Goodbye 2011...Hello 2012

Hilton Head Island

Disney on Ice

Cinderella

Cason's blessing (Pittman Family)

Braves game

I love to reflect back on the year and remember what all we have done and then to look forward to what's coming ahead in the next year. Neil even gets involved with my end of the year posts to help me remember!

2011

We celebrated Addison's 2nd Birthday in March along with her first stomach bug the day before her big party (yuck)! Neil finished his school year and started his rotations, which he has loved (for the most part)! Two of our nephews, Brandon and Payton, turned 12 and received the Aaronic priesthood. Two of our nieces, Kali (May) and Grace (July) both turned 1 this year! We took 2 trips to Atlanta to see good friends of ours sealed in the temple and then another trip with my mom, sister, and our girls for the Atlanta Temple Open House and visited the American Girl store.

I finished my 5th year teaching in May and had a wonderful summer with Addison. We found out that we are expecting our second baby in June (Happy Father's Day to Neil)! We went to Hilton Head for 2 days for a mini-vacation to the beach! We welcomed a new baby nephew, Cason, to our family in July!

I started my 6th year teaching in August and found out our new bundle of joy is going to be a BOY in September. We took a trip with some friends to Atlanta to a BRAVES game! Addison started wearing "panties" in September and now is officially potty trained (except at night). Addison and I went to Disney on Ice in October and we loved it!

We celebrated Halloween with a little princess (Cinderella) and then got to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with both of our families! I was released from my Young Women's calling and Neil was released as Elder's Quorum President after 5 years and called to be Executive Secretary.

We finished the year off by buying a 2011 Toyota Sienna (van) and we're celebrating the New Year at home with Neil enduring the stomach virus (yuck)!

2012

Our nephew, Ryan, will turn 8 February 7th and baptized on the 11th. The arrival of our baby boy, Eli Wesley, expected due date February 29, 2012! Addison will turn 3 on March 5th! Neil finishes PA school the end of March, takes the PANCE test in April, and after the results will officially be Physician Assistant!!!!! Our niece, Katelyn, will turn 8 and be baptized June 4th! Our nephew Cason will turn 1 in July!

I can't wait to see what else we have in store for 2012! Happy New Year!!!

Growing Up A Little Too Fast???

One night before bed...I was changing Addison into her pull up and pajamas. When she ran to her purse and got her money "fake dollar" and put it in her pull up. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she needed her money. I promise I haven't taught her that and Neil isn't either...that just our silly girl :)

She also decided she wanted to listen to her cousin's Ipod. I couldn't resist taking a picture!

One Year Difference

2010

2011

See the difference 1 year can make...

Christmas Sneak Peek

These are just a few shots from all of our Christmas adventures! We had a blast together! This was the first year that Addison could really understand a little about Christmas, Santa, Jesus' birthday, etc. We started the holidays off with our downtown Statesboro Christmas celebration, which was also her first visit to see Santa this year. She loved him! She walked right up and sat on his lap, then we saw him three more times throughout December and every time she loved him and asked to see him. She learned several Christmas songs at school and has been singing them at the top of her lungs since. She knows Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. They are all in her own words (versions), but how I love to hear them! She even sings them aloud in the grocery cart at Walmart to anyone who will listen or just to hear herself...did I mention, I have a little singer on my hands...apparently it runs in the Wilkerson family. Now, how do I get her to stop the Christmas songs??? I'm at a loss on that one!

She had Polar Express Day at school and got to wear her pajamas to school! Only after a huge fit because according to Addison "You can't wear pajamas to school mommy". Then after I convinced her it was okay, she didn't want to wear the adorable Christmas gown, but her Santa monkey pajamas. When did my child become opinionated about her clothing? Also, she only wants to wear pink dresses to church!

I had a wonderful Christmas time with my kids at school. I love their excitement and anticipation of the big day!

We had a few Christmas parties here and there and enjoyed getting to spend time with our friends. Then we took off for a week journey to visit both of our families. Addison decided the best thing about visiting family is COUSINS! She can't get enough of play time with her cousins and I love that she loves them so much. She asks for them individually by name at different times or tells me something funny that one of them did now that we are back home! She also loves her grandparents and enjoyed being spoiled to pieces by them.

Her big gift from Santa this year was a doll house. I love to watch her sit her dolls in the house and little van and watch her imagination. She can make up some scenarios...except they sound very familiar to what our life is like sometimes!

We also tried to teach Addison about the true meaning of Christmas this year! We let her play with our nativity set this year (even though it is breakable). She didn't break any pieces and loved baby Jesus and handled Him with extra care. Everywhere he went, Mary wasn't far behind because that's His mommy Addison would say! We got a fisher price set after Christmas on sale and I opened it for her to play with and you should see all the places they go. Addison really likes for them to ride in her doll house van! Maybe we'll work on keeping them in the manger next year!

I even threw in a prego picture for everyone! I was 30 weeks (7 1/2 months pregnant)! We are starting the countdown around here for baby Eli. I can't wait for next Christmas to celebrate with both of them. I tried to picture what next Christmas will be like with two, but just couldn't picture it yet!

Hope everyone else had a FABULOUS Christmas!!!