2009: A Year on the Move.

To say that 2009 was a year of change for our family is quite the understatement. We've had an extraordinary, although at times breathtakingly hard and emotional, year. I've put together a monthly look at our life this past year.

JANUARY
We rang in the New Year at Jana and Keith's house, knowing we only had twelve days left until Evan left for Alabama for his Air Force training.






FEBRUARY
February was a short, but hard month. We went down to Alabama to see Evan graduate from COT, but had to leave him there so he could continue his training. The girls got involved in Pekin life--Elisabeth with dance class and Kindergarten, Julia with hanging out with Memaw and Ethan while I subbed for the school district.






MARCH
We went to visit Evan again! This time he met us in Nashville, TN where we spent the weekend (along with my fabulous friend Melissa, who rode along with me). Elisabeth's BFF, Avery, came to Pekin to visit. Everyone in Pekin were still taking care of us and trying to make it easy for us while Evan was away at training. I also started this blog. :)






April
Evan graduated and I went down solo to see him. He came to Pekin for a few days before heading out to Colorado to start his job and house hunting for us. The girls were living it up hanging out with Ethan and their other friends.







MAY
We packed up our lives in Pekin and headed out to Colorado to be with Evan.






JUNE
Don't worry, we were right back in Illinois to see our friends get married. We were exploring Colorado, making friends and adjusting to the altitude. Cause Colorado is super high up, I say. Our friend Nancy also came out and we got to see her for a day!






JULY
Jana and Keith came out to visit us! Evan pinned on Captain and also had a birthday!






AUGUST
Elisabeth started school. We finally started a routine. Oh, and Julia started walking.







SEPTEMBER







OCTOBER
Both sets of parents came out to see us. We also enjoyed our Halloween traditions to the fullest!







NOVEMBER
Elisabeth turned 7. She also was in a school play. She had a super fun month.







DECEMBER







May 2010 be filled with as many friends, family and blessings as 2009 was.

18 months

On the 23rd of December, Julia turned 1.5. Of course, we celebrated with a half birthday cake.

But not just any half birthday cake. This entire cake was made from scratch. I had forgotten to buy cake supplies on the last store run, and with the snow coming down and the roads being open ice rinks, I did not want to venture out. So, I chose to bake the whole ding-dong cake from the supplies I had on hand.

It was a spice cake. And the icing was also from scratch and DELICIOUS. I may never buy icing again, I say. Don't worry, Evan's half birthday is this month, and I plan on making his cake from scratch too. I'll document it in my other blog. :)

Anyway, Julia had a lovely half birthday, especially since her Nina was still here to celebrate with her.
Evan was on fire patrol. He is all business when it comes to any sort of fire duty.

We called Papa, who was watching Ethan while Kyle and Matt had their annual Christmas Eve Eve (CEE) celebration (which was the first one Evan and I had missed in 7 years...so sad). We asked them to sing with us while using the fabulously fabulous Skype. (Look at Ebeth patiently waiting for them to call.)


This is Julia's face anytime that we are Skyping someone. She rudely stares. But, she totally loves using it. She cries when we "hang up" with them.

Look at her being all coy as we sing "Happy Half-Birthday" to her.


Here's Papa and Ethan at home in Pekin!



Being 18 months and all, Julia was due for a well baby check up. Now, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but Julia? Not a fan of the whole "doctor" thing. She usually cries the minute the nurses start coming at her with the measuring tools. I don't totally blame her, though. I mean, the girl is freaking at the doctor's office for illnesses, diseases, owies and breaks constantly.

However, this time, Julia did a great job! She was nice to the nurses and the doctors. She drew pictures on the paper that's on the patient bed-thingy. She didn't cry (until she got her immunizations, but even then, the crying was brief). I was very proud of her.

She weighs 31lbs. and 4oz. (which may or may not be off the charts)

And she's 33 inches long. (Which was somewhere in the mid-high 90s percentilage wise)

She's happy and healthy and that's all we could ask for.