My Organized Chaos

Canadian Mom Blogger in Alberta, family travel, travel, recipes, reviews

2012 in Review {an Absolutely Amazing Year}

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Time {and life in general} goes by way too fast, and sometimes you don’t even realize the cumulation of blessings and experiences that can happen in the span of 12 months, until you actually look back and put it into writing.

For the first time on this site, I’m dedicating a blog post on an entire 2012 in Review. And, my goal is to continue this in future years as well.

After all, I envision my kids one day being huge fans and faithful readers of this space, and organizing a year of our lifes into one easy-to-reference post, would be helpful for them.

So, here are the highlights {and lowlights} of our chaotic 2012, with links to all the posts and stories on the mentioned events…

JANUARY started on a sour note as I had to have surgery, which took more time than expected to recover {thanks to a reaction to medications}. Yet, we all survived with stories to tell, and I was actually glad to get that out of the way early in the year. It could only get better, right? Taking the time off and not being able to move too much made me really appreciate the small things and cherish the sweet life. In other words, I took more time to really SEE my kids. It was an insightful yet calm month of reflection, highly needed to start the New Year.

FEBRUARY was a month to get back into the game and kickstart that game of Ninja Parenting. The girls started swimming classes, and we went to the movies a few times {I was thrilled the twins finally sat through a whole movie}. The girls loved giving out their photo Valentine’s Day cards, and actually carried around the ones given to them by friends, for months.

In MARCH I confessed of how I missed the nightly visits from the littles trying to sneak into my room to sleep. For years I begged for a full nights sleep but surprisingly missed being ‘needed’ less and less. Miss Katie demonstrated her singing abilities, and let’s not forget the twins impeccable choice for fashion.

APRIL was a whirlwind of travel, first a trip with hubby to Riviera Maya, Mexico with a stay at the Iberostar Resort.

After a restful week in Mexico, hubby and I came home and told the kids {video} that they were soon going on a sunny vacay in April too – we were going to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. One of my greatest memories of all time, will be the look on my kids’ faces when we walked into Magic Kingdom, especially when Isabelle saw the castle for the first time.

So, we ended April in Florida, with a huge Family Pirate Party where the twins were in complete an utter AWE at meeting the characters from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. It was also beyond cool that the families attending the celebration got DinoLand USA all to ourselves for an evening, free to roam with free games and no lines for any rides. And, I went on an exciting Wild Africa Trek. Hello, Disney World! Wow! 

We began MAY in Walt Disney World as well, staying at Disney’s Yacht Club with a sneak peek at Disney’s Art of Animation Resorts, before it was even open to the public. ‘The Nemo’ pool is one that the girls still talk about regularly even a year later. I completely cried like a baby and help my family close when watching the spectacular and breathtaking Fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle. Seeing this, will always be on my ‘OMG’ moments of my life, truly amazing!

The entire Walt Disney World experience left me forever a changed parent when I realized that you might only have 18 Summers with your children. You really DO have to make the most of each. I’m really so very fortunate that I got to Make Disney World Memories {even via a cherished video} with my family. I mean, see how incredibly happy my kids are at Disney World?! Simply incredible!

Yet, after #DisneySMMoms, we stayed in Florida to sightsee another week {in one magnificent property}, thanks to All Star Vacation Homes. It was our fist time visiting Sea World and Clearwater Beach too!

In JUNE, Isabelle and I had a long overdue girls day where just her and I did nails, supper and giggled. This moment truly made me smile. Yet it was also the month where I had one massive detergent mess that ruined family keepsakes. That made me swear, a lot. Yet, worse things do and can happen, so a venting was necessary, in order to pick up and carry on. Being June and Canada, we loved the end of Winter and ran carefree in the Summer warmth again.

I ended June with a trip to NY with fellow #FisherPriceMoms to visit Fisher-Price Headquarters where I learned about the company, new products while also felt the nostalgia over past vintage Fisher-Price products.

In JULY my Twins turned the big 4 {already?}, and again I felt the sadness of kids growing up, especially with the nickname they have for their older sister. All girls went to to Gymnastics Summer Camp and we took in a fun day at Capital Ex in Edmonton. Other days in July were spent at the Splash Park, taking walks and having BBQ’s on the deck. How I love the Summer months!

