2011 Review July-December

JULY

July was a busy month.  We celebrated the Fourth with friends and a fireworks show.  We went to the lake and enjoyed time out on the water.  Lucas turned 2 on July 24th.  And we packed our bags, loaded up the mini-van and headed out for a great American road trip!

 Leah and Hannah participated in a Fourth of July Parade at church.

 Lucas and I on the boat. The girls and my dad are on the tube being pulled behind us!

Leah loves the lake!

Our big vacation this year included a ten day road trip through eight different states.  We stayed in Loveland, Colorado for a few days, then headed north to South Dakota where we met up with some friends in Rapid City.  My dad joined us for the trip and it was great to make some fun memories together.

 Lucas enjoying a warm Colorado day at the Loveland Sculpture Garden.

 Happy Birthday, Lucas!  We celebrated with a picnic and a swim party while in Loveland.

Snow in July! 

11,000 feet above sea level at Rocky Mountain State Park.

Rock Outcropping in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

 Riding the train in Storybook Island

Rapid City, South Dakota

 Me and My Main Squeeze

 Our crew in the Badlands

Mike and Lucas cruising the streets of Keystone

Mt. Rushmore

AUGUST

August was a whirlwind of activity.  We returned from our relaxing vacation on July 31st.  Eleven days later on August 11th, Hannah and Leah started first grade!  We spent those eleven days school supply shopping and trying to fit in any last minute summer fun that we could.

 Two days before school started we took Hannah and Leah out without Lucas.  Just a Mommy/Daddy/Sister date.  We went to Spaghetti Warehouse for lunch and then followed it up with some bowling at Red Pin.

 Hannah contemplating where to roll the ball.

We also made sure to make several after dinner trips to Braum's for some ice cream.  These trips were usually followed up with a trip to the park.  Even though it was hot, I enjoyed the longer, lazy days of summer.

SEPTEMBER

 On Labor Day weekend, our niece Hailey flew in for a visit.  We drove down to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to check out the Toy and Action Figure Museum. It was really cool!

 Me playing dress-up

 In September we also drove down to Apache, Oklahoma to visit my dad's brothers on their ranch.

 We jumped on hay bales, rode 4-wheelers, and had a cook-out.

In September, my front flower bed looked colorful and vibrant.

I just love my fuchsia crepe myrtle.

OCTOBER

October brought along golden sunshine, balmy days, football, Halloween and our annual Lake Tenkiller Trip!

 Hannah "Belle" and Leah "Sleeping Beauty" at their class Harvest party

 I love seeing bright orange pumpkins on the porch.

 A beautiful October sunset

 Sitting outside by the chiminea.

Our family at the lake

NOVEMBER

We enjoyed cooler weather and shorter days during November.  It was a pretty uneventful month.  We celebrated Thanksgiving at my aunt's house and put up our Christmas tree.  We also started going out to look at Christmas lights!

 Hannah raking the leaves for a good jumping pile on Thanksgiving

 Papa and Lucas busy at work too.

 Hello, sweet face!

Jumping in leaves is hard work, but someone has to do it!

DECEMBER

December ushered in another busy month.  Hannah and Leah turned 7 years old on the 16th!  We also took a trip to the east coast to spend Christmas with Mike's family in New Jersey and New York.  

Add in Christmas parties and shopping and wrapping presents and December flew by!

 Our Christmas Tree

 Radio City Music Hall in New York City

 The girls stopping for a photo with Woody from Toy Story

The streets of NYC are filled with characters! Ha! (pun intended)

Merry Christmas!

2011 was such a roller-coaster of a year.  In a way I am glad it is over, and I am excited for a fresh start in 2012.  Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  See you next year!