2011

2011 is just about done, about 11 more hours left. Looking back the best thing about 2011 was my kids. They will always be the best part of any year. This hasn't been the easiest year in my life but it hasn't been bad either. I think looking forward to 2012 and learning from 2011 I want to make a point to focus more on positive. Negative energy has a way of sneaking in and that's not an option. I want to do as much as I can with my kids. Give them new experiences as often as possible. I want to focus on being happy and healthy. Making the positive relationships in my life stronger. Making sure I take care of myself so that I can take care of my family. I think it's possible to do all of this and if I do 2012 will be a great year.

Here are some of my favorite moments from 2011. Be warned, this is a long post, tons of pictures!

My very first picture of the day on January 23, 2011. 

The great blizzard of 2011

Everett moved into his big boy bed in 2011.

Ian's 1st birthday, Amelie's 4th, Olivia's 6th and Everett's 3rd.

 Ian took his first wobbly steps then became the running monster that he is now.

There was paczki day.

There was plenty of awesome in 2011.

Jason, my supervisor, says Happy New Year.

Cuteness

And Cranes

A Cubs game with my friends who also happen to be my siblings. Even got a ball!

Olivia started T-ball.

Dance!

Easter was tons of fun.

Dads birthday with the family.

This drunken whale

2011 saw the end of Stargate Universe and Stargate. Damn I miss it.

Monbig graduating, so proud of Mo. And Olivia graduating kindergarten.

We celebrated Karen's birthday with some Thai food.

Had fun at the White Sox game.

And had fun at carnivals.

We saw rainbows.

And saw Ron Santo elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

We swam until our toes were raisins.

And we hung out at the zoo.

And the aquarium.

We saw Cirque du soleil and hung out with our awesome cousins.

We celebrated the 4th of July and my moms birthday which are the same day.

There was plenty of Door County fun.

Wizard Con with friends, Daleks and that guy in The Tick costume.

The annual Cubs Sox Whiffle Ball Classic. The Sox won, blah.

Two girls in school together and Everett's first day of pre-school.

We went to some fun concerts.

 And of course, The Hawks.

The girls played soccer and I coached Amelie's team. I had so much fun coaching, one of the highlights of the year for me.

Halloween and pumpkin farms.

Thanksgiving fun.

And Christmas.

Big news this year. Nick, in green, and Katie, in red, got engaged this year!

So that's it. That's pretty much 2011 in a nutshell. Thank you for checking out my blog this year. I had no clue when I started doing my picture of the day how many of you would stop in to check it out. I'm excited that so many of you find it interesting. Thank you, thank you, thank you.