2011 rewind

January-
Armed with my new camera , I was on the hunt for some good shots. I sure found them on our family trip to Zhender's water park in Frankenmuth for an over night stay. Mike and Mack took on the water slide and the water slide won- leaving Mike searching for his glasses at the bottom the pool. And since we were already on the road, why not venture up to see GG:

February -
Typically a long month in the state of Michigan, we spent this month spending time with family and friends, making our own marbles, our own root beer ( and beer ) and waiting out the long winter:
March
Always an exciting month for the Long family, this March was no exception. We spent it celebrating two special birthdays along with the daddy daughter dance and lots of trips to the local kid attractions:

April:
April brought lots of exciting visitors, my 30th birthday and the return of bugs:

May:
May brought change- big, fast moving, unanticipated change. It meant saying goodbye to one group of loved ones and hello to another. Starting a new job just one day after arriving in Colorado was a bit stressful for Mike . One of the biggest blessings came in may-reconnecting with my brother and getting to know his family:

June:
Mackenzie and I were in Cassandra's wedding and we continued to get settled into Colorado life:
July-
July continued with lots of summer fun. We spent lots of time with Grams who was recovering from her neck surgery:
August-
A very exciting month for us:

September
Things got even busier! Between bouts of morning sickness, closing on our house, doctors visits going to Kansas for a wedding and moving, September flew by:
October:
Things slowed down considerably in Oct but that doesn't mean we didn't have lots going on:

November:
Surprises unveiled:
Which brings us back to December- a time of drinking in those you love and reflecting on what you have, thinking about where you'll go. 2011 was a year full of suprises. It taught us to never pretend to know where life will take you and to never think something is impossible. We learned that miles, though they may be long, don't lessen love, really. They strengthen it.

2012- with all it's unknowns and possibilies , stretches before us. We look forward to birthdays and BIRTHS - counting fingers and toes, relearning cries, forgetting sleep. It promises visits from those we love, a big mile stone anniversary, the start of school for our girl, the completion of school for Mike. It also holds lots we don't know and that's the part that is both exhilarating and terrifying. But we face it together and full of excitement. My prayer for us and for you is that this year will be the best yet. That blessings and health abound, love over flows and the unknowns turn into possibilities never before explored. Cheers!

Yellow

Mack: Mommy? Do you love me more than yellow?
Me: WAY more than yellow.
Mack: I love you more than mac and cheese.
That's a lot of love!

Tea Time

Since Grammy introduced Mack to the concept of the tea party, we've been drinking considerably more tea around our house, each time we are reminded that tea is for sipping, not gulping. Yesterday proved to be good day for a tea party with all Mack's new doll friends:

Mack's doll , Hannah ( yes, Angie, named after YOUR Hannah) waiting for her own sip of tea:
Waiting and waiting:
After all that waiting, Mack wasn't sure about the taste:
Even if the tea wasn't her favorite, Mack's tea party made for a fun morning:

To Grandmother's house we go!

Austins, Longs, Hansfords and Snedekers gathered from near and far(ther) to celebrate Christmas as one big family. This is the first year that we have all been together , kids and all, to celebrate together. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by my mom. It was lovely and sweet and quiet....oh, who am I trying to fool? It was CHAOTIC and LOUD and brimming with the excitement of 9 children. It was a fantastic time.

Brooklyn, Taylor and Mackenzie eating their breakfast together:
Kaleb and Coley are still best buds despite the 800 mile distance. They're trying to stop laughing long enough to eat their breakfast.
Here's Mackenzie snuggling Anaka's gift from Santa:
Brooklyn and Taylor are just two weeks apart in age but you'd never know it since Taylor's got a few inches on Brook. Looking at this picture, I can still see those sweet little babies in their smiles and eyes.
Just as soon as it started , it seemed like it was over. Each family had other family obligations to scurry off to. Mike, Mack and I spent a quiet day with mom and dad heading home at the end of the day with full bellies and full hearts.