Remembering a GREAT 2014...

Where do I begin... Goodness, 2014 was certainly an action-packed year. It had it's ups and downs, but above all our family had an healthy and blessed year! Kevin and I took to big trips this year... Our first trip in Spring 2014 was to New Zealand... and oh my word was it unbelievably gorgeous/serene there! We were thrilled to get to go on the trip with our best buddies, Christian and Nirmala, and some other great friends. It should be on everyone's bucket list, for sure! Our second trip was to Ireland! Yes, the hills and land are as green as you have always imagined. Another serene destination. We explored as much of the country as possible in the time we were there. Can you believe that Ireland is ONLY 5.5 from New York! Wowsers!! 

(This year's Family Picture!)

Our son, Peyton, had a wonderful year. He probably grew 5-6" this year. Along with so many changes... He sure is growing into quite the man I had hoped he would be. Peyton turned 16 years old this year... Can't fathom that thought, hardly! Is sure hit me like a bomb (the day before his birthday)... I cried hard and then sucked it up. Turning 16 (for Mom) was unlike any other birthday my boy has had thus far. He was surprised with a trip to see the Broncos play football. He was thrilled!! Other things that happened in his life... He found a terrific and darling girl to hang out with him (his girlfriend, Allie). She sure keeps him from hanging out with the guys, which is good, because he's not tempted to be a normal teenage boy. LOL He was supposed to get his braces off this year, but his orthodontist didn't like the alignment of his bottom teeth/bite, so he has been working on his smile for an extra year now. Peyton is ready for them to come off (NEXT WEEK!! EEEK!). Peyton dabbled in some mixed martial arts this year and really enjoyed the classes, but it was a vacuum of his time, so he decided to leave the sport. Peyton has had very good grades this year and takes school more seriously now than he ever has. The boy now wears a size 11 shoe... yes, 11. Yikes! He went to Homecoming with his girlfriend... They were so cute! His dad had a baby, so he gained another baby sister. He got his drivers permit and in a month he will be driving on his own. Oh gracious, this Mommy is not ready for all of this!! Last, but not least, Peyton got his very first job at one of the best companies in the country... Starbucks! He is loving his position as a Starbucks Barista. Peyton went on some smaller trips this year. He enjoyed Frisco, Texas. One more thing, Peyton did not have any asthma at all this year. Praise God! Maybe we are finally outgrowing it... after dealing with it since he was 2 years old. Oh this boy, really had quite the time in 2014, but I know 2015 will be amazing for him!!

(Peyton's school picture this year)

Our daughter, Khloe, had a great year, as well! She was a super busy girl. She had a fabulous dance recital in the Spring... She was in more than one dance class, so she had to change outfits for her recital. She danced her little heart out and did an amazing job on stage. She LOVES the attention.... Attention hog! Ha!! She absolutely loves dance! She is now in her 3rd year of Ballet and Tap and 2nd year of Jazz and Hip Hop. Khloe has also grown a little. She's still quite petite for her age, but she is precious that way! Khloe's speech has almost done a 360 this year. She has learned to close off the muscles in her palate (after surgery in 2013) and say her words through her mouth rather than her nasal way. She is doing great! Another year or two and she won't need speech anymore. Khloe loves her speech teacher this year (last year, not so much). She hasn't been sick this year... except some random ear infections and seasonal allergies. Thank you, God! Khloe has several friends, but particularly her favorite friend, Lillian. Khloe and her are quite close and the same age. They play and play at her Papaw/Nana's house... since Lillian lives in the same neighborhood. Khloe was completely registed for Kindergarten in June! However, by the end of the summer... when we returned from our trip to Ireland, we realized just how petite she is (all her friends the same age were almost a head taller than her) and that her speech wasn't exactly where we would like it to be, so we talked to her elementary school a week before school started and signed a waiver to let her go back to Pre-K for one more year. She was so happy to be able to be placed back in class with her favorite teachers in Pre-K, again! Khloe is so far ahead of herself in knowledge. Oh my word! She can count past 100, knows simple addition and subtraction, can read small sentences (3 words), knows her address/city/state and phone number... as well as her birthday, families ages, how to spell her first/middle/last name and the list goes on and on. Way to go Khloe girl! She loves to read, write, put together difficult puzzles, color, make fun projects and watch movies. She loves spending time at her grandparents' home. She has enjoyed traveling a little, this year. However, 2015 will be a fantastic year of travel for Miss Khloe (and brother!) as we will be spending time in Alaska (early summer) and Disney World (Fall). She had an amazing Circus Birthday party for her 5th Birthday, too... The last huge milestone party until she is 10 years old (she'll still have small parties, like spa and girl' tea, but not as enormous as her first 5 birthday parties have been). We completed our 2nd year of Khloe's fashion blog! Woo-Hoo!

(Khloe's Princess Photo Session w/one of our fave photographers!)

Thank you, God, for always guiding and blessing my family! We are humble and beyond grateful for our love for each other and good health. God is amazing and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for our family! 

XO