twenty ten. review part 1.

so obviously this blog has been VERY neglected this year.  That goes without saying.  But as I am striving in a bad way to make blogging a more regular event (especially in light of what 2010 brought), I'm trying to start it off right by blogging on the very first day of 2011..

2010 was nothing as I expected it to be, yet brought so much [unexpected] joy to our lives on so many different levels.  It also brought trials.  a lot of them.  and heart ache to boot.  But nonetheless, 2010 was a year that brought about change.  And while I tend to resist [big] change, it was something that God was clearly teaching me to embrace.  And with that change, God guided me into a more trusting relationship with Himself, as I absolutely could not have endured 2010 without Him.

But with trials, comes triumphs.  And fun times that created lovely memories in the in between.

Twenty Ten in review...

JANUARY.

This little cutie was promoted to All Stars. [pictured in her Varsity uniform, just before finding out at the awards ceremony]

 

The girls participated in Fashion Disaster Day at school -- I actually think they look pretty cute!

 

 

 

We also made the decision and listed our home for a short sale.  A decision that was made with MUCH agony, as it was a first home, [we had far out grown it too with these three cuties].  It brought a lot of tears, but in the long run, it was a very good decision.

Oh and we made cookies.  And apparently took down our Christmas decor sometime in January as well...

 

FEBRUARY.

we made pretty valentines.

 

 

 

we went to the snow..

 

Xander got pneumonia while we were on a snow trip with our churches youth..The trip from Flag to Tucson [where the kids were] has NEVER felt SO long.

 

Hailey and Evie learned to ride their bikes..

 

 

X and I went on a little picnic date to the park..

 

 

MARCH.

we had a fun little impromptu photo shoot after a friend's baby shower..

 

 

 

 

 

we celebrated miss Hailey's 8th birthday for like a week --here are some highlights..

at the sugar bowl:

 

before her birthday dinner:

 

and when we crammed 20ish [maybe more?] of Hailey's pals into our [previously-mentioned] tiny condo:

 

and made cute magic wands as their favors for her Wizards of Waverly Place party. 

 

 

I also attended a field trip to the Phoenix Children's Museum with Miss Evie, but sadly forgot to have a camera in tow...

APRIL.

April was busy.

we colored eggs..

 

and hunted for said eggs..

 

[this one of Evie might just be one of my favorite pics ever.  ha!]

 

 

had a beautiful backyard photo session on Easter...which the sprinklers brought to an abrupt end. 

 

Jon brought me home my favorite flowers.  in my favorite color.  just because.

 

Evie got her first black eye.  unruly bicycle handlebars, I tell ya.  The only pictures with it are after she has make up on - and you can't really see it, as it happened the day before her dance class recital pictures.  She told us that we needed to call and cancel the pictures because of it.  And the actual recital.  And her birthday party the following week too.

 Here she is at her actual dance recital for Hip Hop.  Can't even tell.  Cancellation not necessary.  So cute.  She did SO AMAZING. 

 

Hailey was baptized.  Words cannot express the joy that overwhelmed our hearts in this moment.

 

 

 
We threw Evie's 6th Birthday party.  A party that I had been planning since she was 4. 

it was magical.  Her garden tea party:

 

 

 

 

 

 

we also celebrated at Mimi's

 

 

and at her birthday dinner..

 

on April 28th we moved in with our dearest friends.  Our short sale was approved.  We packed and left our home of 6 years.  Lots and lots of tears ensued.  Along with much relief.  A weight had been lifted like you can't imagine.  I cried nearly the entire was to John and Amanda's, but I knew that this is where God was leading us.  And we had to follow.  No matter what.

Fast forward about 18 minutes as I pull into the driveway of their house.  I received a call on the way there from our realator saying that our buyers had backed out.  [this had happened before, mind you.  Almost the same scenario - sell, move out, buyer backs out. - when we "sold" this house 3 1/2 years prior.]  We continued with moving in, with the plan to relist it and hope that our buyer's job situation worked out and they would be able to buy it in the long run.

April 29th.  I realize something.  A big something.  Something that I missed.  In all the hustle and bustle, I didn't keep track.  um....

 

surprise!

My soul is FLOODED with so many different emotions.  Emotions I can't even bring to words.  I only know them deep in my heart.  Down in my soul.  A cocktail of emotions.  shaken, not stirred.  Emotions of fear, excitement, joy, anxiety, love, grace, with a coated rim of hope.

like I said.  God wanted us to embrace change.  and be in a place of complete dependance on Him.  All security stripped away.  I never felt so naked.

MAY.

we picked peaches at the peach festival..

 

oh.  that's all the pictures I really have for May.  I'm not sure if it was that we had just moved, or with everything I just felt so overwhelmed with life.  Maybe a combination.  But its result was apparently that I didn't pick up a camera for personal use for most of May.  And a lot of June.  But to sum it up, I ended up being diagnosed with SEVERE reflux that landed me in the ER twice in May.  We finished cleaning out our condo and officially sold it to the original buyers (thank you GOD!).  Jon started photographing concerts.  We announced that I was pregnant.  The girls said teary goodbyes to school friends and teachers as they had their last day in that district.  I felt emotions I had never felt before.  And felt such pain that I couldn't relate to just how my kids were feeling (as I never moved until I moved in with Jon when we married).  But Jon could.  And he helped them through it.  And through being the new kid.  But that's part of August. ;)

 

Okay.  I'll be back tomorrow or Monday with the rest of the year.  There ended up being FAR more than I had anticipated to "wrap up" our year.  But its something that I want to record.

 

Happy New Year!  Cheers to you, 2011!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[amy]

love this sweet update. beutiful pictures, beautiful kids! I just love your sweet spirit Ashley!

[Debbie Lawrence]

I loved reading this Ashley. This really was a big year for you guys, huh! You really do have a beautiful family. :)