month when she was two, that she would have to wait until she was three to do more. She is a frequent dancer, so it seemed like the perfect time. We bought her a leotard, tights and ballet shoes and I took her to Linda Fenton. A previous student of mine that I taught raved about their technique training. Brenna did very well. She had to go in the room without me while I sat and watched her on the screen. She was nervous. She lasted about 30 minutes of the 45. She did cry and asked for me, I showed her the screen, gave her hugs and off she went. But then she just sat on the bench and watched the other girls dance before asking to leave. So I decided we'd perhaps try again in the New Year! It was still fun seeing her try her best and experience it.

{Moving}
Mine and Brenna's best friend moved at the end of this month. Brooke and her daughter Morgan stayed at our house the week before they left. It was fun seeing them more and soaking up those last days together! Brooke and I stayed up late a few nights and talked endlessly like we did all growing up! I really didn't want her to leave, but she was going through a divorce and was starting fresh in San Diego. We threw her a going-away party and did as much as we could to prepare for her to go. I cried more days this month than I had in years. I miss her more than I can care to tell people. I can't wait to go visit her next year!

{Thanksgiving}
It was strange that Joe had to work the night shift so that wasn't fun! I decided to take the girls to my family's Thanksgiving dinner for a couple hours. I was so glad we got to see family that night and eat delicious food together! The highlight of the night was my girls… everyone loved seeing Brenna and Brynlee and all the cuteness they bring! Happy First Thanksgiving Brynlee! Next year you get to eat all the food you want! :)

Baby's First Halloween 2013

We always enjoy Halloween! Even though I don't do spooky and creepy very well, we keep it fun and sweet and have a blast!

This year we had: Izzy the Pirate

The Ladybug

Our tradition starts with visiting the "grandma's and grandpa's" at my mother-in-law's work where she is a nurse for longterm care patients. They pass out candy to the kids as we walk by. It's actually a really neat, humbling experience. There are many patients who can't pass out candy or talk, but their smiles say it all. Children have a way of bringing joy to young and old, especially old. 

We thought we forgot Brynlee's ladybug costume in the car, but ended up finding it later. *Sigh*. So here is Brenna, her cousins Matix & Ellyah, and sweet Brynlee:

Afterwards we went to our church's Harvest party. It's our second year and a lot of fun! Brenna had a little friend, Ava meet us there too which was neat! Brenna played games, got her face painted, (she chose a whale (HUH?) did a cupcake walk, bounced in the bounce house, and petted some animals. There was a large, movie star (really!) camel there and we got to go in and pet him with no worries. Brynlee did so well and was content being held and probably getting overstimulated with each second!

Next, we visit Granny Mary and Poppa Sam who live down the street. They always have a special treat for the girls and get some cuddle-time in with Brynlee of course! Brenna gets her chocolate milk and M&M's and then all is right with the world.

Last but not least, we trick-or-treat in our neighborhood circle. Kimmy, the neighbor across the street adores the girls and so we visited her last and let her enjoy them! 

It was a fun night and a cold night, but no snow so we didn't complain! We were exhausted by the end and I'm already deciding what the girls should be for next year, ha! ha! (Matching theme comes to mind…)

Here are some other fun pictures as we prepared for Halloween:

This cracked me up! She really thought he was going to put
"pumpkin guts" on her head!

Not sure about this. But tried it for the first time!