Our year in Review

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.