2015: A Year in Review
'Twas just a few days before Christmas,
and time's running out.
There is so much to do,
I just want to shout!
There are presents to buy
and presents to wrap
I have food to make
and a bunch of other crap!
But I can't disappoint - not one of you...
So sit back and enjoy: 2015 - A Year in Review!
For the first time, in a long long time, I feel like I've had "A Normal Year".
I wasn't navigating cancer.
I wasn't learning my role as a widow.
I didn't get engaged.
I didn't plan a wedding.
I wasn't pregnant.
I didn't buy a new house - or a new car. Or start a new job.
But that doesn't mean it wasn't busy!!
OLIVER WALTER - 1 YEAR OLD
I guess we'll start with Oliver - because if any of us had a "big year" it was this guy! Last year at this time he was just a little blob. This year: he's got personality! And a lot of it! To say I'm obsessed with this little human would be an understatement. In fact, we are all still a little Oliver obsessed. His blue eyes and blond curly hair can grab anyone's attention...then add in his little Muppet laugh...and you'll be hooked! Oliver is ALL. BOY. He climbs on EVERYTHING. Everyone! Me, Eleanor, the dog! The chairs. The cabinets. Anything. He knows what he wants and enjoys pointing at everything, making us scramble to guess what he wants. Although he also does well communicating through sign language and I feel like he is learning new words at a rapid pace (that only Dad, Mom and Sister can understand)! Oliver loves his Nuk and his blue blanket...but really any blanket will do. He's a cuddler and a snuggler and can now give hugs and kisses on command. Oliver has had a rough year health wise, but I'm happy to report that this may be the longest we have gone without an ear infection! (knock on wood!) Between the RSV, the asthma inhalers, the ear infections, tubes, allergy testing....it was an expensive year. But through it all he remained in good spirits. Each day is something new with this kid and it just gets more and more fun!
ELEANOR FRANCES - basically 7 YEARS OLD
Eleanor is in FIRST GRADE this year and turns 7 on Christmas Eve. There are times I need to remind myself she is only 7...she seems so grown up lately. There are times when I need to remind myself she is 7...because sometimes I still view her as just a little kid. Eleanor loves school. She loves reading, she loves math, she loves art class, she loves music and she even loves gym. We are so incredibly proud of her and need to keep pushing her as she can rush through her work and skip instructions sometimes! She had a short lived gymnastics career, but seems to be enjoying ballet. Her true love is swimming though. She's doing great and Andy and I often wonder if we are going to have a swimmer in our future? Which would be great, because she hasn't shown much interest in any other sport! Eleanor is still my emotional grenade. However, I think she is doing a much better job at controlling her emotions. She does, for the most part, a fantastic job with her brother and can get him to laugh like none of us can. But sometimes we have to reminder her to not tackle her brother all the time. But sometimes we have to ask her to pay attention to him. He thinks she's the greatest. Oh siblings...already complex at this age. Eleanor also spends her time in Girl Scouts and playing with her best friend across the street. She loves Barbie, Legos, and anything involving her imagination. She's just a neat kid and we love watching her grow up!
KARL JEROME - 11 years old aka almost 70 (in January)
Karl Karl the Wonder Dog. Andy's first baby is really starting to turn grey...but don't be fooled...he's still up to his devilish ways. I have only gone through a few toothbrushes this year...although, he's also taken to Eleanor's toothbrushes too. I've also lost countless numbers of tupperware lids...and of course the grossest thing he's gotten into...Diapers! Argh, Karl. Karl is incredibly tolerant of Oliver and usually allows a fair amount of being crawled on before he starts barking. Oliver loves Karl's bed and, well, loves to use Karl as a bed too. So really, no matter what happens between Karl and I...he really feels protective of the kiddos and that's all that matters.
ANDY
I'll spare you on Andy's age...but he's getting as old as the dog! :-) Andy just celebrated his 15th year at Direct Supply...we got a vacuum as a Thank You gift. He still works from home, which allows him to get Eleanor on the bus in the morning and off the bus at night. I have no idea how we would make it all work if he had to go into the office each day. Andy stays busy with volleyball for most of the year - they start WAY to early in spring...and go WAY to late into the fall! He's been incredibly handy around the house - ripping up one deck and finishing off another - TONS of landscaping, including taking down tons of trees - and just some general maintenance in a house that had long been neglected. And just when he thinks he's done with something, I come chasing after him with another project!
