Reflections at Yet Another Year's End

Happy New Year's Eve!

I stand poised between 2008 and 2009...and it's always a time of reflection for me.

I was just reviewing last year's post and was amazed at how much I forgot the events of last year. What's even more amazing is how much happened in that year. We are so blessed and chronicling a year through the photos we took reminds us of this fact.

We've done lots of changing and growing this year -- both personally and as a family. It's been fun and exciting to see how God is working in our lives.

January:

We found out that we were expecting another family member -- much to our surprise -- after 5 years of hoping and praying...and finally deciding to enjoy our family of 4... Emily started her third year of 4-H, and our beloved show 24 was cancelled due to the writer's strike.

February:

Edward turned 7, and we headed to New York City for his birthday adventure, stopping at Build-a-Bear and FAO Schwarz. It was a fun and tiring day! Our homeschool learning group started up for the second semester. Earl Grey (and his brother Clementine) celebrated his 2nd birthday party-style.

March:

We celebrated Easter and ate green eggs and ham on St. Patrick's Day. Edward got glasses, and Emily had her PSSA exams.

April:

Edward started his first Spring soccer season. Emily celebrated being "10-and-a-1/2" on the 15th.

May:

Mother's Day was especially poignant with lots of fun trips afterwards to Motherhood Maternity for some more up-to-date maternity clothing. Emily finished 5th grade, and Edward finished 1st grade. Edward, formerly our "shy guy," volunteered to introduce a Woody Guthrie song at the end-of-year program of our homeschool learning group. Stuart and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. We had a second ultrasound and hoped to find out what gender the baby was...but God kept it a secret from us.

June:

Emily had a wonderful recital with a beautiful costume. We headed to Rehoboth Beach for a day trip with my sister. We had a fun Father's Day and gave Stuart a charcoal grill which brought out his "inner chef." Emily started "en pointe" with a week-long clinic.

July:

Finally facing the inevitable -- that our little 11-year-old station wagon wouldn't fit three kids -- we bought a used minivan and used it to travel to Long Island to see our friend, Sue, marry her wonderful hubby, Sonny. We stayed for the weekend at a huge house along the shore and had a mini vacation. Stuart and I spent a day in New York City to visit with another dear friend, and we enjoyed a very soggy 4th of July. We also headed to Hershey Park for Stuart's company picnic. I had fun watching since most of the rides said no "preggos." *wink*

August:

Since we couldn't vacation in Nags Head, N.C., because of the impending birth, we celebrated the end of summer by hosting "Camp Woohoohaha" -- our madeup family "day camp." We had a blast and even rounded out the day by making s'mores and singing "camp" songs. "My dad is a lav'tory cleaner..." We started school a week early to be sure we'd have things going well before the baby's arrival. Emily started 6th grade, and Edward began 2nd grade.

September:

Ethan Samuel Foote arrived on the 14th, three days after his father's birthday....all 9 lbs. 7 oz., 22 inches of him. He came after dance class, homeschool learning group, and soccer started...so perfect timing, really. *grin* Edward's second season playing soccer was on a team with orange shirts called the "Orange Crush."

October:

Emily turned 11, and we did our birthday adventure to the Philadelphia Zoo and a Build-a-Bear store in King of Prussia Mall. We also went to Philly for cheesesteaks. Practices started for the Nutcracker. Emily got a part as a cannon guard/soldier. The kids trick-or-treated as Star Wars characters again, and Ethan spent his first Halloween as a pumpkin.

November:

Ethan enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. Edward wrapped up his soccer season. Emily continued to practice as a soldier. My sisters and I took my mom out for her birthday to a chocolate cafe. Mmmm!

December:

We wrapped up the year with Sinterklaas Day, a 4-H Christmas party, Breakfast with Santa, the Nutcracker, a cookie bake-off, Christmas dinner at my parents', Boxing Day dinner at our house -- including Sue and Sonny staying overnight as our first-ever houseguests -- Pagoda Day in the fog, New Year's Eve playing games, and New Year's Day eating pork and sauerkraut.

A busy but blessed year that ended with a new 3-month-old family member...something we would never have imagined this time last year.

God's blessings to you for a joyous 2009!