2012

January
So we started the year out with 2 birthdays. Jamen turned 3 and Kenyon turned 10. We celebrated their birthdays together with my dad and step-mom, Sue.

 

 

     Evelyn was 3 months old: crabby, fussy, colic. We used a exercise ball to sit and bounce her which seemed to work sometimes, we gave her Colic Calm gripe water which we hoped worked, but never knew if it really did any good. Mostly I nursed her often, which seemed to be the only thing that really worked, but got old fast when I had things to do!
    Carson helped Colten & Dustin make themselves each a single bed. They turned out well and they are just now going to stain them after a year of use.

February
Evelyn was enough better that she sometimes laid on the floor playing, and trying to roll. We were busy with school most of the time.

March

Evelyn got steadily better, but was still crabby and unpredictable. She was baptized by her Uncle Mikey on the 4th. Carson was home much more and we had some much needed family time.             Carson & I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on the 22nd at a cute B&B. We came home to a surprise visit from Carson's brother, Marlon and sister, Mary and their families. My sister, Missy and husband, Mikey moved to another state after living next door for several years.

April
Carson's work was still slow so we continued to enjoy more time with him. We had nice weather and were able to go to the zoo and a nearby park. Evelyn started sitting and we started to really enjoy her. My oldest son started driver's education, which kept us busy.

May
Emily turned 14. She celebrated her birthday with all the Stenersens who had birthdays close to hers. Grandpa and Grandma were here from NH. The weather continued to be much nicer than the previous couple years and we enjoyed the great outdoors. The kids especially enjoyed the swings and sandbox.

 

 

Evelyn started crawling and we began to see her personality emerge. She's stubborn, very busy, and has a mind of her own. We spent time together as a family having a tea party and a campfire. We also made it to Bonneville Dam one day. (I guess we were busy trying to make up for 2011 when we had next to no family time.)

 

June

Dustin turned 12 right away. Colten spent hours driving. We went to the Ranch and had a MUCH needed vacation. It will be a oasis in my memory forever. Thank the Lord for that. We planted our garden at the end of June, but didn't expect much. We made strawberry jam and spent time in the garden too.

 

July

Carson & I each celebrated another birthday. We made it to the Civil war re-enactment again. It was much more comfortable for me compared to being pregnant and very hot last year. The kids continued to spend hours playing on the swings and in the sandbox enjoying our beautiful NW summer. While Evelyn was no longer colic she was not happy very often. She wanted to nurse a lot and didn't sleep hardly at all, day or night. NOT fun for either of us! Was she teething? I don't know, but she did eventually get teeth around 11 months, I think.

 

August

Evelyn began to move a lot more. climbing and being a generally crazy girl. We went huckleberry picking and got lots of berries. Now the kids swam a lot, as it finally began to be really hot. Carson's work had picked up by now, so he was busy again with work.

 

September

We had a Labor Day camp out in our field with family. It was lots of fun for the kids especially, but we all enjoyed it. The nights were cold, but the days were hot. We spent time target practicing, singing around the fire, and eating. Carson & I made it to the zoo again with the kids, but it was busy and we didn't enjoy it as much as we had in the spring. Our garden began to produce in full force. we got lettuce, beans, cucumbers, carrots, corn, and zucchini. We were having summer weather still and we were enjoying it! Colten turned 16 and got his license shortly after. Damara turned 8 also, and again we celebrated them together with my dad & step-mom, Sue.

 

We also got to take a long, planned for vacation to a beach house on the coast this month. We had a wonderful time riding bikes on the paved paths, playing games, watching movies, singing & reading the Bible, and having general family time. I think Evelyn began walking more around this time.

 

October

Evelyn turned one!

We were full swing into school again, still having wonderful weather and enjoying it. Also, still busy with garden produce. We made apple cider & had our annual (except the previous year) Fall Party both here at our house.

 

November

Carson & the boys spent time hunting. We celebrated two Thanksgivings. one here with our family and one with my dad and Sue. Evelyn continues to grow and explore. She is talking some and showing her sense of humor. We had Amanda & Tim stay here a weekend also.

 

December

Busy, busy, busy! Christmas shopping, weekend away with Carson, bike rides when it's nice, school, and celebrating 3 Christmases and New Years! Whew! We really enjoyed having Mikey, Missy, and their kids here for the last weekend of the year. We had the Stenersen Christmas here on the 22nd, our own Christmas on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Warnke Christmas on the 29th, and New Years' here on New Years Eve of course!! So we are now still on Christmas vacation and are recuperating from all the late nights! I thank God that he has brought us safely through another year. And especially that Evelyn is older and so much happier.