Thanks For A Great Year, 2018!

Instagram had people posted their "Top 9 of 2018" leading up to NYE and it decided to scroll through our year in pictures and post.  I knew that 2018 was a wonderful year but looking back through all of our photos, it really cemented just how true that statement is.  I was sad to see 2018 go and I have to say that is the first time I have ever felt that way on New Year's Eve.  It was such an eventful, great year and we are so appreciative of everything we accomplished and added to our life.  It' hard to imagine 2019 being any better but I'm excited to see what it has in store for us.

Even though there were so many other moments, here is our Top 9 of 2018.

1.  Surprising the Nolan and Quinn with the news of their new sibling on the way and knowing that the baby was healthy and thriving.

2.  Nolan turned 7, making huge improvements in school, building lots of friendships and enjoying baseball and golf.

3.  One last trip as a family of 4 to Arizona.  It was fun to get away from the hustle and bustle of packing up our house to relax and unwind.  We all enjoyed branching off from the beach and trying something new in hiking the desert.

4.  Quinn turned 5 which is always a milestone as she is a whole hand old.  She so sweet and was happy to start kindergarten this year as she wrapped up three years of preschool.

5.  The sale of our house.  Our first home.  The place we brought Nolan and Quinn home from the hospital.  The only place we have ever known as a home together.  It was a record breaking sale and one of the most emotionally exhausting processes I have ever lived through but we took lots of pictures and walked each room multiple times before closing the doors and taking the memories with us.

6.  Both kids started a new school and became bus riders for the first time.  They did this with ease and have flourished at their new school.

7.  Miss Mairin.  She has brought so much joy and additional love into our family.  I can't even begin to explain how blessed we feel that she chose us.

8.  Five.  I love our odd little number and how Nolan and Quinn have their preexisting bond but have also opened their hearts to build new bonds with their baby sister.  It is so fun to watch the excitement that Mairin brings.  Every morning the kids can't wait to see her and hold her.  It's wonderful and she completed us.

9.  Our first family of five vacation.  This helped to wrap up a whirlwind of a year.  We had come out of the fog of the craziness that comes with moving and welcoming a new baby.  We survived the chaos and were able to breath, relax and enjoy.  I had a moment on the beach during one of our last days.  It was late afternoon, the big kids were building in the sand with Eric, Mairin was asleep in my arms and I just felt content.  We made big decisions and rode out some storms and in that moment I was able to think back to all of that, smile and look forward to the next chapter.