Looking Back at 2011

Wow, Can't believe it is almost 2012. This year has been quite a ride, but we are so glad to be in good health. Owen is taking off walking these days, and talking as well. Chris is getting out more, recently going air soft gun shooting a few times with Bryce and Austin. I am enjoying making more things at home which I would have purchased in the past (crackers for Owen at the moment! Excited to see how they turn out.)

There really isn't a way to sum up the whole year, but just looking back is so crazy. Chunky cheeks Owen, surgeries, pumping, etc, so much has changed. I finally had Apria pick up the IV pole and Kangaroo pump that we used to use for Owen's feeds. I guess I was just hanging onto them in case he stopped tolerating the faster feeds via syringe. I think tolerating since August is pretty good! It felt so great to leave them out on the porch to get picked up. Like a rite of passage for us all. That was the same pump that we had in bed with us overnight for the first 6 months, that we ran 7 times a day for so long... Whoa! I did a deep cleaning on it, but that old crusty thing is going to need some deeper cleaning than my old vinegar mix!

Ok so I went through our photos in about 5 minutes and selected a few of my favorites from this year. Ideally I was going to do "top 10" or "a picture a month" but there are just too many fun things we did this year. This gets a little excessive...I think it was 85 pictures!!! There may be some repeats but for the most part I hit some events, moments, or just fun photos. Enjoy a glimpse of our year!

Cutest sheriff in town

Meeting Aunt Amanda

Enjoying being fed peas!

Patiently awaiting ECHO results.

Girls trip!

Boys a snuggling.

Our lil gardener.

Family soup lunch

Just seconds before Evan grabbed Owen's NG partway out.

Meeting Baby Lola.

Pre-OP cuddling.

Traditional Team Britton Photo.

Auntie cheered up Owen with her songs and books, and the girls pictures.

Uncle Colin and Aunt Jac visited after Owen's surgery.

Brittons all together.

Aunt Shari Meeting Owen.

O can't get enough of Mat.

PaPa and his boys.

Thanks girls for helping Auntie make a scarecrow for the garden.

This photo is just ridiculous. Those cheeks are crazy stuff! Breast milk fueled baby! No steroids, believe me, we were asked!!

Touching the soft books with Nana.

Yes, I did that on accident. The guard was off. Obviously. Most would have realized sooner than me but that's what extreme sleep deprivation does to ya.

Enjoying Linda's yard with a Mercy reunion.

My Boys snuggling. There is a pattern here.

Chris firing up the pit for the first time. Thank you Universal Masonry and Design!

Wine tasting in the Short Bus for Chris's Bday.

Lovers!

My homies!

Owen and Case meet for the first time! Sweating bullets in Coloma.

Lainey and Owen just getting into trouble. (Owen is much more social in the warmer, healthier months!)

Snoozing on the beach in Mendocino.

A surprise escape to Napa with Aunt Jac. Yes we are immersed in MUD! AMAZING!

At the Cloutier wedding! Special day.

Owen and Case splishing along. Owen's scar is so much less visible now.

Chillaxing at the Solace fundraiser.

Owen's first Restaurant experience! Out to Eggheads in Fort Bragg. We wiped everything down at least 10 times.

Cloutier wedding shots.

Sweet Mama Ty and special friend Case. AKA Sharkey.

Wedding shenanagans out to dinner for Jac's bach party.

Someone is 1 Today!!

Family and Friends at Owen's gathering.

Papa made Owen a very special life flight helicopter he will get to play with when he doesn't throw things...Maybe when he is 15!

Baby Evan and Owen at the Maine event.

One of my favorite shots of the year of Jeremy and Evan.

Mama E and I with our boys! (and 80 chairs in our driveway!)

Another AMAZING wedding.

Chris and Jac during the money dance!

Swimming in the Aubin's pool.

One of the first harvests.

Bach Party to Santa Rosa wine tasting in a garden--life is good!

Grandma and O at the Bowens.

Mommas all around!!

Pre-op wearing the surgeon's cap!

Mikia has followed and supported us from a distance! So good to reconnect at the reunion.

Old friends! Jack and Michelle since age 10ish.

Post op gtube NO MORE NG!!

Aubin girls visiting Owen and entertaining us all!

Family time at Bodega.

Getting a little hairy around here...

Happy shower Jayme! Love that girl!

Bonitas at the Thrasher wedding.

Quick trip to Santa Rosa for the Heirloom vegetable festival and a little vino on the patio.

O and E at the top of a mountain.

Little angels, such strong boys!

Happy wedding Jayme! Loved being a part of that day!

Dancing was the best- live band did a fantastic job with the covers. Want to have them play at a party for us!

Harvest supper out in the backyard.

Tahoe could be a reality for us! Yeah!

Owen and Lainey getting grabby at Lotus Park

Someone got into the trash...and toilet...

Hiking up on the ridge with the Grovers.

Mat and O on thanksgiving.

Shari and O hanging out.

Tahoe family trip!

Hiking Fallen Leaf Lake.

Owen and his girls.

Chris and Owen just monkeying around.

I don't know who these guys are??? They snuck into our house on Thanksmas!

Someone can WALK!

Someone can CLIMB!

What an amazing and blessed year 2011 was. We are so thankful for everything we have and look forward to another year of health, peace, love, and happiness!