Allen Family Shenanigans: New Year

I do not make New Years resolutions. I never really have and I probably never will. I have motivation issues as is - I don't really need to set myself up for failure at the beginning of every year. Don't get me wrong. I still set goals and deadlines and try to accomplish things throughout the year, but I don't feel the need to start each year off with a list of things I want to, but probably won't, accomplish

Last year was the kind of year that was so jam packed with planned and unplanned life events that at the end of it I was thinking, "has it really only been a year?"

My sister-in-law got married early in February (in Florida, so there was a lot of travel involved - see post here) and we welcomed a new uncle into our family. Just three short weeks later he died suddenly and went to be with Jesus. It took me a long time to process Uncle Dave's death. I think in large part because I was so busy with life and had so much on my plate (birth of my second child and my own sister's wedding). However, I finally did sort through some of my thoughts and emotions regarding the loss of Uncle Dave and you can read about that here.

So those two events dominated February and March. Then in April we welcomed baby Amelia into the world which was super exciting and life changing. Life didn't slow down in May - I got to be my sister's Matron of Honor, while nursing a five week old, and herding my two-year-old who was, of course, the flower girl.

I guess you could say that we had a relaxing summer - in-so-far as there were not MAJOR life changes - but I was/am/will always be adjusting to life as a mother of two.

In October the girls and I went on a road trip, with my parents and grandmother, to Austin to visit our cousin for her 1st birthday.

With cousin Sutton in Austin, TX

At Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Travis' house (Ft. Worth)

Ft. Worth Zoo for "Boo at the Zoo"

I have never appreciated Jared more than on this trip. It was so hard to handle so much of the girls care all on my own. (How do single mom's do it?). We had a really great trip (except for the last 24-48 hours when some of our travelers had a seriously bad stomach bug), but I was SO thankful to get home to my husband.

Claire recovering after our trip to Austin.

Then in November we made a last minute trip to Orlando with Jared's parents to have Thanksgiving with Auntie Kate - who was going to be unable to come home during any of the holiday season. (We had such a good time on this trip - I need to post about it - probably).

Amelia's first Dumbo ride (she is sleeping)

Then in December it was my birthday and then Christmas. We had multiple Christmas celebrations with lots of friends and family. Plus my brother, his wife, and the girls' cousin Sutton came to town for a few days. It was a lot of fun.

Like I said - this all happened in the course of a year. Two weddings, a funeral, a new baby, a road trip, and a Disney vacation. Add on top of that just the normal, day-to-day stuff, plus potty training a toddler and you get a pretty crazy, whirl-wind year.

There are several things that I still need to document on the blog from last year (our Austin road trip, and our Thanksgiving in Orlando), but with the new year already underway and new adventures coming up I am not sure I will ever get caught up. C'est la vie.