2017 Review

I like to use this blog as a journal from time to time.

 Today, I want to look back at 2017 and all that has happened.

It is important I think to remember all that has happened and all there is to be grateful for.

This might get long, but here goes.

January --

*On January 4, Ken and Maggie left for their Daddy/daughter trip (each kid gets a trip with Dad alone when they turn 13. Maggie turned 13 in August of 2015, but January is when the trip came).

They went on a cruise to the Caribbean where it was warm and where Maggie got to swim with dolphins. Her dream!

*While they were off enjoying their trip and the warmth of the Caribbean sun, it snowed here in The Ford. 7 inches! 

* I helped give a  Dr. Seuss baby shower for our friend Courtney. 

*Lillie turned 12 and  played indoor soccer.

*Allie, Maggie and I went with our youth group to Resurrection 2016 in Pigeon Forge, TN.

February--

*Lillie continued to play indoor soccer.

*Ken and I saw Into The Woods

*Lillie was  in Treasure Island at the Green Room Theater. 

*Maggie got to be a model for our friend Jessi, who is an amazing photographer.

* I spent a lot of time searching for fabrics and trying to choose one that I loved enough to cover a set of chairs with.  This was one of the hardest decisions ever.

*Brady had a heroes project to do in his second grade class.  He did his project on Jackie Robinson.

March --

*It snowed a little more.

*Brady  started baseball practices, and had a field trip to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in 

Belmont.  

*He also received an award at school for respect.

*Lillie was part of her schools Robotics club. They had two competitions  - the first was in March (the second was in April).

*She was also part of her school's Battle of the Books team.

*Maggie's dance competition season started. She had 4 total competitions (two in March and two in April), where she was part of a  large group dance, a duet, a small group dance and a solo.

*I finally chose a fabric and got my chairs recovered. I LOVE how they turned out.

April --

*Baseball continued for Brady.

*We celebrated Easter and spent Spring Break in Georgia visiting family.

*At church we had our Annual Parade of Tables as a fundraiser for our youth.

* We had family pictures made by Jessi V Photography.

*Lillie was in her school talent show. She sang a song from Moana with her friends Marley and Victoria.

May --

* Allie and Maggie were in the Bandy's High School Production of Alice in Wonderland!

They did a great job!

* We spent Mother's Day afternoon hiking on The Blue Ridge Parkway.

*Allie had her final band concert of the year.

June --

*School ended with Brady headed toward to "big kid" hallway (third grade),  Lillie bridging to 7th grade, Maggie finishing Middle School and Allie completing her freshman year of High School.

*Our friends Erin and Emily came to visit.

* Allie and Maggie had their dance recital.

*We had VBS at church. It was super hero themed.  Ken played the part of our super hero.

* We got to go with Wendy as she said yes to her dress and the girls picked out their dresses.

*We started a community garden with the youth at church.

*Brady had an abscessed tooth. He was pitiful. His whole face swelled.

*Lillie went to Shakespeare camp at the Green Room and loved it.

July --

*We spent the 4th of July in Georgia.  Great visit!

*Allie took two photography classes at CVCC this summer. One in June, one in July.

*Brady went to soccer camp.

*We worked a LOT in the community garden.

*On July 30, Allie, Maggie and I headed off to St. Simon's Island on a Mission Trip with our youth group.  It was an amazing week!!

August --

*While on the Mission Trip, Maggie turned 14!

*Tripp, Jenny and Kirk came to visit.

*We got to celebrate the wedding of some amazing people, who have the sweetest love story ever!

*Brady had another abcessed tooth. =(

*Allie had band camp.  

*We went on vacation to the beach.

*The Solar Eclipse happened while we were there.

*Also while there, Brady turned 9.

*School started two days after we returned from vacation.

10th, 9th, 7th and 3rd grades.

September --

*Fall soccer started for 3 out of the 6 of us.  Ken coached a team of U6 kids, Brady played U10 and Lillie played on a U14 team..... which wound up playing against U16 teams.

Brady's team took 2nd place. 

*Brady pulled a tooth at school.  In the car as we talked about it, he told me that he didn't believe in the tooth fairy. "Parents do that!", he said.  He also doesn't believe in the elf on the shelf.  I was almost heart broken, until he said, "But that's it! The Easter Bunny and Santa are real!"

* Marching Band started for Allie.

This year's show was Fiddler On The Roof. They did an amazing job this season!

*We attended Wendy's first wedding shower.  

October --

*Allie turned 16 and we celebrated with a party!

*Allie and Maggie both went to the Homecoming Dance at Bandy's High School.

*Maggie wore a cast for about 8 weeks for her Accessory Navicular Bone.  

*We had our Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat on Halloween.

Maggie was a pink lady, Brady was a death trooper, Allie was a sock hop girl, and Lillie was holy guacamole.

November --

*We went to Gastonia to celebrate Kirk's first birthday.

* We had a sock hop as a fundraiser for our youth.

*We made a trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving to be with family.

December --

*We hosted an open house here at the parsonage.

*We all participated in our church's Live Nativity.We had a blast.

*We went to see Les Miseables as a family. It was our surprise gift from Santa.

* Ken officiated three weddings. The girls and Brady were in one of them.

*Allie and Lillie both had band concerts and Maggie had a chorus concert.

*Christmas was wonderful.  We celebrated with Ken's dad on the 23rd, then with his mom on Christmas Day. My Mom came on the 26th and we will celebrate with my dad in January. 

It has been one crazy busy and full year.

I know that 2018 will be also. 

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!