January - Happy 12th anniversary to my handsome husband and favorite guy. The new year always has a great start when you can start the first day with an anniversary. The planning has already began for our 15th anniversary; if you have any recommendations for hidden gems in Europe, please share! This month was the start of safety patrol for Grace Lynn. She also has been doing great in her first club season of volleyball. And look out world! Shelby Laine is on the move! She's not walking unassisted yet, but is learning how to get from A to B on just two legs.
February - This month was a fun one and a special one for the girls (and Garrett). The month started with the daddy-daughter dance. This one was extra special as it was the first one since COVID. I cannot believe how quickly the girls are growing. We also had our annual trip to the state fair as a family, which is always a fun day out!
March - This month, we had some free time, so we took the opportunity to do some date days with each of our girls separately. They always enjoy that one on one time and so do we! Grace also competed in her first big volleyball tournament this month and was featured on the AAU social media platform; how fun!
April - April was quite a busy month. Grace is now 11 years old. The linemen rodeo fell a little later this year, but you know we were not going to miss it! Shelby was also featured in the Pegasus Magazine, which is the magazine of UCF. Mommy actually took her first business trip in some time this month and it was to Nashville; this city has always held a special place in my heart. And both girls had an exciting month with horse... Scarlett Lily earned a trophy saddle!!! for winning 1st in 5D youth for the previous year (thank you Spot N Tail Charters); Grace Lynn earned her first "big girl" buckle!!! for winning 1st in Open 5D. We are so proud of both these girls and so thankful for their incredible coach! Scarlett also attended a jiu jitsu seminar this month where she ran into the one and only 24K Hannah Goldy; she had not seen her since a seminar at her gym years earlier.
May - We celebrated both girls birthdays this month since April was crazy busy and Scarlett's birthday always falls during youth world and she really wanted her school buds there. We celebrated with a fun Tree Trek adventure. The girls had their year-end school awards and came home with some great accolades. Even more special is being able to celebrate with their the sweet friends. We also went up to North Carolina this month to visit with Garrett's family. It's always a special treat seeing the oldest generation teaching the youngest generation and both generations thoroughly enjoying that time.
June - Summer is officially in full swing and we have been busy with family bowling dates. Scarlett has started joining the worship team and loves it! She goes up on stage with the team and gets to play the drum. Thank you New Horizons for making her feel so special and welcomed. June is also the month of NBHA State Championships for the girls.
July - Another busy one... this month started with summer church camp, which the girls look forward to every year! This was a big year for each of them, as this was their first time going solo (without each other and without mom). In year's past they were in the same camp or when Grace was little, I was able to join. They both did great and came back with so many wonderful stories. Scarlett loved spending time at the archery and Grace's favorite thing was the blob. Grace started playing Beach Volleyball this month and she loves it! Her and her sweet friend had a lesson together and that sparked a love in Grace's heart even more for volleyball in general. We wrapped up the month with the NBHA Youth World Championship's. Scarlett officially became a 9 year old while at world and ironically was pictured in the event's program too! This was such a fun year as the girls thoroughly enjoyed camping with their friends and the great rides was just icing on the cake. Dad even rode again this year as Kristoff on Sven (Harley). AND... we cannot go without sharing that our baby girl, Grace Lynn, qualified as a finalist!! This is a HUGE deal and she was over the moon excited. This opportunity does not come easy and is no guarantee by any means. We are so excited for her and for this moment in time that she got to live.
August - First day of school for my big girls; 4th and 6th grade! Grace made the middle school volleyball team again this year. She is so excited for another fun season. Scarlett competed in her first jiu jitsu tournament in some time this month. It did not go as she'd hoped, but it was a great learning opportunity and she held her own against some tough and big boys.
September - I took the big girls on a day date to paint and then out to lunch. I enjoy spending any extra one on one time with them that I can. This month, Shelby had her first school pictures too! This is her first full year in a daycare (since January) and she was not so sure about this formal picture thing, HAHA. Dad's birthday is this month, woohoo! Happy Birthday, Garrett!
October - We had our annual mother-daughter retreat, which is probably my most-looked-forward-to event of the year. I so enjoy this time with my girls and with my mom. We also went to the rodeo this month with some sweet friends. And, we gained another nephew!! Welcome to the world sweet Kai. Grace tried out for a new volleyball club this month and was invited to play on their 13U team, as an 11yo! She cannot wait for another fun season of volleyball, especially coming off a big win with her school team; winning districts for the first time in school history! I'm another year older this month and we celebrated with my Papa out at lunch. We ended the month with Halloween. The girls went as a White Fox, Mouse, and Monkey this year. They were definitely the cutest little things around.
November - Can you believe my dad is finally retired?! After 42 years, my dad has hung up his ears and is now enjoying the extra time with family and with his dad in the woodshop. Shelby is 2yo!?! We celebrated while also celebrating Thanksgiving in the mountains. Blue Ridge was such a special and fun trip. We ended the month with our annual Christmas Tree Farm visit and meeting with Santa Claus. Poor Shelby was just not having it this year.
December - And so we reach the end of the year and as I look back and reflect on all that we've done, it's just incredible. The year has absolutely flown by, but it's also brought so many amazing memories with it. We are looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2024 and we thank God for the year that 2023 was for us. One thing that just this month brought us that little bit of extra joy was winning tickets for all access to the Crayola Experience from the Z! That is something that we will be looking forward to in the coming weeks, I'm sure!
Merry Christmas family and friends and a Happy New Year. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading! This year would not have been the year it was without the love and support of our family and friends.
