A year in pictures.

I have been wanting to upload some pictures from our last year so that they don't get lost in time or on our overcrowded hard drive. We had a great year with so many highlights and because I am a bit obsessive when it comes to chronology they are oldest to newest. Enjoy!

Last October/November we lived in an apartment in downtown Calgary. It was a block from Princes Island Park and we took lots of walks, chased the squirrels and wandered around Eau Clair market.

The one thing I got right last year during the craziness of moving/having a new baby was remembering to take a picture of Rosie every week to see how she changed. I knew I wouldn't keep up on a baby book, and this was a fun way to see her change and record  milestones on the back of the cue card each week. (see pinterest isn't just a complete waste of time...) Here she is around Halloween/Thanksgiving at 11 weeks.

A cowboy for Halloween 2012. It was a blizzard and brought back many memories of trudging through snow for a little bit of candy. Also remembered that in Canada anything that fits over or a snow suit constitutes a decent costume.

The week we moved a Mormon temple was opened and dedicated in Calgary just around the corner from our new house in Rocky Ridge. We went through the open house and gave our three year old a hefty time out for spitting. (I think that was why... maybe it was for climbing all over the marriage altar...) either way it was a funny picture, and public shaming is how we roll as parents.

 Christmas 2012

 (Christmas Eve... right before Murphy ate the special cookies for Santa.)

Wheeler stole a few too.

 Exercising our right to spoil our son on Christmas morning.

The week after Christmas we had Rosemary's baby blessing at our house. Cousin Evangeline Pickett was born 2 weeks after Rosie and we planned a special joint baby blessing with our families. We love these little girls. It was a great day! *the dress that Rosie wore to be blessed in is the same dress that I was blessed in when I was a baby.

The baby blessing was on December 30th, so we celebrated Wheeler's 3rd birthday afterwards. Everyone decorated a block for his collection. He loves them! 

Wheeler learned how to ice skate, and it became our go-to weekend family activity through the winter. We discovered some great outdoor ponds in Calgary, and are excited to pick it up again this winter!

We met a family from England who were also living temporarily at our apartment complex downtown. Wheels and Caleb loved skating together and we were sad when they went home in the spring. 

Poor Rosie caught the chickenpox this winter. 

Even Murphy felt sorry for her.

Enjoying the view from our new backyard. Just kidding... The top of the gondola ride in Banff. 

Here mom. proof that we attended church at least once in the last year.

or twice...

Henderson lake day with the Picketts over Easter. A beautiful day in March that makes you think Spring is just around the corner... then WHAM... 2 more months of snow hit. Good one Canada. 

So we headed back down to Texas for a visit, tacos, and some sunshine...

...and some frog hunting with Papa. 

Rosemary's 1st time swimming and Wheelers 1st swimming lessons a the YMCA.

We did a little gardening this spring. Wheels helped with the watering. *actually, all jokes aside this kid just really likes to pee outside and has no shame about pulling his pants down and doing his business whenever and wherever. This resulted in a long conversation about how peeing INTO the pool is not the same as peeing IN the pool. 

at least he has a sister, so this is the only kind of swords he will get to play.

she adores him! 

And he loves to have someone smaller to teach/boss around.

And she has her dad wrapped around her little finger. 

 Summer brought lots of fun times out with cousins and visits with Grandparents

And the Calgary Stampede.

And trips to the mountains.

And of course time at Echo lake! 

'best seat in the house'

or maybe this is...

We love the lake! 

Sunset water skiing with Matt is my absolute favorite part of summer. We put the kids in bed and literally run down to the lake. Last summer I was on bed rest so no water skiing. We made up the lost time this summer. :) 

Our cutie turned 1 in August. We can hardly believe how big she has gotten. She is walking all over the place now and has such a fun personality!

Check out who else is getting so big. This is Wheeler on his first day of pre-school! He goes twice a week and loves everything about it so far. 

Wheeler also took off his training wheels last week. It was pretty great, and he is so proud of himself. He goes as fast as his little legs and bike will take him down the hill and around the culdesac.(as i hold my breath and pray that he doesn't get hurt) I am happy to report that so far he has only hit a parked car twice... injury only to his pride. 

Happy Fall Y'all!