a new year!

It really has been the perfect Christmas Break for the Spann Fam. It was a tad bit longer than usual, which was just enough. Long enough that we're all ready to get back into the swing of things, and we're rested and relaxed.

We didn't travel this year, which I didn't miss, but I am a bit sad, because we didn't have any family visitors either. We love and miss them and wish everyone well.

Kelly finished the gate near the new fence (yay!) and has lost 9 pounds in his quest to begin the new year healthfully. We've watched a different movie each night as a family, thanks to a generous family member. Claire and Nolan have jumped on the trampoline for HOURS each day, thanks to the unseasonably warm weather. They've danced their booties off to Just Dance 3, read, rode bikes and Nolan shot a bird with his bb gun (it flew away, but he claims he hit it!). I baked and cooked and put on 9 pounds from all the holiday eating. (Not really, but it feels like it!)

Claire hosted a New Years Eve party, complete with a dance playlist, Twister, bonfire and fireworks. It was a great way to ring in 2012! And now we've had a full week to recover. It's been wonderful!

Personally, I have been on a couple of simultaneous, but separate emotional journeys which have spilled over into 2012. One filled with love, wonder and joy. The other with heartache, stress and turmoil. Family has it's way of making us feel both. I know it's quite cryptic, but that's all I need to say for now. I do know that life comes us at us, sometimes whether we're ready or not. I am ready. I am blessed.

Cheers to you & yours in 2012!

year in review

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Grab your coffee & settle in, as we review 2011!

WINTER...

brought us frost, crazy hair day at AWANA, basketball, quiz bowl and cozy days at home.

 

SPRING...

Brought us races, Girl Scout cookies, swimming way too soon, baseball, softball, banquets, Easter, awards, field trips to NASA and NOLA and days spent outside.

SUMMER...

Brought us birthdays, parties, all-star softball & baseball, swimming, vacations, cousins, a patio revamp, butterflies, a trampoline, lazy days, canoeing, camp, books and the beach.

 

FALL...

Brought us faux-hawks, back to school, soccer, football, 5Ks, homecoming fairs, a goatee, trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving, nerf gun wars, playoffs, the violin, Jeopardy!, and braces.

And as we returned to WINTER...

We celebrated advent, shone like stars in the Christmas program, rode the in the Christmas parade, enjoyed the Christmas Festival, graduated from DARE, watched a different Christmas movie every night, went thuggin, got a Justin Bieber haircut (but don't call it that), rang in the New Year and now we continue to enjoy our break.

 

2011 was a truly wonderful year for the Spann Fam. We have so much to be thankful for. Blessings to you & yours in the new year!