Let's try this again...

So I published the last blog because I tried to publish it in MARCH, but stupid blogger wouldn't let me put my pictures in the way I wanted, so I boycotted because I was very frustrated.


I shall attempt to get through the past few months to catch up those of you who have no idea what's been going on in our lives.
I'll start with March and April and see how I feel after that.




March.


Um.


That was a really long time ago...oh!


Garry and I got really sick so my mom had to come down and help us care for Anika.  We have not been that sick in a looong time.
Also at the beginning of the month we took a trip to Adams, NE to visit cousin Evelyn!

Anika's "Oh my goodness what was that!" face

April was a fairly busy month. 
Since Garry had to work in Lincoln for a few days, we all went along to stay at a hotel with him so that he wouldn't have to drive back and forth every day.


I took Anika to the children's museum in Lincoln.  She had fun exploring, but I think next time it will be more fun if we take some friends with us. 

I love this picture of Anika because this is a light/sound board for the little stage that they have set up at the museum for kids to "perform" on.  So here I envision Anika following in her mommy's footsteps yelling at people, "QUIET BACKSTAGE!"

Grandma and Grandpa Sparks came to visit and we all went to the zoo!

               This turtle is probably the scariest turtle in the world.  He is huge and looks incredibly mean.  If you have not been to Kingdoms of the Night at the zoo, he's waiting there for you in the swamp. 

Oh! And I joined a band. :)  Well, we did one gig, but it was pretty fun.  I was wearing sunglasses because the sun was right in my eyes, so no, I am not trying to have a "look."

To the zoo again!  

While playing soccer I incurred a massive battle wound from colliding with another girl.  My finger is not accurately pointing though.  It's down above my elbow.  

At the end of the month we went up to see my sister in her final high school play.  She did the lead role and was wonderful. :)

Then I put Anika to work and taught her how to wash her car.  

Oh yeah, and then I got my BRACES OFF! on May first.  Pretty excited about that.  But the retainer does not mix well with morning/evening sickness. 

Shameful, I know.  Months of neglect of my little blog show that I am lazy.  Or really busy. Or both at varying times.

So the updates!

Let's see...

In January and the beginning of February, Garry and I lived the life of two full-time working parents while I did a maternity coverage for a high school theatre teacher for six weeks, which was an adventure, but overall a good one.  Anika did really well at daycare, but we rediscovered the added stress of having to balance a sick child and work commitments when she got a couple fevers and coughs and we would need to decide which of us would stay home with her. 
     

Ah yes.  And this was taken in JANUARY!! She is not wearing a hat or gloves because there is NO SNOW and the weather was beautiful. 

 Anika and Jake are good friends.  But not always great friends.

In February Anika and I journeyed to California to visit Garry's family for a little while.  

And then we returned home.  Here is Anika enjoying one of her favorite things: chips and salsa from La Mesa in Omaha.  Yummy. 

Perusing the Past Year

**I meant to post this on December 31st when I started it. Obviously that did not happen...** This year's end of 2011 is slightly eerie, mostly due to the lack of snow in the Midwest. I'm not complaining about the 40 and 50 degree temps, but my brain is having a hard time adjusting to the winter dates as it feels like early autumn or even spring outside. The year 2011: my first full year as a parent. Whew. Every single person I meet, stranger or friend or family, has told me "it goes so fast!","it" being the wonderful way God created human beings to develop and grow from the womb and beyond. Every single time I hear that phrase, I second it with a bittersweet, "Oh, I know!". Here are some of the images that highlight the year moving so swiftly that, again, my brain almost refuses to accept the changes. January: Fairly uneventful, other than Garry starting his fourth busy season at KPMG which ended up being the busiest of them all with hours upon hours of work...

February: Grandma Strikwerda's health rapidly declined so we took an emergency trip to California to say goodbye as she went to be with Jesus

March: Not too many concrete events that I can recall at this moment...just waiting for busy season to end! Oh, and it SNOWED!

April: The end of busy season!! Hooray! Also Anika learned how to crawl and sit up all by herself this month. Busy little girl! Also, I started repainting the dining room, bathroom, kitchen, and our bedroom

May: Melissa's graduation from Dordt so we got to see Beppa and Opa; trip to Pella, IA for Tulip Time

June: What a busy month! Anika started cutting her first teeth, we took a trip to Wisconsin for our first camping experience with a baby and for Garry to do his half-iron man triathlon, celebrated our first Father's Day, and experienced Anika's first trip to a swimming pool.

July: We journeyed to Florida for Anika to meet Great-Grandma Sparks and other "great" Sparks relatives! This included Anika's first trip to the ocean and being on a beach. Also Tante Rachelle came out to visit us.

August: Started off with a flurry of activity with my birthday, our anniversary, a cousin's wedding, a family trip to Omaha, and then friends the Van Maanen's coming to visit to go to the zoo. Anika also became more mobile and demonstrated it by climbing on everything.

September: Happy Birthday, Anika! Completed my first race! Also, I started substitute teaching this month. Woot woot.

October: First we were visited by Nathan and Nicole, and then we had a lovely visit from some of the Riezebos family. Anika experienced her first time dressing up for Reformation Day and is getting better at eating.

November: Thanksgiving in California with the Riezebos Family and a trip to visit friends in Atascadero!

December: Christmas spent up in Minnesota with NO SNOW! Fun times with the Sparks family and Anika learning how to open presents. Although when she got to the boxes, she promptly sat on them because she thought the box was her present. Silly girl. Also Anika's hair is finally growing long enough to put pretty clips in it, provided she leaves them in her hair! She also loves playing the piano, and sometimes it actually sounds like she's trying to play a song and not just bang on the keys. Prodigy? I think so! We also took a trip to the zoo while Garry had some vacation time. The Omaha zoo in December wearing only sweatshirts...crazy. Anika loves looking at all the animals and can make quite a few of the animal noises. She has always been good at the lion, but was a little freaked out when we heard the tiger growling.