2011

This morning at church we were challenged to think about the goals we wanted to set for 2012.  As I thought about this challenge, I couldn't help but reflect on what a wonderful year 2011 was for our family.  This season of life for me has been one of abundant blessings. Yes, we have had challenges, but these challenges have brought our family closer together.  And, overall, our blessings have far outweighed our challenges.  The James 1:17 verse, "Every good and perfect gift is from above" is the verse that I would use to describe 2011 for us.  God has blessed us with health, family, and friends and I am so thankful to Him for the blessings He continues to give our family.  

This is a long post because we have a lot of memories!  This blog has truly turned into my journal, photo album, and Allie's baby book all rolled into one.  It is nice to have a place to document our lives and I can't wait to show it to Allie some day soon!

January

We spent most of the month housebound because we were always sick.

So, the highlight of the day was when Dan got home from work. It usually looked something like this.

Or this.

Allie turned one!

Allie liked to feed herself, and usually looked like this at the end of her meal.

February 

Allie continued to practice walking.

We spent a week in FL at my parents' house with Dan's family.

Allie's first trip to the beach.

Apparently she was hungry because she loved to eat the sand.

And the noodle.

A day at the beach will do this to a toddler.

Getting clean after the beach.

Nana and her grandkids.

Allie might be a future basketball player.

March

Quite possibly Allie's favorite toy of 2011, the ball popper.

My friend Anne's annual St. Patrick's day party.

Allie became much more mobile, which caused Bella to move to higher ground.

Allie went through a phase of removing her left sock every day.  

We returned to MN again for the funeral of Dan's grandpa Frank. He was the third grandparent to pass away in less than a year. We will never forget Frank and the special relationship he had with Dan.

  While in MN Allie and I got to have a play date with her old buddies.

Allie got to go on a date with her boyfriend Charlie!

April 

The arrival of the pebbles hair do that would carry Allie almost through the rest of 2011.

Warmish weather, which allowed us to leave our house and venture to the park with friends.

Easter!

May

Walking!

Learning to share with Bella.  

The return of warm weather in Saskatoon. Yay!

Allie dropped her morning nap and would wake up from a longer afternoon nap looking something like this.

We went to Edmonton.  Dan and Allie at the big mall that is bigger than the Mall of America.

June

Allie and I took a trip to MN so I could attend my college reunion with all my Theta friends.

I was also able to co-host a baby shower for one of my high school friends.  It was fun to see my Edina friends.

The hosts with the mommy to be, who has since delivered an adorable baby boy, Brady.

We celebrated my dad's birthday and he had all his grandkids together.

We also celebrated Father's Day at the Minikahda pool.

Dan didn't come to MN, but did go fishing in Saskatchewan.

July

Canada day!

We took another trip to MN, this time Dan came along.

 Love Lake with my family.

Dead Lake with Dan's family.

Dan showing Allie the minnows.  I think she will follow in her daddy's foot steps and love fishing. 

Cousins!

Celebrating daddy's birthday.

The Twins suite that we got to celebrate Dan's birthday with friends and family.

Barb and Craig came to visit Saskatoon.

We rented a cabin in northern Saskatchewan so Dan and his dad could fish.

Allie turned 18 months.

August

We took a family trip with my side of the family to Whistler and Vancouver.

Whistler.

Last night in Whistler.

Vancouver.

My little spa baby.

I got to spend another weekend with my best friends at Deana's wedding in Columbus, OH.

September

First day of BSF.

Enjoying the last of the warm weather at the park.

Another great weekend with my best friends at Kat's wedding in Tulsa, OK.

October

Halloween!  The original four kiddos from my first play group in Saskatoon. This playgroup has expanded to about a dozen kids.

My little puppy.

Ready for trick or treating.

November

My little girl isn't so little anymore!

The first snow!

Poppy and Gagu came to visit.

Allie is nearing two and is starting to assert her will...strongly at times!

December

My table at my MOM's church group on Tuesday mornings. These ladies are some of my best friends here in Canada.

This is as close as Allie got to Santa this year.  We went to Cargill's family Christmas party and Santa was there to hand out gifts to all the kids.

We spent Christmas in MN.

Santa was very generous!

Christmas with the Mauer's

We wish you health and happiness in 2012.  Happy New Year from our family to yours!