DANA
Clearly the spring chicken of the group! In January I will celebrate my 2nd year with LPi. It's a regular challenge, but I am still really enjoying my work. It also helps immensely that I am literally 3 miles from school/daycare and 3 miles from home. It's delightful. I didn't have to travel much in 2015, but better get back on the road in 2016. I also spent the summer training for my 3rd 1/2 marathon. Again, I could not have done it without Andy's support. I'm sure the entire family was thrilled when I said I was running a relay from Madison to Chicago in June of 2016 and will train for my 4th 1/2 marathon to run in April. I keep saying "This will be my last"....but we all know better. The older Oliver gets the more I'm able to take on around the house too. I have a laundry list of rooms I want to paint and just more touches of "us". We've checked off some major projects...but the list is never ending!
So usually I include a little spot on Eleanor and Oliver - Eliver. But I think you've had enough of those two, given our Christmas card was just about them...so a quick highlight on "Dandy" :) Even though we balance a 7 year old and a 1 year old, we are still newly weds and really enjoying each other's company still! Andy and I have been SO INCREDIBLY blessed with supportive family that have allowed us to take a few big vacations this year. In June I went to Vegas for a conference, so Andy and I spent a quick 2 days together out there before he had to head back home. And given that we didn't win big in penny slots...we both had to get back to work! In October we went to Louisville with some other friends to watch two of our amazing friends compete in the Ironman competition. Andy and I also started a little adventure called the Advocare 24 Day Challenge together last April. We both had some "baby" weight to lose and wanted to feel better and have more energy to keep up with the kiddos. Combined we lost almost 40 pounds and feel amazing! It's been a lot of fun supporting each other, encouraging each other and celebrating each other. Even when he drives me crazy - and he does drive me crazy, I thank God (and my Guardian Angel) for bringing Andy to Eleanor and I. He is my best friend and I'm so so lucky to be going through life with him.
and time's running out.
There is so much to do,
I just want to shout!
There are presents to buy
and presents to wrap
I have food to make
and a bunch of other crap!
But I can't disappoint - not one of you...
So sit back and enjoy: 2015 - A Year in Review!
For the first time, in a long long time, I feel like I've had "A Normal Year".
I wasn't navigating cancer.
I wasn't learning my role as a widow.
I didn't get engaged.
I didn't plan a wedding.
I wasn't pregnant.
I didn't buy a new house - or a new car. Or start a new job.
But that doesn't mean it wasn't busy!!
OLIVER WALTER - 1 YEAR OLD
I guess we'll start with Oliver - because if any of us had a "big year" it was this guy! Last year at this time he was just a little blob. This year: he's got personality! And a lot of it! To say I'm obsessed with this little human would be an understatement. In fact, we are all still a little Oliver obsessed. His blue eyes and blond curly hair can grab anyone's attention...then add in his little Muppet laugh...and you'll be hooked! Oliver is ALL. BOY. He climbs on EVERYTHING. Everyone! Me, Eleanor, the dog! The chairs. The cabinets. Anything. He knows what he wants and enjoys pointing at everything, making us scramble to guess what he wants. Although he also does well communicating through sign language and I feel like he is learning new words at a rapid pace (that only Dad, Mom and Sister can understand)! Oliver loves his Nuk and his blue blanket...but really any blanket will do. He's a cuddler and a snuggler and can now give hugs and kisses on command. Oliver has had a rough year health wise, but I'm happy to report that this may be the longest we have gone without an ear infection! (knock on wood!) Between the RSV, the asthma inhalers, the ear infections, tubes, allergy testing....it was an expensive year. But through it all he remained in good spirits. Each day is something new with this kid and it just gets more and more fun!ELEANOR FRANCES - basically 7 YEARS OLD
Eleanor is in FIRST GRADE this year and turns 7 on Christmas Eve. There are times I need to remind myself she is only 7...she seems so grown up lately. There are times when I need to remind myself she is 7...because sometimes I still view her as just a little kid. Eleanor loves school. She loves reading, she loves math, she loves art class, she loves music and she even loves gym. We are so incredibly proud of her and need to keep pushing her as she can rush through her work and skip instructions sometimes! She had a short lived gymnastics career, but seems to be enjoying ballet. Her true love is swimming though. She's doing great and Andy and I often wonder if we are going to have a swimmer in our future? Which would be great, because she hasn't shown much interest in any other sport! Eleanor is still my emotional grenade. However, I think she is doing a much better job at controlling her emotions. She does, for the most part, a fantastic job with her brother and can get him to laugh like none of us can. But sometimes we have to reminder her to not tackle her brother all the time. But sometimes we have to ask her to pay attention to him. He thinks she's the greatest. Oh siblings...already complex at this age. Eleanor also spends her time in Girl Scouts and playing with her best friend across the street. She loves Barbie, Legos, and anything involving her imagination. She's just a neat kid and we love watching her grow up!KARL JEROME - 11 years old aka almost 70 (in January)
Karl Karl the Wonder Dog. Andy's first baby is really starting to turn grey...but don't be fooled...he's still up to his devilish ways. I have only gone through a few toothbrushes this year...although, he's also taken to Eleanor's toothbrushes too. I've also lost countless numbers of tupperware lids...and of course the grossest thing he's gotten into...Diapers! Argh, Karl. Karl is incredibly tolerant of Oliver and usually allows a fair amount of being crawled on before he starts barking. Oliver loves Karl's bed and, well, loves to use Karl as a bed too. So really, no matter what happens between Karl and I...he really feels protective of the kiddos and that's all that matters.
