Happy New Year (a day late)

and a dollar short, as my mom would say. (I spent a good deal of time last time reworking the budget for the next few months so I REALLY feel that way!)

Last year was a wonderful year, rather uneventful except for buying our house. Of course, that was a BIG deal at the time, but sitting here now, trying to remember last year, I am hopelessly stuck on looking forward. There are going to be many changes in 2009 from what I can tell and I am excited about the journey. But last night I realized that I am obsessing about the future so right now I am trying really hard to focus on the wonderful things from last year. Here goes...

January: Lillian was 4 months old for most of the month. I got a new do. Ankica was a very fun toddler. Julia got a hamster for her 8th birthday. Loran just loves his girls.


February: Lillian's hair is just always fun!


March: Ankica visited with the McGinnis family while we got a house inspection. A very happy Easter :-)
April: Our new house. The babies enjoying the jeep.



May: Sister love. New kitten, Orion. Ankica's 2nd birthday.



June: Preparing for the first jump in the pool for the whole family. Farewell to a good friend, Leo. The very well-loved pool. Julia's first instrument, a guitar of course.


July: Road trip to Wisconsin. Girls enjoying the pool. Cute baby Lillian. Ankica's first bowling outing. The Auchtung family on vacation. Started the blog.


August: Lillian's first birthday. Her cake. Ankica taking after her daddy. Ankica and Julia at Chuck E Cheese before Julia's Open House.


September: Meals on the deck, a common summer occurrence. My first goal met on Weight Watchers. Julia's crazy landforms project. Silly sisters in the fridge. The trip to the Georgia Aquarium (with Mike and Kacie).


October: Ankica is getting so grown up. Lillian's first Jeep ride (notice the bare feet in October!). The trip to the Pumpkin Patch (once again with Mike and Kacie). Finally figured out my ailment!




November: Small group fellowship at our house. Thanksgiving trip up to Mike and Kacie's new house. A yummy Thanksgiving feast :-) Getting our Christmas tree for the first Christmas in OUR house. The first time the girls help decorate our Christmas tree. (Turned out to be the first of two trees we got because the first tree, a juniper type, was not conducive to having ornaments on it.)

December: A big Panther game day. A close call with a dead tree falling near the house. Making lots of cookies and candy (and sharing the baking experience with Ankica). A beautiful Christmas Eve. A wonderful Christmas.




Wow, it was a really good year :-) We are so incredibly blessed! I hope the New Year is a wonderful one for everybody!!!!