Where did January go?!

How on earth is it almost February?  My blogging is almost therapeutic and in someways ends the week for me, something I generally do on Sundays, and I have been neglecting it.  The past few weeks have been super busy with all sorts of fun stuff, 2012 has definitely gotten off to a good start!

We finally had our first "big" snow of the winter season.  It was well after Christmas this year and quite frankly, I was bummed about it in December, but totally over it by the time it decided to show up.  I was just getting used to not having to have your coat, mittens, hat, boots and scarf with you wherever we went!

Bundled up for an outing!

I have to share that Lila has a pretty amazing Daddy!  She puts him through his paces.  At any given time she has him dancing around the room, playing on the floor, chasing her down the hallway, acting like a goof ball, singing songs, and the list goes on and on...he is a trooper and there isn't anything he won't do to put a smile on her sweet face!

Pretty face decorations - courtesy of Lila!

We spent some time over at Grandma and Grandpa Eddins' house this weekend and Lila was introduced to Grandma Elaine's famous chocolate malts!  The malt was a HIT!  However, after a full bowl of marshmallows, some Teddy Grahams and her chocolate malt she was BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS!!!!

We had to strip down to fully enjoy this malt!

Celia and Ruby both celebrate their birthday's in January.  Ruby turned 5 on the 17th and Celia turned 7 on the 26th.  It is hard to believe that these little girls are growing up.  To think that Ruby was younger than Lila is now when we welcomed Lila to the family is crazy to think about, and she seemed so big when Lila was born! 

The girls had their joint birthday party this weekend!  It was a brunch and a small gathering of family.  The girls are so sweet and enjoyed spending time with their family and opening all their gifts, of course!  They got a lot of great things, American Girl is big with them right now!  They got the girl of the year while in Chicago for their birthdays and were pleased to get a lot of the accessories that go with her!

The birthday girls!  Lauren turned 16 in January, too!

Board games are a hit with the girls!  So we couldn't help but get them the sequel to the game Headbandz that we got them for Christmas.  This version is Disney Headbandz, you can tell by the Mickey Mouse ears as an addition to the traditional head gear!  We had a blast playing, there were a lot of giggles as Grandma tried to guess her card -- she was Piglet! 

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you!"

Another special birthday in the month of January is Little Miss Henley's, she turned 2 earlier this month!  We were so excited to head to Center Point today to partake in a craft day with just the girls!  I can't share the craft just yet as it is a very special present for Baby Girl Pfeiler who isn't here yet, but we had A LOT of fun creating this special gift!  So much fun that Monica and I have decided we will get together once a month, if possible, to do some kind of fun, creative activity with the girls.  (Disclaimer: the girls basically ran around like mad women while the Mom's were engrossed in the craft!  Several times I found myself ignoring Lila due to my fixation...bad mom!)

Move over Elmo!  We're comin' in!

Darling little girls having loads of fun!

Another thing keeping me busy has been our new building at work.  When planning the new facility we had timelines that started back in January of 2010.  The final date on most of those timelines was January 19th, 2012 -- our open house and PM Exchange.  We would look at those timelines, crossing each bridge as we came to it, hitting milestones along the way, but none quite as fulfilling as our event on the 19th.  The Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Ron Corbett and Duane spoke to the whole TrueNorth staff and some of our clients, we hosted a ribbon cutting to help make it all feel official, and most importantly we celebrated -- we celebrated all that has been, all that is, and all that is yet to come for us as a business and our community!  

The 19th marked the end of the beginning, if you will. We are finally in the building, living and working and after we were able to share it/christen it with some of our clients, community and friends it feels like we can finally take a deep breath and in some ways, "get back to business."

No wonder January has gone so fast!

Twenty Twelve

What a year 2011 was for us!  We had very little time for rest this year as we were on the go up until the last day!  We wouldn't change a thing about it, but we are looking forward to a slower 2012...is that possible?!

On New Year's Eve we decided that finding a sitter was too complicated and opted to ring the New Year in as a family!  The Hahn's came over to join us for dinner and some time for the girls to play as it has been awhile.  Lila couldn't help herself, she just had to wear her new dancing skirt from Santa, so we made sure Henley knew the dress code! 

Ready to party!

For dinner we had a delicious salad, pork loin and roasted red potatoes.  And for dessert a fantastic french silk pie!  YUM!

It was a casual evening of the girls playing and the adults giggling at their antics!  Lila's new Camaro was a source of laughter as Lila would take the car from in and out of reverse and drive back and forth in the garage with Henley in the passenger side!  I hope neither of them has whiplash!

Can you imagine what this picture will look like 13 years from now?!

Giddy up!

Brandon and Monica brought party favors for the girls!  They had so much fun playing with their noisemakers!  It was comical watching them as they figured out how to blow in them to make them work!  They also got confetti poppers that were too much fun!  You twist the bottom of them and POP! out comes the confetti and streamers, it rained down on the basement floor!

I have to give the girls an A for effort on ringing in the New Year, they did a good job of trying to hang in there!  At about 10:00 it was time for the Hahn's to go with a tired little girl in tow and it was time for us to put our tired little girl in bed, as well. 

Partied out!

After snuggling Lila in for the night Mike and I spent the rest of the evening ringing in the New Year together.  When a year is coming to a close and another is beginning it is hard to not reflect on what you have just been through and what is yet to come.  We had a lot of adventures and blessings in 2011!  We both agreed we had a wonderful 2011 with all the travel, the weddings, the busy work schedules, and the celebrations.  However, we are very much looking forward to what 2012 has in store for us, we are hoping for a bit slower year with more time at home getting projects done around the house and making memories as a family!!!

We wish you a happy, healthy 2012 and may this be the best year yet for all of us!