ANDY
I'll spare you on Andy's age...but he's getting as old as the dog! :-) Andy just celebrated his 15th year at Direct Supply...we got a vacuum as a Thank You gift. He still works from home, which allows him to get Eleanor on the bus in the morning and off the bus at night. I have no idea how we would make it all work if he had to go into the office each day. Andy stays busy with volleyball for most of the year - they start WAY to early in spring...and go WAY to late into the fall! He's been incredibly handy around the house - ripping up one deck and finishing off another - TONS of landscaping, including taking down tons of trees - and just some general maintenance in a house that had long been neglected. And just when he thinks he's done with something, I come chasing after him with another project!DANA
Clearly the spring chicken of the group! In January I will celebrate my 2nd year with LPi. It's a regular challenge, but I am still really enjoying my work. It also helps immensely that I am literally 3 miles from school/daycare and 3 miles from home. It's delightful. I didn't have to travel much in 2015, but better get back on the road in 2016. I also spent the summer training for my 3rd 1/2 marathon. Again, I could not have done it without Andy's support. I'm sure the entire family was thrilled when I said I was running a relay from Madison to Chicago in June of 2016 and will train for my 4th 1/2 marathon to run in April. I keep saying "This will be my last"....but we all know better. The older Oliver gets the more I'm able to take on around the house too. I have a laundry list of rooms I want to paint and just more touches of "us". We've checked off some major projects...but the list is never ending!
So usually I include a little spot on Eleanor and Oliver - Eliver. But I think you've had enough of those two, given our Christmas card was just about them...so a quick highlight on "Dandy" :) Even though we balance a 7 year old and a 1 year old, we are still newly weds and really enjoying each other's company still! Andy and I have been SO INCREDIBLY blessed with supportive family that have allowed us to take a few big vacations this year. In June I went to Vegas for a conference, so Andy and I spent a quick 2 days together out there before he had to head back home. And given that we didn't win big in penny slots...we both had to get back to work! In October we went to Louisville with some other friends to watch two of our amazing friends compete in the Ironman competition. Andy and I also started a little adventure called the Advocare 24 Day Challenge together last April. We both had some "baby" weight to lose and wanted to feel better and have more energy to keep up with the kiddos. Combined we lost almost 40 pounds and feel amazing! It's been a lot of fun supporting each other, encouraging each other and celebrating each other. Even when he drives me crazy - and he does drive me crazy, I thank God (and my Guardian Angel) for bringing Andy to Eleanor and I. He is my best friend and I'm so so lucky to be going through life with him.
So...that's a little insight into what we have been doing through 2015. I mean...let's be real. If you checked on the blog every now and again...you'd know most of this! My goal in 2016 is to blog more (I think I say that every year!) Maybe I'll just turn it into a photo blog (I also think I say that every year). But seriously. Life is just flying by and I need to get it all documented some how! We really have had a great 2015. There have been a few tears, a few scary moments, there have been celebrations and laughter. We can't wait to see what 2016 brings us. And we can't wait to see what it brings you too! We are lucky to call you family and friends! Health, happiness, love and laughter for you and yours in 2016!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR - Love, The Bachs (aka, Bacherrones)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR - Love, The Bachs (aka, Bacherrones)
Loved reading the year in review!! Much love to you all this holiday season and hope to see you all soon to continue fostering this arranged marriage.
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