2009 – A Very Good Year

I have absolutely loved 2009… I will be hard pressed to top it, but I know we will. Still, there is so much to look back on and treasure. My babies (often referred to as Payton, Paige, and Parker) turned 3, 5, and 9. My darling daughter started Kindergarten and my youngest started going to a public immersion preschool for a speech and developmental delay. I cried this week when he looked at me and said for the first time… "Mom, your the best". My oldest joined the wrestling team and my daughter played t-ball.

We spent many days at the Zoo, a local waterpark, and COSI since we have season passes for each. We hiked in many state and city parks, walked on covered bridges, explored Amish country, found delight in urban decay, and found a gem of a waterfall only minutes from our house. We went to a pumpkin festival, a popcorn festival, and a bratwurst festival. We watched fireworks at the county fair for 4th of July. We moved from a small country town and a huge house we adored to the big city and a teeny 1000 square foot house, so we could simplify and spend more time together. We planted two gardens and ate the fruit of our own labor. We spent MANY days outdoors and had lots of fun in the sun.

My kidlets got to see their cousins Racy and Aaron, the latter was adopted this year from China. We got a visit from my brother and SIL who have lived in Mexico for  the past few years and will be moving soon to Indonesia. I bought a DLSR camera in 2008 but 2009 was the year I really found a new passion… photography. I look at the photos below and I wonder how I got so lucky to have this life and these people to share it with. To quote one of the best movies from 2009 (Julie and Julia) my family is "the butter to my bread and the breath to my life." Add those magical ingredients and you have… a magical life.

Thank you, thank you, dear reader… for sharing it with me.