I've got sunshine....

Do you ever have those days where your heart is so full and happy you feel like it could literally burst?  Where you want to scream from the rooftops "I LOVE MY LIFE!"?  I've been having a string of them lately and I am feeling very blessed.  Life is good, and I wasn't sure that I would be able to say that again without guilt or a wave of sadness.  Life is really very good right now and I am so grateful for my beautiful life.  One of my favorite sayings is "No rain, no rainbows" and I am living proof of that today. Whether you are going through a storm or enjoying the rainbow, I hope you are finding the beauty in life as well.

Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out 2011....

Yay.... it's finally a new year!!!  2011 was a life changing year and my world will never be the same.  We lost my mom to suicide, suffered water damage to our house in 2 different places and neither was covered by insurance, I ran 2 half marathons and my first FULL marathon (!), I quit my job to focus on my family, found out we were stuck in our house because of the stupid housing market, and tons of other happenings mixed in there.  WOW.  We dealt with a lot of heavy stuff in 2011 and I am ready for a fresh start and a new year.  We were knocked to our knees more times than we can count this year.  I am very proud of my husband and I, we were knocked down so many times this year but we managed to pick ourselves up and find the positives in all of the crappy situations.  At the end of this crazy year we still have our smiles and for that I'm grateful.  We've decided to leave the "junk" of 2011 behind us and move forward with a fresh, positive attitude.  It's time to stop surviving and move on to thriving!  We never would have made it through this year without our faith, our family, or our friends.  Thank you to each and every one of you who were there to support us through this crazy year.  We definitely learned who our friends are this year! Our faith was deepened this year and for that I'm grateful as well.  We shifted our eyes from every mountain and focused on the mountain mover, bringing us closer to God every step of the way.  From our house to yours, a very Happy New Year.  Many, many blessings for a happy and healthy 2012!

Hockey

Both of the boys are playing hockey this year so we are preparing for a winter of living at the rink!  They had one practice so far and both LOVE it and are anxiously waiting for their next practice this weekend. 

Eli is on the green team #11

Beginning of winter

The family on Thanksgiving

Our annual tradition- cutting down our Christmas tree

Hay ride with Santa

Our 2011 tree!

Robert's first birthday

Right after Eli's birthday was our nephew Robert's first birthday. 

His cake, made by Auntie Kim

Eli turns 5

We started Eli's birthday celebration the weekend before with a family party.

His cake, made my Grauntie Becky

He had a great day on his actual birthday, starting with his favorite place- the zoo!

With his favorite animal- the leopard

After a party at preschool, we went home for pizza and then on to the Mall of America for rides and Legoland

Fall is falling

We had a busy fall with both of the boys in school, starting their weekly program at church, and many other happenings. 

Eli learned to ride his bike without training wheels... it was exhausting! :)

We went to the apple orchard

Our 6 year wedding anniversary.  6 years later and I still can't believe he picked me!

Harpers 1st birthday

Dan and I at the Third Day concert.  The concert was amazing, if you ever get the chance to see them I highly recommend it!

Harpers birthday cake, made by my aunt Becky

The birthday girl

Carving pumpkins

Our hunter and gorilla on Halloween