With 2015 coming to a close, I love putting together our Christmas card and letter. Besides informing friends and family that we don’t get to see very often what’s been going on, it’s a journal entry and summary for US to keep for years to come. Of course, I always love pictures, and love to send them AND receive them, but I’m also passionate about the written word, and love to share details and stories in our letter as well. I often have a page front and back paper, but this year, I’m going with my new goal of SIMPLIFY, and shared just some tidbits.
But, I felt limited with my space on our card, so I invited friends to come HERE to this very page to see MORE if they wanted to. This is the pared down selective pictures summarizing our year.
First of all MERRY CHRISTMAS! We took some fun Santa themed pictures last week, you’ll have to wait a few more days to see THOSE, so check back on Christmas Eve!
Here is a snippet of our adventures in 2015, some have links to see more if you’d like to check those out.
January–
15 year anniversary trip to Austin
Went to a cabin in the woods
Dad coached AJ in her first term of volleyball
Sisters
February–
Family pictures at home in pajamas
A.J. accompanied Kristen on trip to Utah. She joined her at blog conference, then went to play with 2nd cousins. Brought back Great grandparents Ball to Texas
Grandparents 90th photo session
March–
Spring Break family exercise at the middle school track close by
Father and son at iFly (year belated Christmas gift)
Kristen was on a panel at South by Southwest about blogging
April–
Youngest turns 6 with Frozen Birthday party and photo shoot
May–
Mother’s Day
AJ was on a news segment with Kristen
Band field trippin’ with the boys to Schlitterbahn
Waiting out a tornado in a closet
8th Grade Graduation with buddies
June–
Boys final soccer game with dad as coach (after 3 years all together)
AJ’s Emoji Party (see more on link)
My husband, son, and I went on a Pioneer Trek re-enactment for 4 days, read all about it on the link!
Mother/Daughter pictures just because I wanted to for my birthday
Best Travel Luggage (and fun photo shoot)
Out with some girls
July–
Visited Kristen’s Parents in Ghana, read all about it on the link!
Stop off in London for 3 days, including family pictures
Getaway with Kristen’s siblings
August–
End of Summer water slide adventure (click to see more)
Kids go back to school
Early morning seminary for Tyler and Kristen
September–
Ghanaian dresses arrive
Scooter to go to school…
Cross Country Meets
Just one meet the middle school ran with the high school (but they ran in different heats)
Our family cheered for both! Had to document our team spirit…
October–
Girls talent show dance to Fight Song, choreographed by Kristen
Husband turns 40 with a few surprises
My husbands good friends and their wives joined us on a downtown adventure
But first, we had to take our kids for a ride around the neighborhood…bringing along some friends, too
Husband and brothers backpack in Utah (surprise trip!)
My second teenager!
Paintball party in the cold rain with friends
Taylor Swift Concert for the girls
Halloween shenanigans
November–
Tyler turns 15
and gets his drivers permit
Kristen and her siblings launch a new website: People Want to Know
Kristen’s mom passes away in Africa, funeral services in Ogden, Utah and Houston, Texas. We smile because we know she lived a joyful life, and we will see her again and be a family.
You can see a tribute photo video I made for my mom
Wearing red for grandma
family 4 wheeling in Utah
Fall leaves
Temple Square
Boys 1st time skiing
Snowball fight with 2nd cousins
Family in the snow
Family Selfie
Kids laughing
Simba joins us (my mom’s dog)
December–
3 Duke girls in a parade
Friends gather
Santa and his reindeer–surprised the fam playing dress up, made the reindeer antlers out of paper
2 reindeer (in mom’s shirts)
Have a very Merry Christmas!
{See more of these on Christmas Eve HERE}
If you want to follow our adventures throughout the year, you can do so on:
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