2014 - Our Year in Review - Part 1

I know.  I've been very negligent when it comes to updates.  It's certainly not because there aren't things going on.  Maybe it's because there is too much going on.  Here's a summary of our 2014:

January:

We rang in the New Year in Maine with my Dad and my brother.  Our actual New Years Eve was not very exciting.

However, I got to spend New Years Day with my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and many of my cousins.  We picked my Uncle up to take him to see my grandmother.  He himself had been in the hospital since the fall.  It was fun to be with him while he experienced life outside of those four walls for the first time in months.  Sadly, my grandmother passed away two days later.  

On the 14th, we celebrated one year together.  

We went to Disney Princesses on Ice.  It's possible that Tia and Mommy enjoyed it a little more than Sara.  

The rest of the month was cold, snowy, and uneventful.  

February:  

February was more cold and snow.  

March:

In March, we got to meet our friends the Aschoffs in real life.  They also have a daughter from Colombia.  We met up with them at the IDSC's meet up at Great Wolf Lodge.  Sara was in her glory!  

We rocked our socks for World Down Syndrome Day! 

April:

We drove to Cincinnati and  NY for Spring Break.  Sara is a serious road trip warrior.  

We got to hang out with the Allison family in Cincinnati and meet their newest additions.  They adopted their son around the same time that I adopted Sara. 

A few days later, we flew to Maine for my grandmother's memorial service.  

Sara started swimming lessons.  

We had a quiet Easter with just the two of us.  

And then my poor baby got pneumonia.  

Sara took a tumbling class.  

May:

Sara rode a pony at her school's Family Fun Night.  This was something she refused to do in the fall.  

We did a 5k for my work.  She ran some, walked some, and rode some.

She loved the Memorial Day parade.

June:  

She was in her first ever school program!

My baby finished Kindergarten.

We were both in Tia Anna's wedding.  

I officially finished my 14th year of teaching.  

Sara went to summer school in the mornings for a few weeks while I tried to remember what I used to do before she consumed every minute of my life.

We made a quick trip back to New York to see my brother George graduate from high school.

I love her confidence.  

Check back soon for the rest of the year!

Happy First 4th of July!

Our Day In Pictures

Special Holiday Outfit  (Any excuse to wear a cute dress!)

Complete with hair bow.

All ready to go!

Waiting for the parade to start.

Not really sure what this whole parade thing is all about.

Cheering!

Little American!

After a little too much parade fun, a nap was in order.  

Miss Julie invited us to her house for swimming and dinner.  Sara loved the freezing pool.  (And I was very grateful that her daughter helped Sara swim so I didn't have to get in.)  

         

Sara got to meet Miss Julie's dog.

                                         

Crashed out in Mommy's bed.  The fireworks were too scary for her to sleep in her own bed.  (How do I make her stop growing?)  

I've always liked the 4th of July.  Parades, barbecues, swimming, fireworks.  What's not to like?  This year it was all just a little bit sweeter with my new little American.  Freedom has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year.  Yes.  Our country is messed up.  But---my daughter has a chance for a life here that she never had before.  Thank you to everyone who has fought to give her that chance and to everyone who helped her get here!