In AUGUST I crossed a must-see city on my travel bucket list – I went to New York City for BlogHer’12. Know what? The ‘I ♥ NY’ t-shirts are right after all, I adore this city! My favorite moments had to be actually BEING IN a flash mob {at Times Square, might I add} and shopping with some fantastic friends.

In August I also went to Azul Beach House by Karisma in Cancun, Mexico with my fellow Fisher-Price Play Ambassadors to learn all about the amenities and services offered at the resort, along with the hotels partnership with Fisher-Price. A trip alongside great friends, to Mexico for 4 days? Ya, it was a pretty big {and insanely fun} deal.

I wasn’t home long before I left again in August, this time to Los Angeles for a few days, for the #DisneyInHomeBloggers annual event. There I visited Walt Disney Studios once again, marveled in the wonder of Disney’s Animation Research Library, celeb spotted at the West Hollywood Hotel {on the Sunset Strip} and had a blast at Disneyland for the first time ever, and without kids!

I made a photo slideshow of all the fun the kids and I had over the Summer months {recall my mention of the importance to 18 Summers?}. Yes, we certainly made the most of Summer 2012. It was incredible.

SEPTEMBER marked the start of school, Grade 3 for Isabelle and Preschool for the Twins.

Early into the month we told the kids that we were going to Disneyland. But, why fly when you have the fortunate opportunity to sail and dine on the Disney Wonder {first timers!}. So sailed we did, right down the West coast from Vancouver to California, in order to get to Disney Parks. This 9 day trip included a 2 day stop at San Francisco, which is a remarkable city to roam.

Isabelle got to celebrate her 8th birthday AT Disneyland on September 18th, with the deluxe treatment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Really, how could I ever top that birthday?

I feel so very blessed to again have a magical Disney opportunity and what a pixie-dusted trip that was. We fell in love with cruising and with Disneyland as a family, and it was once again confirmed that Disney does it right and everything from their caring cast members to every attention to detail in any place you look, can’t be beat.

In OCTOBER, I took Isabelle to her very first concert, the Justin Bieber BELIVEtour, with a meet and greet {she was beyond thrilled}. Saying goodbye to Summer was hard, yet I embraced the Fall beauty by taking some outdoor photos of the kids.

As well, we  had another epic adventure In October with our Fisher-Price Families, when my family took a Carribean Cruise on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. Learning about Royal Caribbean’s partnership with Fisher-Price, we loved the reunion with great friends. Our entire family vacation as well as relaxing in Ft. Lauderdale, Labadee and Cozumel. My newfound love for cruising was married with my long-time love of the Caribbean, we were all in bliss for 10 days straight.

NOVEMBER started marked the start of my 5th Annual Holiday Gift Guide, which is always a popular yet time-consuming event. Yet, I also got a new blog design, which was a fun and refreshing way to change up this site. I’m still so happy with the ‘new place’, pretty comfortable here! I took the kids sledding, even though it’s a well-known fact that I despise Winter. We kicked off the holiday season with a day at the Festival of Trees. Oh, I got the most darling vido of the twins dancing to ‘Gangnam Style’, it’s a smile-producer for sure.

In DECEMBER the {heritage} tree went up, I poke about Christmas traditions of past, present and future and did some family holiday baking with Kraft Canada. The twins started Ballet Classes and disaster happened in CT which made the world cry. I held my kids tighter, told them I loved them more and {still and always will} feel so much sorrow. I then took a week off work {almost totally unplugged, which never happens unless I’m on a beach with a tropical beverage in hand}, to celebrate Christmas 2012 with my beloved family. And it was magnificent.

Oy, Let’s not forget all the cooking and baking that my undomesticated self did through the year, with so many recipes posted on My Organized Chaos as well.

…. Here’s to 2012 and the amazing opportunities, experiences and shared blessings I had with my work here on My Organized Chaos and with family. I’m very grateful for the past year and all the memories, smiles and even the tears that happened.

As I learned, grown and persisted with hard work, dedication and good old fashioned fun and giggles with the kids, whether watching a movie to exploring the countryside. 2012 is almost over, but with it brings more adventures, possibilities and good times in 2013. And yes, more delicious recipes as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

xoxo

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Comments

  2. Wow! You lead a very exciting life 🙂
    I love the “shocked” face your daughter has on in one of the pictures….

    Simply Awesome!

