Happy New Year!!

Hard to believe it's 2009! 2008 was a good year....so many firsts for our family...and memories to last FOREVER!!!

For the first part of the year I was spending endless hours planning our wedding and honeymoon. And, everything turned out perfect! Here are the highlights of the last year!

January, we found out that Nichole was expecting....almost 6 years after her youngest! Russell & I were beyond excited for her!

February, we had Nathan baptized at our church. We are so lucky to have a wonderful and supportive family and to have found a great church!

March, Russell and I went and picked out my solitaire and wedding ring. I love my set!

Hallie turned 3...going on 13...in April. And we began our bi-weekly trips to the zoo and NW Trek!

May, Russell turned the big 3-0.

June..Nathan started walking...Just in tiem for the wedding! We took the kids out to the Olympic Game Farm Park...they LOVED it. If you haven't been...look it up...it's one of those things not to miss.

July...of course we got married. Now when we call eachother husband and wife...we can legally say so! Our wedding was beautiful..and what we wanted. All that hard work paid off! My cousin, one of my bridesmaids, had Hudson Joseph on July 1st.

August...we headed to Italy and our Mediterranean Cruise....one of our 'trips of a lifetime!' Who knows when we'll ever make it back. But to walk on the same ground as Ceasar, Cleopatra, St. Peter, St. Paul, and so many others...truely was amazing.

August Nathan turned 1!!!! It is amazing how fast that first year goes! Of course, by the time it came for his cake..he was too tired and wanted nothing to do with it!

September, Hallie started preschool (and Sunday School). I have her first 'first day of school' picture. She was so excited she could hardly speak! She loves school and is thriving. I'm amazed at how much progress she has made. She also resumed swimming lessons and is loving it! She can 'torpedo' swim about 15 feet...although my daughter sinks like a rock...she's swimming like crazy! Nichole had Carly on September 6th after MONTHS of bed rest!

October, Hallie started soccer. Although at 3 1/2 it was more like 'chase the ball in any direction (mostly circles) and kick it wherever. She had fun...and we had fun watching. We found out that we will be a Aunt & Uncle, and Hallie & Nathan will have another cousin, as my brother Casey and Becca are expecting in May.

November, Nathan started talking more and more. Not that anyone besides us knows what he's saying...but he sure is trying. He says Sis, Mommy, Dada, all done, banana, juice, sock, shoes, grandma, grandpa, naughty, ball, puppy, cat and a few others thrown in there.

December...I drug Russell to see two of my favorite movies come to stage: Beauty & The Beast, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I turned 27. We took the bottle away from Nathan. Not as bad as we expected..but a few rough days. Brad came home right after Christmas....and we rung in the new year sound asleep in our bed!

Overall....2008 was a pretty good year.....and a memorable one at that.