So Long 2017, you’ve been oh so good to us this year.
Wow, what a year 2017 has been. Are you sad or happy to see it go? 2017 was a great year for us and we just have so much to be thankful for. It was a year full of love, laughter, and fun. There were definitely highlights and when I look back on the year, all I can do is smile.
Our big girl turned five and we celebrated with a trip to New York City to visit the American Girl Store. We had so much fun and wish we could have stayed longer! This was the baby’s first big trip and she did surprisingly well!
Our big girl also graduated preschool so it was on to kindergarten! I can’t believe she’s old enough to go to real school! So bittersweet! She is amazingly smart, curious, and her love for her family is unparalleled. She is sensitive and sweet and cares so much about her friends. She is truly one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet, when she isn’t sassing me, of course 🙂
My mom and I went on a girl’s trip to Virginia and we had an amazing time. It was truly one of the best trips I have been on. Charlottesville is one of the most beautiful areas I have been to and we had such a great time exploring the history and culture of this town. Check out this amazing view from a mountaintop orchard we stumbled upon!
In July, I traveled to Atlanta to attend the Haven Conference. Haven is an amazing conference for bloggers and I learned so much, had a great time with my blogging friends, and came home feeling inspired. I can’t wait to join my friends again next year! And yes, we met Clint Harp!
At the end of the summer, we celebrated baby girl’s 1st birthday! This first year went so quickly and this little fireball has brought us so much happiness and joy.
We celebrated with a super fun One in a Melon Party. This baby, let me tell you what guys. She is incredibly cute, but also incredibly mischievous. Our first born has always been so well behaved, so we were not prepared! She keeps us on our toes constantly and I spend a lot of my day trying to keep her from trouble!
I don’t know what we would do without this sweet, silly, always causing trouble little girl!
We topped the year off with an incredible trip to Disney World! This was our second trip and we had a great time. My parents joined us this time and we stayed in an amazing suite at Animal Kingdom Lodge. So many amazing memories and I can’t wait to return! I love how every Disney trip is different depending on the age of your children. It was definitely the icing on the cake to a great year!
While I wanted to share the best and most memorable moments from this year, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that we lost the matriarch of our family in 2017. A woman who I think of every single day. An incredible woman who taught me so much in the kitchen that I have been able to pass along to all of you. I know she’s having a great time, leading a card party in Heaven, but I would do anything to have her back here with us.
Lastly, I have to thank you all. Everyone that reads this blog, shares the posts, and comments on their favorite recipes. This blog has afforded our family some incredible opportunities and I am incredibly thankful every single day. I look forward to cooking with you all in 2018. I hope you had the merriest of Christmases and a beautiful ringing in of the New Year.
