The Best of 2013

The Best of 2013

Here is a quick snap shot at the many blessings from the Lord during the year 2013!!

January

We took Ryken sledding.

Mom was more excited than anyone. It was cold, and Ryken cried!

But we got a picture and he will like it much more in the near future.

 We went to Maplewood State Park after a fresh snow.

It was beautiful weather. We got a great family picture and enjoyed the time together.

 February

Ryken started his first session of swim lessons. He really enjoyed it!

 He also started to walk.

March

Ryken turned 1 years old on March 2nd. He very much enjoyed his cake.

 He had his first hair cut on his birthday as well. 

April

Chris and I went to Minneapolis for the Sigur Ros concert.

Rebecca and Linda were kind enough to watch Ryken until we got back! He did great, thankfully! And we had a wonderful time together, just the two of us!

Ryken learned how to do "so big"!! He just grins from cheek to cheek while doing it! 

May

We signed the contract for our house to be finished in October!!!! Here we are standing in front of our lot.

 My 2nd Mother's day….and probably would have been pregnant with #2 here as well, but we didn't know yet!!

 We celebrated our 2nd Anniversary.

The Rudolph's offered to watch Ryken and we went back to our place and made fajitas on the grill, drank our last bottle of wine from the wedding and watched our wedding video. It was wonderful.

June

We went to Georgia for the Gingerich wedding.

It was beautiful and we got to do a few things around town like coca-cola museum and aquarium.

We also found out we were pregnant while there!

 Ryken brushing his teeth for the first time. He thought it was so much fun!

July

We rented a cabin in Minnesota over 4th of July weekend and my parents came to Fargo for a week. It was a nice time together on a beautiful lake! 

 We announced the new addition that is on its way!

August

We went to the new splash pad for the first time. We went back many times, Ryken loves it!

 Ryken got his big boy car seat! We can tell he is enjoying being able to see more now that his seat is higher.

 First trip to the Library. He was more than excited!

 Kristin and Ember came to see us for a week. The cousins played together so nicely and we had a great time!

September

We went to Bismark for Labor Day weekend and Matthew and Ryken had a great time together as well.

 We are having a GIRL!!!

 How we announced the gender to family and friends!

October

Ryken turned 19 months on the same day that our little girl was 23 weeks!! 

 We took our annual family trip to Maplewood to see the Fall colors. As always, it was beautiful.

 We closed on our house on October 24!! It is beautiful and we are so thankful to God. 

November

We had our first house guests over Veterans weekend. Chris' parents and sister and Matthew came and stayed the weekend! It was so nice to have room for everyone.

 We went to Arizona for a week over Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time.

We took family picture for our Christmas card!!

December

 Picking out our Christmas tree! Ryken loved to smell it and would ask for the lights to be on!!

 A new tradition was started…keeping the cut off piece from the bottom of the tree and making it memorable. 

 Our first Christmas in our new home! We enjoyed being able to host!

 Our little girl was 35 weeks on December 25th.

Kisses from daddy are the best!

What a year 2013 was! 

Filled with many joys and blessings!

"For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 100:5

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1

2014 will be another year of beautiful blessings, starting off with the arrival of our daughter!!!

If you want to look back at 2012: The Best of 2012