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  4. Wow, that looked like a great year. Just the look in your kids eyes in those Disney World pictures shows how much of a great experience it was for them. Hopefully, we’ll be able to go there next year. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

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  5. WOw, your daughter is such a mini you ! twins ! that is great . I am thrilled to have found your blog this year, lots of great content ..and contests !!! keep up the great work !

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  8. Thank you so much for sharing your year with us. You are very blessed. Loved seeing the expressions on your daughters faces. Wonderful memories.

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  9. Tammi, I didn’t realize that you had surgery in January 2012…and for gallbladder! Summer 2012 I had my first attack…I thought I was dying! Michael called the ambulance and off I went to the hospital where I spent 6 hours having test after test and pain medication. My GP ordered an ultrasound…I took a picture with my cell while I was changing back into my clothes. I thought…mmm…doesn’t look right. I had another emergency visit to the hospital and this visit they gave me morphine. Big mistake! I passed out…woke up with 8 men in uniforms picking me up and placing me on a bed 🙂 I would have loved to have asked you so many questions because you had been there and done that. December 7th I had my gallbladder out…still recovering. I am so glad that you are over your surgery and everything went so well for you. I loved reading about your year…well done 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi Teresa, isn’t that the worst pain ever?! Honestly, I thought I was exploding from the inside, out.
      Sorry you had to go through so much, just terrible. Actually, I complained about the pain there for years before they decided it needed to come out, and so happy that it is now. Occasionally the area has an ache, phantom pains? Makes me scared all over again, that pain was incredible!
      I read that some people recover within the week, yet I don’t know how that’s possible – it took me months! Hoping you are feeling better soon!!

      Reply

      • I KNOW!!!!…follow up appointment with surgeon and I am healing nicely but still in a fair amount of pain. Today he told me that it was chronic and probably had attacks for a few years that I wasn’t aware of. The first attack that I told you about was what I thought was my first. Michael and I had a craving for beer and pizza the night before…I don’t know why because I don’t eat hamburgers very often and I drink beer once in a very blue moon but we found a little pub walking distance from my home. The service was wonderful and that was really the best hamburger I ever had!! It came with fries and gravy! That is what might have set this attack off. I woke up at 6am and within a few moments I truly thought I was dying of a heart attack…I am with you on the pain…it was worse than the back labour I experienced with Sara!! I hope that you are all better…How long did it take you to feel better? You have 3 beautiful girls too!! My daughter had moved out the month previous so after surgery I didn’t need to do anything but rest. I hope that you had a little help to guide you in recovering. Thank you so much for posting and replying. It is so nice to have someone to chat with who has gone through it.

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  11. Wow! What a year Tammi, my life was boring and no vacations except for a week in Banff and Jasper just not healthy enough, hope this year will be better, bring on 2013!

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    • I love Jasper and Banff! I live so close, but we didn’t make it there this year at all, maybe this year! Wishing you a VERY happy and healthy 2013, Doris. Thank you for reading my blog, I have always loved and appreciated your comments!
      🙂

      Reply

  18. What a wonderful year you had Tammi, I too had the opportunity to take my family to DisneyWorld this year and it was amazing. The sight of the look on my 4 granddaughters faces when they arrived at the airport to see Nanny & Papa off on a holiday adventure only to find out that it was a “family adventure” was only surpassed by the look on their faces when they arrived at DisneyWorld and first saw the castle at the Magic Kingdom. I also have to agree with you that New York is a place that everyone needs to visit at least once, but then again once is never enough

    Hope 2013 brings you as much joy and excitement as 2012 brought you and your family. Happy New Year.

    Reply

  20. What a big year ..glad you got the surgery out of the way so you could have a healthy rest of the year. Those 18 summers disappear as fast as a rainbow I know this all too well! Hope you have an healthy and happy 2013 and a great 5th summer with the twins!

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  21. What a beautiful post! My heart melted at the photo of your girls in Disney – so sweet 🙂

    Best wishes for a blessed 2013! ♥

    Reply

    • Thank you!! They are definitely some of my favorite photos, love the ‘OMG” look on their faces. I never went as a child, so I love that I too have the same reactions!! lol

      Reply

  22. It sounds like 2012 started off rough but ended up being a great year with wonderful memories! Hope 2013 is even better for you and your beautiful family.

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  23. Looks like you had an amazing year (minus the surgery part). Hoping 2013 is another good one for you.

