Well naturally to move forward, one must first go back.

So this is how it is now, I guess.  I've become a once a month (or more) kinda gal.  Let's just hope that is a temporary state of things.  When I realized once again (and again and again) that it has been so long and started to think on all the things that I wanted to catch up on, I remembered that one of my favorite things to do in the past January's of all my bloggingdom, is to do a year in review.
You know, so I don't forget why I am so stinkin' tired all of the time.  Fasten your seat belts, get a snack, here we go.  This is going to be so exciting.

Part I:

JANUARY

I can't believe that a year ago we were still in Virginia without a clue of what was coming next (it kind of feels like we have been in Texas always.)

We spent lots of time downtown in DC.  The winter is the best time to do this because there is a happy lack of tourists.

And with downtown just being a short jaunt away, we did it often.  Abby chased squirrels, as was her most favorite downtown activity.  Heaven forbid she ever actually catch one.  It would be like the time our yellow lab, growing up, caught a baby squirrel one day after a life long pursuit of such a thing.  The baby squirrel screamed.  The dog was so shocked she didn't know what to do so she dropped it and hid in shame.

Jonah was but a wee babe.  That probably didn't even crawl very fast...which meant he was slow...and didn't get into to anything yet...'sigh' good times.  Good times.

We lived in a neighborhood with ample wildlife.  I miss that wildlife and quiet solitude of our neighborhood.

 Hazel ate dinner with a waffle box on her head.  I wish I could say that was stranger than it was.

More trips downtown.  My favorite piece in the sculpture garden.  I kind of wish I had a silver tree in my backyard.

And a haircut for Hazel which I only mention because we just cut that much off again this very month.

FEBRUARY

I can't decide if this stroll down memory lane makes me seem really boring or super exciting-I mean, I personally find my life super fun and exciting.

More downtown (we must have been having a mild winter.)

Which may or may not have included a pout at the Jefferson Memorial (with crack showing.)

I took Hazel and Jonah to Utah to "help" my sister rearrange her house (I use the term "help" loosely...we did as much as two women with three kids can do.)  We may or may not have thrown up at my sisters house, again.

I hung out with my sisters, all but one.

I like them, a lot.

Mo had an elaborate light saber fight with Hazel...I think Mo won.

 Spencer ate Sho.

MARCH

 Took advantage of some Hazel Mommy bonding time downtown.

Carried Jonah around to get things done.

Played in the snow.

And made a bucket list of things to do before leaving Northern Virginia.

Such as,

Visit amazing Gettysburg.

And Hershey, Pennsylvania...

And Philadelphia.

 Where we ate Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches.  The real deal.

 

We also attended a concert of the Klein High School Choir (Go Bearkats!) at the National Cathedral in DC where we accidentally got trapped in a very, very, very long sermon after we had already sat in our own church for three hours...with five kids...it was scary.

We were photo bombed by Chad who had come along on the choir trip with his wife Kristin...who may or may not have convinced us that we were supposed to move to Houston.

APRIL

Hazel was adorable, I mean, turned 5.

More downtown, except this time to see the cherry blossoms.

Took in a Nats game with some besties.

Jonah delivered a riveting speech at the Pentagon with crossed eyes and an argyle sweater.

We attended Clark's awards ceremony and then left the Pentagon for the last time.

More downtown with more besties.

Spent a beautiful Spring day in Annapolis visiting all of Clark's old stomping, or rather "marching" grounds.

And got in last workouts in our favorite places.

MAY

Jonah discovered the dryer.

I lugged the baby coral to the church once a week where we contained an inappropriate number of children in its confines so a group of Moms could Zumba it up.  Totally worth it.

OBX vacation with our other besties.  These people are so fun.  It was an amazing vacation.  A terrific week.

And then we came home and it started to feel real.  Clark left us to begin his new job in Houston.

It was the perfect home for our family while we were there in Virginia.

JUNE

Then it was time to say goodbye.

We cried, a lot.

And then it was time to get on a plane.

We left.  Well, most of us left.  Hazel and I got to stay an extra night.  Wouldn't you know it? They wouldn't let her get on the plane like this.

And we arrived into the arms of oodles of cousins.

Celebrated a birthday amidst a move-in mess.

And experienced a first for us, lice...the very first week in our new home.  This was my nightmare come true.  It took three weeks to get rid of it once and for all.  Luckily not everyone ended up getting it but once we figured out how best to attack, we annihilated those little buggers, on everyone, just in case.