looking back on 2011

i get so much enjoyment out of our everyday life - all the typical little things that make up our days - that i often overlook just how much we do and experience in any given year.  as i reflect on 2011, i realize just how full our life was this past year and how very lucky we are...

brooke turned 4 and had a beautiful princess tea party at our house with 14 of her closest friends :) * heather, danny and stella visited over valentine's day. * brooke learned how to ski. * we went to portland. * we bought kevin skis for his birthday. * i got back on skis for the first time in 6 years! * we went to the tulip festival. * my mom visited for Easter and gavin's birthday. * gavin turned 2 and had a small, "big rig" birthday party with a few of our neighbors. * we went to maui! * kevin and i tried SUP and swam with giant sea turtles. * the kids bought their first boogie boards. * we went to our first luau. * brooke got her first "big girl" bike. * gavin learned how to hit a pitched ball. * we visited bainbridge island. * brooke had her 2nd dance recital. * gavin moved into a "big boy" bed. * brooke walked across the balance beam (by herself) and conquered the high bar. * gavin learned to ride a scooter and balance bike. * we found out we were moving back to cincinnati. * we spent a weekend at suncadia. * we took the kids golfing for the first time. * we took the kids to their first baseball game. * we had an awesome 4th of july on the ridge (our 3rd). * the kids rode horses for the first time. * bob and kaye visited, and we took an orca whale excursion on san juan island. * we saw orca whales! * the kids got their first fishing poles and went fishing for the first time. * we found a beautiful new house in anderson during our house hunting trip in cincy. * we all got horribly sick while staying with heather, danny and stella :( * we soaked up what little summer we had in snoqualmie. * we had our pictures taken by shannon sewell. * we sold our house. * we appreciated every moment spent with friends. *  we potty-trained gavin. * brooke, hanna, anastasia and i had afternoon tea at the fairmont, seattle. * we had fun at railroad days. * brooke walked in her first parade. * we said goodbyes and cried many tears. * kevin started a new job. * i got my hair chopped off. * we went to the beach. * we spent a fabulous labor day weekend in seattle, and it was the perfect way to say farewell to a city we love. * we went to our first seahawks game. * we went to bumbershoot. * we sailed little sailboats in lake union. * we rode the duck. * we moved across the country for the 2nd time. * we bought a house. * we moved in. * brooke started pre-k at her new school. * we went to kings island, and the kids rode every ride in "kiddie land." * gavin started school for the first time. * we adjusted to new routines. * we enjoyed time with family. * we went to chicago to visit carl, mercedes, pierce and meet our new niece, london. * we reconnected with old friends. * we attended many bearcat football games. * the kids had their first sleepovers with gram vicki, ba kaye and bob bob. * anastasia and hanna came to visit for halloween. * we received unexpected news. * the kids participated in their first football tailgate. * we had lots of play dates with cousins. * we started to feel settled. * we crafted and baked with family. * we made new friends. * brooke and i went to see the nutcracker for the 2nd year in a row. * gavin got on skis for the first time. * we hosted 2 thanksgivings, 2 christmas celebrations and 1 new year's party. *

now i'd say that's a pretty full year.  i can't wait to see what 2012 holds for us!