Our Year in Review: 2017

This is always a favorite blog post of mine. It's so fun to look back on the year as we look forward to the new one. Make sure to click on the links to see what we did in 2017.

January

Josephine turned ONE on January 14th! We celebrated with a little family party at home & I took some one year birthday photos of my baby girl.

Nolin performed in her first talent show, singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with some friends.

February

We celebrated Valentine's Day with a fun little photo session.

I completed my first Day in the Life photo series of our family.

March

Josie experienced snow for the first time!

April

We celebrated Easter with a fun little egg hunt with friends.

We enjoyed a visit with our best friends from Seattle.

Nolin & Harris got to take a special trip to Hershey Park & Hershey's Chocolate World with Daddy & our friends.

On April 26th, Nolin Leigh turned SIX! She celebrated with friends a fun trampoline party.

I went to an overnight photography retreat in Connecticut. I enjoyed learning, but the trip was super quick because Paul had hurt his back again. Poor guy had to endure several epidural shots & now the pain is under control.

May

Nolin presented her first big project at schools. She studied penguins.

We celebrated my sixth Mother's Day & all I wanted was one good photo with the kids!

June

I ran the Suds & Soles 5K with a good friend. It was my first 5K in years.

Nolin & Harris both joined the Swim team. Nolin even made the official team & swam in her first official meets!

Nolin & Harris spiced up our yard with a cute little Fairy Garden.

We celebrated Father's Day with the best Daddy in the world!

July

We celebrated the 4th of July with a neighborhood parade & party.

I captured some of my favorite photos of Josie with her lovies!

Josie developed a love for popsicles or as she called the "popsitititle".

Nolin & Harris received swim team awards for the year.

Nolin got her first pet - a fish named Arthur!

August

We celebrated Paul's birthday on August 9th, as well as mine on August 26th!

We had a visit from Nana, PopPop, & Aunt Wilma in DC.

This trip ended with us all returning to Kentucky to be with family. Paul's mother was diagnosed with cancer this month & started a long process of treatment, including chemo & surgery.

While in Kentucky the kids got to spend time with their cousins & grandparents. We were also able to experience the solar eclipse! It was such a neat experience.

September

We wrapped up swim season & I put together some photos from the pool. Nolin & Harris learned so much during the swim season. Harris even swam in his first mini meet!

Harris started Pre-K & Nolin entered First Grade! I blogged some cute first day photos.

I completed my first daily photography project - 100 Days of Summer.

Nolin had her first soccer game.

We took our yearly trip to the apple orchard.

October

We began the month with a fun trip to Pennsylvania with friends. We went to the Turkey Hill Experience to see how ice cream is made & we spent a day at the amusement park, Dutch Wonderland.

We took our yearly trip to the Pumpkin Patch to get our family pumpkins! I also got to enjoy Nolin & Harris' school field trips to a pumpkin patch.

We celebrated Halloween with super cool costumes & went trick-or-treating with our friends in the neighborhood.

We enjoyed carving pumpkins as a family & making a spooky house.

This month Paul also took a big leap & launched his own business with a friend - Sova.

November

We celebrated Thanksgiving with a relaxing day at home as a family of five.

Nolin lost her first tooth!

We took our yearly trip to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas Tree. The kiddos named her "Silly Lucy".

December

I enjoyed a much needed girl's trip to Williamsburg, VA with friends.

 

We celebrated Christmas at home as a family. We enjoyed many of our yearly traditions - Christmas pajamas, family gift, Christmas lights...

We headed to Kentucky to spend time with family. While in Kentucky I was able to spend a little time with my Grandmother before her passing. I'm super thankful that I was home to do this & be with family during the sad time.

Harris William turned FIVE on December 29th. We celebrated with a fun little family party.

There were many ups & downs in 2017, but overall I'm thankful for our blessings. Looking forward to what 2018 has in store for the Markham family!