2014 Recap

Well here we are at the end of yet another year.  I remember writing a similar post at this very same time last year (20 minutes or so before midnight).  I really can't believe how fast the years are going.  As I get older and as the girls get older, time seems to go faster.  I wish there was a way to slow it down.  Well, 2014 was good.  We didn't have any major happenings.  I would say it was pretty quiet.  Below are the highlights for each of us the past year.

Thomas (daddy):  The beginning of the year, Thomas finally got to  embark on a journey he has always wanted to do.  With his brother and two good friends, they are business owners with the Jimmy John's franchise.  It has been a long tough year getting it going and they are still at the point of trying to get a lease for the location they want, but they have plans to open more than just one Jimmy John's.  Its exciting times and I really look forward to when they get their first store open.  Lots of pictures and blog posts coming in 2015 about this journey in our family.
Thomas continues to work in sales and has switched jobs a couple of times this year.  He ended up loosing his job at the beginning of this month (December), but fortunately he got another job and will start January 5th!!!  What a wonderful blessing!!!

Amanda (mommy):  I continue to practice and work on my photography.  I have had more photo shoots this year than last hence the reason I have not had time to blog as much as I have wanted.  Editing pictures takes some time, but I'm learning more as I do it more and more.  I love photography and I'm striving to learn more and improve as time goes on.  I just wish photography equipment wasn't so expensive.  I have my eye on some lenses, but they are so pricey!  I will have to just save and wait on those.  It figures that I would choose a hobby that was so expensive.  Oh well, its a hobby that I love and helps me get away from the everyday frustrations.
Well I had yet another miscarriage this year as well.  I found out I was pregnant in late July and then a week later I had a miscarriage.  It's very discouraging!  Infertility is frustrating and at times I feel hopeless about having another baby.  But I do try to remember that its the Lord's will and if its meant to be it will happen.  I am getting older (I'm 38 years old) and I know that my clock is ticking very loud so I just don't know if its still possible or not.  We will just have to wait and see for 2015!

Rachel:  She did have that illness that landed her in the hospital back in September, but thankfully she was ok and it was not anything major.  Other than that she is doing well health wise.  She is enjoying Kindergarten and is making progress with her sign language and communication.  I will expand more regarding the progress the girls are making later in a different post.  I just wanted to highlight some things for this post.  Plus I need to hurry and finish this post before midnight!

Haley:  Haley is our strong healthy girl.  She really doesn't get sick much and she didn't in 2014.  She has been getting more spunky and with more girl attitude lately.  She loves to be held and loves to cling to people.  She is a sensitive loving girl.

Kayla:  Kayla turned 3 this month and I really can't believe how fast time has flown since my baby was born.  I really miss those baby days, but I am loving (mostly) her at this age.  Kayla's vocabulary is amazing!  She is also so dramatic.  Future actress, maybe?  She is enjoying preschool and making new friends.  Also has been very healthy this year.  

So we say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015.  Again I hope for another great year and new blessings!  Happy new year to all of you and I hope for the best in the new year!!!  

Christmas 2014

We had a good Christmas.  This year we stayed home and relaxed.  Christmas morning we enjoyed watching the girls open their gifts and watch them play with them afterwards.  The girls got a play kitchen and they have been playing with it ever since.  They got lots of fun new toys.  But Christmas is not just about the presents its about the celebration of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for the gift of the savior.  I hope all our readers had a very Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas tree after it was first put up

The girls on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning

Kayla next to the play kitchen they got

Haley with one of her presents

Rachel opening a present

Opening presents

Family Pictures 2014

I finally got our family pictures (that were taken back in late November) edited.  This seems to be an annual thing for us.  Last year was the same story.  We also didn't get Christmas cards out again this year, but I am thankful we have updated family pictures!!!  Our girls are growing up so fast and they have changed so much since last year at this time.  I'm grateful that I'm persistent in making sure we get updated pictures every year.  I love pictures and love picture taking.  Pictures capture memories that last forever.  I know that when I'm old I will be happy of all the pictures that I have taken to help me remember all the wonderful memories of my family.  So without further ado, here are our family pictures (memories) of 2014...

