Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

template source 

Bishop Family
2013 Highlights

*Miriam got her ears pierced
*Vanessa and Michael got iPhones (which has changed my blogging forever)
*Simon turned two
*Miriam took swim and ballet class
*We got yearly passes to the National Aquarium in Baltimore
*Toured the capitol building in DC *Finally went to the Cherry Blossom festival
*Vanessa's Mom and Dad came for a visit
*Vanessa found out baby #3 was on the way and tried to keep it a secret (Michael knew the whole time)
*Drove to Pennsylvania to get bushels of peaches
*Attended BYU vs. UVA football game
*Miriam started a new ballet and tap class
*Michael traveled for five weeks during Vanessa's first trimester (basically August, September, and part of October are a blur)
*Bought and moved into our first home
*Found out baby #3 is a boy
*Miriam turned five
*Celebrated six years of marriage

We have had such an exciting and blessed year. We wish you all a happy holiday season and a happy and healthy new year.

Good Intentions

If I would have sent Christmas cards out this year this is what they would have looked like:

source

Sometimes things happens and sometimes good intentions don't happen.

Christmas cards didn't get sent this year.

I am actually okay with it.

Luckily, this "card" has nothing to do with Christmas.

We can wish you all merry and bright days anytime of year!

In addition to our Christmas card, I want to start off our new blog by recapping last year for our family. I started doing this last year. I loved looking back and seeing the kids change over the year. This year I wanted to add some events that we might want to remember.

Our Family in 2012 in events

January: Miriam started Primary, Simon learned to stand up on furniture, Michael traveled to California for 3 weeks
February: we started to enjoy some time outside, Miriam made Valentine's Day cards, Simon learned the art of getting into trouble, Michael stayed busy with work
March: nicer weather proved a life-saver for two kids and a mom stuck at home with no car, Michael worked many long hours
April: Simon turned one, we bought a van, new adventures and outings with the van, two Easter egg hunts
May: Michael celebrated a birthday, Simon started taking steps, we went to Mount Vernon, Miriam caught the excitement of spring garage sales
June: Michael got a promotion, Simon learned to walk, Miriam learned to ride a bike,
July: Vanessa celebrated a birthday, Boarded a plane to Utah, Michael spent two weeks in Utah, Vanessa and the kids spent six weeks in Utah, spent so much wonderful time with family
August: boarded a plane back to Virginia, spent a weekend with Trevor and Robyn, tried to get back in to the swing of things after a long break, Michael traveled for work
September: walked for the homeless, Simon injured his ankle, Michael went to Utah, Miriam practiced riding her bike before it turned cold
October: Michael traveled to Minnesota for 3 weeks, Miriam participated in her first Sacrament meeting program, Simon started nursery, picked apples
November: enjoyed Thanksgiving with the Bishop family, put up our first family Christmas tree
December: Miriam turned four, celebrated five years of marriage, visited Santa, spent the week of Christmas with the whole Bishop clan, took family pictures, Michael traveled to Minnesota, Michael got released from nursery

Our Family in 2012 in pictures

What another great year for our family. We are so grateful for all the blessings we have enjoyed this year. Miriam and Simon are the joy of our lives. We have so much to look forward to in 2013!