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  25. Well you had a busy year! I had to comment on your “confession” about missing middle of the night visits. I’m afraid I can’t relate – I’m still getting nightly visits from my three year old!

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  26. wow that’s a lot of travel for one year ! Kinda stresses me out just thinking about it but I am sure it was super fun! great year!

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  30. It looks like 2012 may have started out on a sour note but ended sweet! Your girls are sooooo adorable!!! My neice wouldve passed out if she had gotten to meet Justin Bieber! Keep up the great work and I’m looking forward to many more wonderful reviews and pics of your family. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  35. Love! Love! This was such a sweet blog post! I miss those moments with my two … they are now 19 and 23! How the heck did that happen?! Esp. since I am still only 29?! 😉 haha! Love the photos and esp. the homemade Valentine Cards the girls gave out. You are a very Clever MOM! Xo ~ Kimberly

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  36. Wow you certainly had an exciting and adventure packed year. It was great to see everything you did and your family looked like they had a wonderful time. Yes it is a good time to count our blessings as we go into a New Year…Happy New Year to you and your family and may you be so blessed in 2013..

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  37. Holy Smokes! Some people don’t do that much in a lifetime, let alone a year! Such a nice mix of ‘you’ moments mixed with ‘family’ moments! All the best for 2013!

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  40. Wow, that is a lot of travel – you must be tired! : ) It’s all worth it, though. Your family will have wonderful memories!

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  41. WoW! I loved the picture of your daughter with the surprized look on her face. very adorable! You are very blessed.

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  46. What an amazing fun filled year for you and your family in 2012. I hope 2013 will be just as exciting if not more for you!

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  47. looks like you had a wonderful time. your twins look great, and like mine, not identical !!

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    • no, but it’s so funny how some people can’t tell them apart!! Must be a ‘twin’ mind trick!!
      lol

      Reply

  53. Oh Tammi such a blessed and busy year! I love that you re-capped it for your babies for years to come and for yourself. You should be proud you work hard and have had a fab year! Cheers to 2013, may you have many many blessings! xo

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    • Thanks Steph, looking back it was a crazy year. Not sure how I packed so much in. But yes, incredibly blessed!

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  54. First off you have a beautiful family! I had a wonderful year. I will be sad to see 2012 go but can’t wait to see what our future brings! I hope 2013 is just as blessed for you and family as 2012 was?!

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  59. Man you lead a very busy life! I especially was interested in your trip to the Iberostar Resorts. Need to get something planned to get away from the cold and this sure looked like a super nice place!

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    • Thanks Pamela, looking back, I feel very tired!! lol
      Have a peek in my travel section, I’ve reviewed a few All-Inclusive resorts in Mexico!
      Have fun planning a tropical holiday!!
      😉

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    • Isn’t that the best? Seeing the photo, or watching our video of it – just gives me goosebumps!!

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  61. I have twin nephews and they will be turning 3 this March so I absolutely adore your twins 🙂

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  65. Wow! Quite an eventful year – and lots of traveling! The photos are wonderful. What a lot of great memories you created.

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  68. Have a happy new year. It certainly looks like you and your family had many wonderful vacations last year.

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  69. WOW! What a great year for travel for you and yours! We have honestly not even been that many places in our lives! I love that you can record your kids lives so easily now! Great pics and especially the astonished one of your girl! We have been to Disneyland and the fireworks with Tinkerbell flying through them all still gives me goosebumps!!! I hope this year is just as fun for you and yours! I live through these posts and photos you know! 🙂

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  70. Thank you for sharing your amazing year with us. It is great to see the smiles on your Children’s face. As a Father and Grandfather of twelve I know nothing makes you happier than to see your Children and Grandchildren smile.

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  71. WOW! What a year it was for you and your family! How fortunate and blessed you all are to have packed so much into one year. I sort of got sidetracked while reading this post and ended up reading your post on the liquid laundry soap experience. I truly felt your anguish about the photo abums. I also lost some priceless momentos when our home was flooded from when a city water main (pipe) broke in the middle of the night and filled our home with thousands of gallons of water and when pumped out left a nasty covering of silt on all our belongings. Any “paper” items were swollen double times their size and ruined. I still cry when I think about all of our highschool yearbooks, photo albums, wedding momentos, etc. gone forever. Sure I can replace the yearbooks, but they won’t come with all the handwritten messages from all of our friends and classmates.