  

  

Haley, Kayla, Rachel

Rachel

Rachel and Daddy

Haley

Haley and Mommy

Kayla

Kayla and Mommy

We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas!!!

Visit with Santa Claus 2014

This years visit with Santa Claus was at our church Christmas party.  My husband and I were in charge of the "photo with Santa" at the party.  I set up the backdrop and trees as well as took these and all the pictures of the kids with Santa.  It was a fun experience.

My girls did well on Santa's lap this year.  Rachel loved Santa and kept wanting to hug him.  Haley was fine.  She loves to be held or sit in just about anyone's lap.  Kayla was apprehensive, but with some coaxing and a candy cane she sat on his lap without crying.

Rachel - I love her smile!

Haley

Kayla - loving this smile too!

Happy 3rd Birthday Kayla!!!

Sorry for the month long hiatus from my blog.  Life at times is busy.  This time of the year is particularly busy for me.  I have been doing more photo shoots, lots of editing of pictures, Kayla's birthday and the everyday stuff that we have going on at our house.  Rachel and Haley are doing good.  More to come on that....

Kayla turned three on December 9th!!!  How the past year has flown by.  My baby girl is growing up quick.  I will do a separate blog post of her 3 year old pictures and update.  We had a small birthday party for her on the 6th.  Her party theme this year was princess Sofia.  Kayla has been excited for her birthday for months and one of the things she requested for her birthday was a cookie cake.  Ever since she saw the cookie cake I had for my birthday she has wanted one.  So we got her one and she loved it!

Blowing out her candle

The cookie cake.  The writing got messed up while in transit in the box.  Oh well, Kayla loved it!

Opening her gifts

Jumping on the trampoline with her sisters

On December 9th, Kayla went to her preschool class.  They sang Happy Birthday to her and we brought cookies for her classmates.  She had a great birthday!

Kayla with one of her preschool teachers

Enjoying her cookie

Kayla's First Day of Preschool!

Today was Kayla's first day of preschool.  She will be attending the SPARK preschool program through our school district.  This preschool program is for children 3-5 years old.  Kayla was allowed to start attending the month before she turns 3.  The classes are 1 1/2 hours long and I must stay with her for the whole time.  This program is a free program and to get classes, you register online each month for the days and times you want.  The classes go fast, but I try to get the 10:30 am class times when I can and try to get at least 2 days per week.  This month she will get to go to preschool 5 times.  We have the week of Thanksgiving off so there is no preschool that week.

She had a good first day.  She just took it all in and didn't participate too much.  With time she will get used to it and have a lot of fun.  She was the youngest in the class today so I'm sure it was a lot to take in for the first day.

Of course I did a photo shoot of Kayla for her first day of Preschool.  I ended up getting quite a few good pictures.  It was hard to choose just a couple.

Here are some pictures I took with my camera phone while at her preschool class today.

Kayla outside of the preschool building

Waiting to go into the classroom

Finished her art project.  Mommy did most of it, but that's ok.  She will get the hang of it with time.

Waiting for circle time to start

Halloween 2014

Our Halloween fun started on October 24th at our church Trunk or Treat.  This year the girls were dressed as princesses.  Rachel was Cinderella, Haley was Snow White and Kayla was Rapunzel.

Rachel, Haley, Kayla

Daddy with Haley and Kayla

Daddy and Rachel

On October 30th we went to the Toyota Center (Home of the Houston Rockets) and went Trick or Treating in the Suites.  They scored lots of candy!

The Queen and her Princesses

Getting some candy!

Kayla and Rachel

Daddy and his princesses

On Halloween night we went Trick or Treating in River Oaks (a well known neighborhood in Houston).  This was the girls first time to go trick or treating in a neighborhood on Halloween night.  They really enjoyed it.  Kayla wanted to keep trick or treating for more candy.

The girls trick or treating along with our friends

 

Rachel checking out a huge black cat!