May
2017....in review
2017 was a year of nothing and a year of everything.
The winter was pretty quiet. Jacob and Jeffrey started a new adventure of indoor soccer and Joshua started playing basketball.
Once we hit April, the year of memories really got started.
April
- 2 weeks of Disney!! We went on a week long cruise on the Disney Fantasy where we enjoyed a Star Wars Day at Sea. We celebrated Joshua's 6th birthday on board. As soon as we left the ship, we headed to 5 days of fun at Walt Disney World. It was a magical two weeks!
May
- May brought a month of highs and lows.
- Early in the month, we said goodbye to our beloved Hershey, just a few weeks shy of his 13th birthday. He was a great dog and we miss him every day, but once he crossed the Rainbow Bridge, he was no longer in pain and could run and play like a puppy again. He was a joy in our life from a month after we got married and his passing left a hole in all of our hearts.
- May also brought Joshua's graduation from Kindergarten! Our last baby!
- The month ended with our annual family camping adventure, this time to Chincoteague, Virginia. We visited Wallops Island, drove the Harriet Tubman Byway, and saw the famous Assateague ponies! As usual, it rained, but we had a great time!
June
- In June, we welcomed Mako to the Meier family! He was a rescue and is a great dog!! He chews on everything, but he is sweet and smart and we are to glad that he is in our lives.
- Jacob and Jeffrey turned 10 and started participating in the ABCD Cognitive Study, a brain study that they will participate in for 10 years. They got MRIs and answered a lot of questions, but earned money and had fun.
July
- July was the beginning of our lazy summer of fun!
- We spent a lot of time at Ocean Breeze Water Park.
- We went to the zoo to see our favorite animals.
- After a few years out of town, we went back to the Lakeside Park Fourth of July Celebration!
- And we went to Busch Gardens!
- Russ and the big boys went to a week long Webeloes camp at Camp Goshen while I finished my 3 year certification program at Chorister's Guild Institute, and Joshua had fun at Gaga's house!
August
- August started, as usual, with our two week beach vacation! It is one of our favorite places on earth!
- We also drove 8 hours to Columbia, South Carolina to see the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse. 16 hours of driving for 2 minutes of darkness.. It was worth every minute!
- We all went climbing at the Virginia Beach Adventure Park.
- As the month ended, we celebrated Russ's promotion to Commander in the United States Navy!
Fall
- Fall brought a return to our crazy, hectic life. It also brought a return to sea duty. After 6 years of being home, Russ returned to sea life with the start of his Command Pipeline.
- Jacob and Jeffrey started playing Advanced Soccer, leading to three practices a week on top of games. It is a lot of running, but they love it!
- Joshua moved to Coach Pitch baseball. It has not been the easiest thing for him, but he loves playing baseball!
- Jeffrey and Jacob started 5th grade and were chosen to be Safety Patrols. Joshua started 1st grade and rode the bus for the first time.
- Joshua started Cub Scouts and I am his Tiger leader. Scouts is usually Daddy's thing, but I think that I have done a pretty good job holding down the fort!
- All three boys loved their Halloween costumes and had a great time Trick or Treating.
December
- Russ came home after 10 weeks away just in time for Thanksgiving. He left again for two weeks in December. I was able to join him for a great week in Newport that culminated with a wild and wonderful weekend in New York City!
- We celebrated a joyful Christmas together.
- For the 3rd year in a row, we drove to Pittsburgh to see the Penguins play hockey!
Looking Ahead
- 2017 was a great year for our family. We made memories and had fun together.
- 2018 is going to bring many changes for us. Russ will report to a ship for the first time in 7 years. He will be the XO (Executive Officer) on the USS Gonzalez for about 18 months until he takes command. He will be gone a lot, which will be a hard adjustment for the boys.
- Jacob and Jeffrey will leave the safety of Southeastern Elementary School for the unknown of Hickory Middle.
- Joshua will be having eye surgery....again...in February. It will be the 4th surgery in 3 years. We are hoping it works this time.
- I am finishing up my National Board Teaching Certification and will, hopefully, be announcing my success at the end of the year.
- Mostly, we will spend the year adjusting to a new normal....a sea normal. Thankfully, we have a New Year's cruise to look forward to!
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