2014 was my worst ever year for blogging, but was excellent in all other respects. We had some exciting times and a lot of new experiences.
14 highlights:
- Harper turned 3 and survived another year with no major injuries! She tried super hard to end the year with a bang, but came through December 31 with a freshly sliced toe and large gash in her mouth while still avoiding professional medical care. I'm honestly impressed, and ever so grateful to have avoided emergency visits. Harp also learned to write her name and is in love with preschool. She has more questions than I have answers for and she keeps me on my toes constantly. She's entertaining and sweet and wonderful.
- I turned 30. Another decade officially under my belt. Feels excellent. I also visited New York City for the first time this year with my friend Emily! We attended the Book Expo America conference and explored the city until our shoe soles were worn. I was sick the entire time and it was absolutely fabulous.
- We took the kids to Disneyland for the first time! We met my best buddy Myriah and several of her friends to celebrate our 30th birthdays. It was fantastic. Harp was too short to ride many of the rides, but at least she got in for free. The kids were starstruck by all the princesses. Harper was terrified of any wandering characters that were not princesses. Goofy came from out of nowhere and poked Harp in the belly--she has not yet recovered.
- Mike and I remodeled our kitchen. It was a beast of a project, probably our most difficult to date. We demolished the cabinets, counters, floors, and even the walls. We used previously learned skills to replumb, hang new drywall, and run new electrical wiring. I assembled the new cabinets while Mike leveled the floor. Our house was a complete disaster. We lived with no countertops for almost two months, but in the end this project has made a world of difference to our home. We love the new kitchen, even though we still have some finishing to do.
- We took a Carnival Baja Mexico cruise to celebrate our 9th anniversary. We had a marvelous time! Mike hardly suffered from seasickness and the kids still talk about the trip at least once every week. It was our favorite vacation yet. My parents and brothers were on the same cruise and it was awesome to be able to meet up at dinner each night. Harper was disappointed to learn that she was too small to ride on the water slides, but Skylar surprised us by riding the largest slide first. We have a couple of adrenaline junkies on our hands! They are so cool.
- Sky started kindergarten and is the most excited learner I know. She turned 6 and is a little braver every day, even willing to speak to unfamiliar adults on occasion. Still, the most common phrase her teachers direct toward her is, "Speak up, Sky!" Sky is a great example to Harper and an excellent--and willing--helper.
- Mike and I learned how to install hardwood (engineered) flooring and installed almost 1000' of flooring. I spent far too much time choosing boards and became much more comfortable with a skill saw. Mike became very familiar with leveling compound.
- Our backyard flock changed a bit. Harper's little hen, Duck, passed away early in the year. She called her "My Best Friend Duck" and still includes Duck in her bedtime prayers. Around that same time our white hen, Pearl, became very broody and we followed the Internet's advice and gave her three baby chicks to raise. She did a marvelous job of raising them. Unfortunately, we lost two of the babies this summer, but the third chick is now our largest chicken. She's also our wimpiest. Good ol' Lucy.
- Skylar learned to read! One day she asked me to teach her to read. We spent a few days sounding out words together and read a good number of books to get familiar with the way certain words looked. Then one day she walked up and said, "Can I read this to you?" She read me a book we'd never read together, and I was amazed. I gave her a box full of new books and her reading just took off. Her teachers told me they have yet to find a book in their library that can challenge her. Go Sky!
- We adopted two mini lop ear bunnies from a litter of babies my best friend Heather fostered. Their names are Kingsley Shacklebolt and Bellatrix Lestrange. Bella has one lop ear and one straight up in the air. The girls love them so much. They know one trick: UP. Good buns.
- We visited Utah for Thanksgiving with my family. My Grandma and Grandpa Pack hosted Thanksgiving dinner/lunch at their fabulous home and my Grandma Laney was able to spend the afternoon with us. We were able to celebrate with my entire immediate family, which is proving to be harder each year. The kids built three snowmen and rode sleds. It's a trip we won't soon forget, and I'm so happy we were able to go!
- Mike celebrated his 29th birthday this year and worked his butt off both at Motorola and at home. He was involved in the launch of the Moto 360, Motorola's first smart watch (Google smart watch). His team got to work on some cool projects and Mike loves to tell people about them. Ask him what he's been up to at work--he'd love to talk tech to anyone who wants to hear!
- We sold our home in Reno in November. It was bittersweet to wave goodbye to the great times we had in our home and with our friends in Reno, but a weight off our shoulders to know we are no longer landlords.
- Our family is now expecting baby #3! We are absolutely thrilled--Skylar may be the most excited of all. As of this week, I'm exactly half-way through this pregnancy and all is going well. We are expecting a baby boy in May of 2015 and can hardly wait to meet him!
Sky and Harper said a lot of hilarious things this year. I wrote quite a few down. I didn't blog them, but I have them saved and ready to share...eventually! I hope that some day they find their words as funny--and sweet--as I find them now.
I'm so grateful for an incredible family and wonderful friends, for health and safety, and countless happy moments. 2014 was a year to remember. It was a busy year, definitely full of more travel than any of our previous! We created so many fun memories. I blogged zero of them. I did, however, post MANY updates to Instagram, so at least there's that. I am looking forward to 2015 and am so excited for what's in store! Happy New Year, you ridiculously loyal readers. You really stuck it out this time. I hope your year was beautiful and that this next year will bring happy memories and sunny days!
