January - We headed down to sunny warm(er) Florida. We spent our time at Sea World, Disney and with friends. Our time down there like always was too short
February - We survived the Blizzard of 2011 or better known as the Snowpocalypse
March - Colin finally become fully potty trained; yay for no more diapers for atleast a few hours.
April - Uncle Mark, Aunt Missy and Paulina came to Michigan. It was nice being able to see baby Paulina and Colin loved playing pool with Uncle Mark.
May - Mike and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary up north at the Inn at Bay Harbor.
June - June was spent being very pregnant. I didn't think June would end without a baby in my arms but oh it did!
July - Elias Graham finally arrived and we became a happy family of 4
August - Baby Elias was baptized; what a joyous day!
September - I had to go back to work :( The boys continued to grow closer
October - October was spent visiting ArtPrize, multiple Apple Picking trips, and Halloween parties.
November - The month we focus on our many many blessings.
December - December, like usual, was busy, busy, busy. Busy with holiday obligations, Christmas parties and just life.

Annual Apple Picking trip...

The whole family went to a Whitecaps game on Sunday. It was a perfect day for a game and we had fantastic in the shade seats. Thanks Jason and Janna for putting this together!

It's late and I have a lot on my mind. I've had a lot on my mind period lately. You know those big life altering ideas, questions, problems. Mix in my last week of maternity leave and you may or may not get a big emotional basket case.

I don't even know how it happened. I don't remember how my thoughts transitioned anymore. But somehow as I was holding my Graham, my thoughts turned to my other Gram; my Grandma. I could see her perfectly. Sitting in her green chair at Sunset. The radio blaring as she listened to one of Uncle Bob's church services. I could hear her voice.

Then cue the tears.

I wanted to hear her voice talk about him. I could hear the conversation. She'd asked if he was a good baby as her wrinkly old manicured hands rubbed his round bald head. I'd tell that he's a great baby; he's calm, sweet, incredibly smiley, and a great sleeper. She asked how many times he wakes up during the night. When I tell her once, sometimes not at all, she'd call me "giiiiiiiiiiiirl" and tell me how lucky I am while Elias squeezed her finger. And somewhere between talking about the new love of my life and her talking about how she didn't like the newborn stage with her kids, she'd remind Colin that there is a red car somewhere in the cabinet drawer that he could play with. I could envision the whole visit. Where's she'd insist we take home the extra cookie she took from dinner or soft orange she had lying around and somehow we always seem to 'forget' to grab on our way out. The visit where she'd say her oxygen tubes were scaring the boys and want to take them out. The visit that would end with her cold wrinkly hands on my face giving me a kiss and her telling me that she loved me and that she prays for not only me but all her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, great great grandkids including now Elias. She'd hug and kiss all 4 of us and we'd walk out into the significantly cooler hallway.

But that visit isn't going to happen anywhere other than in my head and in this blog. As we are nearly the one year mark, I am grateful that I can still see her face and hear her voice but can't help but be a little sad that my Graham won't know my Gram.

Least not here on this earth and knowing that they will one day meet each other in heaven makes it all just a little bit easier.

I have so many pictures I want to post but here is a quick sampling of a handful of my faves.

Sweet Paulina!

Palm Springs, CA

La Jolla, CA

Uncle Mike and Paulina having a sweet little talk

Venice Beach

Didn't take too many pictures this year. Instead we chose to just be present. It means I didn't get a perfect shot but we were all able to join in the fun.








I actually think Colin's favorite part of the night was being able to pass out the candy to the kids. He said "I welcome" to the polite kids who said thanks and "thank you" to the kids who didn't :)

After Grandma's funeral, we decided to spend some more time together as a family, enjoy the beautiful weather, and take in more of the ArtPrize.

my personal favorite! all done by a #2 pencil!!

I love how the boys are all looking in a different direction