January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011 has been a busy year for us. It's been a year of many changes, a few challenges and one of a great many joys. January saw us celebrate the new year rather quietly but in a good way. We played in the snow and had lots of family time together settling in after all the holiday bustle. February saw Noah turn 8 years old. He celebrated with 8 of his friends with a Lego birthday sleepover - yes, it was crazy (but in a good way). He played basketball and also learned to write in cursive. Rachel still enjoyed her gymnastics and improves with every class - her handstands were amazing! Toward the end of the month I had my tonsils out - that was certainly an experience I won't soon forget. Luckily after a few weeks things got back to normal. March saw Kate turn 2 years old and we celebrated her special day with a Farm party - her favorite! Rachel and Noah started playing spring soccer and Rachel scored her very first goal at the first game! The weather started really warming up and we enjoyed a beautiful day out hiking to Abram's Falls. We also found out that Christina had breast cancer in March. It was certainly a time of fear and uncertainty for all of us and we tried hard to keep her lifted up with our prayers and love. In April we celebrated Easter with each of our families and Rachel lost her very first tooth. She was so excited for her first visit from the Tooth Fairy! May saw Rachel graduate from Preschool and Noah finish the 2nd grade. The kids started swimming for the Green Meadow Swim Team - which was awesome! I got a new truck due to the Explorer having a bad encounter with a very large rock (Thanks Doug). Rachel was screened and got registered for Kindergarten. In June the kids competed in their very first swim meets and did great! Noah won his first blue ribbon! The Hornback family had a reunion in Wears Valley with the Houston clan and we all had a great time visiting with everyone. Our little family took a short trip down to Chattanooga where we got to experience Rock City and Ruby Falls. That was such a fun little trip for us and the kids loved it! July saw us visiting with Amie and family and a trip to the Knoxville Zoo. The kids had their last few days swimming at Green Meadow - what a great summer experience that was for all of us! They both did wonderful! Kate said Bye-bye to her Binky - a sad day for both her and I. Doug and I both got bikes and started riding for fun and exorcise. Doug as really gotten into great shape this year with his bike and I love the time we have together while we ride. We finished up the month with back to school shopping for supplies and new clothes for Noah and Rachel. In August both the bigger kids started school. Rachel was thrilled to be going to 'real' school and thrived in that setting. Noah started 3rd grade with his best friend Riley in his class. He loved his teacher and has been doing awesome. Noah was back in soccer and Rachel decided to stick with gymnastics this go round. September saw Kate really starting to use the potty more - so proud of her! Lots of soccer games and the normal school year things going on... spirit week and Raccoon Romp. October was a busy, busy month. We went to Daytona Beach and saw where Doug had done a lot of his growing up years. We took Grammy with us and enjoyed the beach and took the kids on their very first trip to Disney World! What a great time we all had. :) Super, super fun day and lots of memories made!! When we got back from our vacation it was time for pumpkin patches, family pictures and Halloween! Noah was a werewolf, Rachel a Minnie Mouse Princess and Kate was a Kitty Cat Witch. So. Much. Fun! November saw Rachel turn 6 years old with a Littlest Pet Shop birthday party. She was thrilled to have her friends from school join her with her family and friends to help her celebrate. We celebrated Thanksgiving with both of our families and had many things to be thankful for -- one thing for sure that Aunt Chrissy was through with her chemo and her surgery was over and all that was left were a few more radiation treatments. December saw visits to Santa, gingerbread houses and lots of cookies and cupcake making. Parties and visits with family and friends. Rachel started riding her bike without training wheels after practicing at Grammy & Papa's in only a few days! We finished up our year surrounded by family through the holidays and Doug and I celebrated our fifteenth year of marriage. It is incredible to think that we have been married for fifteen years. It is impossible to think that our life started together in what will be 17 years in February. It has been completely amazing and remarkable. I am so very thankful for him and our children and all of the people who make up our family. We are very blessed. We wish you a very Happy New Year today as we celebrate the beginning of 2012. May it bring you peace, joy and love.