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    • By the way, your girls are ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!! I too am the Mom of three daughters and just want to say, SAVOR every moment! Time has a way of FLYING BY and before you know it they will be all grown up like my three. (youngest is 25) I LOVE your blog and it just brings back SO MANY memories with my three when they were little. No flood or other mishap can ever take away the memories i our hearts! =)

      Reply

    • Oh no!!! That makes me so sad, you feel so vulnerable when something like that happens, hope you get those yearbooks back at least!

      Thanks for the advice Kathleen, and your kind words. Your last comment here was sooo perfect!!
      🙂

      Reply

  73. God must have really blessed you i am so happy for your good fortune to have kids so young and be able to do anything that cool is a big deal. I only wish one day my family could do half of what you accomplished in our entire lifetime.

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  74. Wow what a amazing and busy year you had! I hope this year is just as amazing for you and your family.

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  79. Wow! what a wonderful year you had”2012″-you have a beautiful family and you have given them some wonderful memories that will last them a life time. I like that you took time out for yourself and with friends-I really wish I could get over the feeling of feeling guilty when I think of getting together with girlfriends and taking a night out or a small trip some place. You visited two places I have on my wish list “Disneyland” and ” Cancun, Mexico.” well deserved vacations I’m sure. Your Isabelle must of felt like the luckiest little girl in the world getting to meet “Justin Bieber.” It sounds like alot in one year and yes kids grow so fast-but your doing the right thing-enjoying them and making memories-They will thank you later. I can only wish that “2013” is even better for you & yours. Thanks for sharing your experience-I enjoyed reading about your blessed success & happiness.

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  82. You have a great column and stories…so inspirational. I plan to make the most of this year creating memories with my children. Cheers!

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  83. What a wonderful year (2012) you had. Hopefully, 2013 will be filled with great adventures, learning experiences and more great posts. Thanks so much for all you do. You have an awesome blog and love to read your content and enter your contests. You also have a wonderful family. You are truly blessed. Thanks again for all you do. Have a wonderful 2013.

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  86. Beautiful pictures, looks like 2012 was a great year for you!! I hope 2013 will be just as grand!! 🙂

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  88. You know I miss my kids being little so much and I wish I had had all these different things to do but I always did sports and parties with them so they had a good life growing up. They are 31 and 27 now, I miss you boys

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  89. Wow, a wonderful review of your year. And a good idea to do, too. May have to do this myself! 🙂

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  90. Yay!!! How fun. Love that you got to take your babe to meet the Biebs, that’s a memory that will never be forgotten.

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  91. What a fun-filled 2012 you and your family had! I absolutely adore the Valentine’s Day Giveaways you handed out.
    Must create those this year for my daughters friends and family!
    Cheers to another year ahead filled with more amazing new memories!

    Reply

  95. Wow!! What a year! AND Justin Bieber!!!?? Can’t get any better than that!! LOL!
    And I love the suckers picture. Very cool idea! 🙂

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  97. Sorry about your surgery. lad you are doing OK. I took my kids to Disney years ago. We stayed in a self-contained trailer on the Yogi Bear Campgrounds. It was wonderful. We had such a good time. The kids still talk about it. My daughter has gone back severla times. She just loves the fantasy of it all.

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  100. It’s crazy how fast time flies and how big they get without us even realizing it sometimes!
    Looks like it was a great year(:

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  103. I follow you all year long Tammi but loved seeing your Review of all the family excitement! Here’s to another Wonderful Family Year!!!!

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    • Thanks Gvenny, and I always love seeing your name in a comment.
      Cheers to an exciting 2013 for you!!
      🙂

      Reply

  104. What a busy year but so much fun! I have thoroughly enjoyed following your blog in 2012 and look forward to what 2013 has to offer! Happy New Year!

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  106. The look on your daughter’s face (one of twins I think…in yellow t-shirt) is priceless!!

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  108. Your year sounds absolutely amazing, and I can tell that you’re a great mother. Joy and happiness to you andy our family for this year as well.

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  109. Those pictures are wonderful! I wish the best year ahead for you and yours, and many more joyful memories like these.

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  110. What an amazing year!! I am a wee bit exhausted just reading all that you did. And what a gorgeous family. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you all the best for 2013!!

    Reply

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