Our 2011 in Review

New Year's Eve has been a bit of a non-starter for me the past several years. Perhaps either being pregnant or nursing and, as such, being exhausted and unable to imbibe could have played a part. I think it's also the fact that the years seem to run together any more. I've been trying to get through the days and the years just seem to pass. Still, I want to concentrate on being thankful for all things, even the difficult ones, since they are all gifts. We aren't always happy but we are always blessed.

So, let's see how the year shaped up.

Entering 2011, we cheered on our Steelers

and had lots of fun in the snow!

We did the usual trek to Hershey for Easter Saturday then were blessed to meet the Bishop after Mass on Sunday. What a great experience! Definitely not going to Hershey this year but perhaps the Bishop has a special blessing for someone who is 39 weeks pregnant?

May was very busy - Sil "graduated" kindergarten, Pat had a birthday, we visited the zoo, had the parade/picnic for Memorial Day. Whew, you'd think that would have worn me out.

But, no, June was the craziest month ever. We made our 4-day trip to Georgia (yes, we drove) and, just for fun, stopped in Kentucky and Tennessee on the way home. While visiting Pat's family, we went to the Georgia Aquarium.

On the way home, we went to Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. The kids who freak out on the Incline had no problem with this, go figure.

Later that month we went to Central PA and stayed on a train,

 Visited Dutch Wonderland,

 Saw Thomas and stayed on a farm. Very fun and very exhausting!

July we were homebodies, celebrated Chiara's first birthday, celebrated 8 years of married life and enjoyed the sun and the pool. Hmmm, perhaps that's why, in early August, we were thrilled to find out we were going to welcome a fifth Rocco :)

August was a great month for me. In addition to realizing the miracle that I was again carrying new life, we had a wonderful trip to Erie and I ran my first 5K (no pictures of the latter - I insisted on going alone. I do have my bib number, though).

The week after the 5K Sil started 1st grade, Dom started preschool, and I started throwing up. That's been our life for the last four months. We have also been blessed to share holidays, birthdays, feast days and every other day together as a family. I suppose that's the greatest gift of the whole year...the ability to spend most every day surrounded by my family.

Sil filled out a year-end questionnaire. She is so my child. Brownies and sleep. I pray she gets enough of both to last her if she, one day, is blessed to have my life. Perhaps I have enough brownies but I could definitely use more sleep!

I pray that your New Year will be filled with more good days than trials and that every day you find something for which you can be thankful. Happy 2012!