Year in Review {in pictures}

I can't believe I've successfully taken a picture every day in 2009. I've only had to fudge 4-5 days all year! It's been really fun to do, especially now - looking back over the last 12 months. The kids have grown so much and we've added a whole new person to our family! So much has happened and I love that big moments were mixed with little everyday nuances.

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Here are pictures that represent some of my favorite moments from this year:
(I was temporarily a brunette)

(Ryan learned to ride without training wheels)

(sibling love among all the banter)

(they used to wave at Daddy out the window as he left for work - they don't do this anymore, so I'm so glad I thought to take a picture!)

("I'm WHAT?!?!?")

(so many sweet moments...)

(who needs a salon?)

(Kaylin is my little helper, even when she was two)

(I just love that Kaylin is such a little girlie girl)

(the kids' enhanced creativity when I banned the t.v.)

(Kaylin learned to swim)

(I love the excitement in this picture)

(the introduction of "Family Day" on Sundays)

(lazy days playing with puzzles...these kids were in costume most of 2009)

("Mommy, can I wash your feet...like Jesus did?")

(our Phoenix stay-cation)

(our daily walks with Ryan to the bus stop)

(when you can't beat 'em, join 'em)

(teaching my kids to love the rain as much as I do)

(our first trip to Disneyland)

(fun at the beach on our annual San Diego trip)

(Ryan's family portrait...with Jason in my tummy)

(my sweet boy...)

(star struck)

(sneaking cookie dough, just like his Daddy)

(the best surprise, by far)

(Jason puts up with so much from us)

(the most wonderful time of the year)

Kaylin is Mourning

My sweet girl lost her most prized possession the other day. It's actually not lost, just useless.
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Most kids have a blanket that they cherish. My child became attached to the TAG on her blanket.

She has rubbed the thing raw over the last 3 years, to the point where it was no longer a tag, but a shred of soft fabric. And Saturday, it fell off of the blanket.
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She came out of her room at 9pm heartbroken, showing me what looked like a piece of fuzz, sobbing, "My tag fell off!!!"

We tried giving her a similar, blue blanket with an identical original tag, but it wouldn't do. Hours later, we could hear her softly crying in her room, mourning her loss. This weekend, my mom sewed a new tag on and we're hoping that will suffice from now on, but we'll see. I'm just so sad for her...I just don't see how it's possible to reattach a long, thin, sentimental piece of FUZZ.

I'm curious...

Please only vote once, but choose up to three topics - thanks!

There was a little girl, who had a little curl...

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FOREHEAD!

Ryan came in from playing the backyard today with safety scissors in his hand. I asked what they were doing and he said, "I'm cutting the grass for Daddy. And Kaylin is cutting her hair."

Truth is, they were both doing BOTH. Hair in the back is cut, too, just not this short. No punishments were given since I've never specifically told them, "No cutting hair," but needless to say, they now need supervision to use scissors.

Ryan's Kindergarten Book

I've mentioned before that I put together 3-ring binders for my kids' school years, right? I got the idea on the last day of Ryan's first year of pre-school; his teacher gave all of the parents a folder with a series of paperwork that she'd collected throughout the year. One of the things I wanted to keep was a series of monthly "This is Me" self portraits. The difference in his drawing ability in September versus April was amazing. The problem was that I didn't know what to do with it. Then I came up with this idea.

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It's quick, cheap and easy to put together a small 3-ring binder full of things I want to remember for each child from each year of school. It keeps everything contained in one place and the amount of stuff I can hold onto is limited to the size of the binder. Later, the binders can hold report cards, special certificates and essays that the kids are proud of. The only supplies needed are a 1-inch binder (stock up during school supply season) and a bunch of clear, 3-hole punched page protectors.
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In August, I saw this idea on Becky Higgins blog and was instantly inspired. The concept really fits into the binders that I already have and will be the first 10 page protectors in Ryan's Kindergarten book. I've adapted her page templates to fit pictures I've taken of Ryan in school over the last few months.
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You can see the self-portrait of Ryan and the cover to the binder here, but I also promised samples of what I've put together for the interior pages, so here they are!
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I scanned the pages because the lighting was bad on the pictures, but each month has a 2-page facing spread like this...

{opening page of the book}

{August}


{September}


{October}


{November}


{December}