There has been so much going on for the Reyes family. I seriously don’t understand where January and February went because I was expecting them to be my slow months. I’m not complaining – just time really does go faster the older you get.

Can I just list everything?

1. Brandon’s parents where here most of February to close on their house.
2. We are getting a new roommate for a few months.
3. We made some bigger decisions about adding to our family.
4. I need a passport.
5. The kids are at epic cuteness (ha and epic trouble some days).
6. The boys and I are headed to PA the end of June.
7. I’m still running a business! Taxes –DONE!

Here are some photos from the in-laws new house. If you really want to creep all the photos you can email me for the link and password.

I feel like at the end of every year so much has happened. Maybe it is my life stage and lots of things are happening or maybe I’m just easily impressed.

- My kids turned 3 and 4. Life is awesome with a 3 and 4 year old. No diapers, no stroller, sleep, communication, and they are still little enough to want cuddle often. I love babies, but I am really enjoying where we are in life.
- Brandon and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. I love him and he loves me.
- I had 2 surgeries this year! Yikes. I had an ERCP done and they made my bile duct normal again. I don’t want to gross anyone out – but I was vomiting bile all the time. I had horrible morning sickness when I was pregnant and then nursed forever so I thought it was all just morning sickness and being sensitive to hormones. Several trips to the ER this year because of pain worse than a gallbladder attack, blood work checking my liver enzymes every few days, and being told that what was happening to me is fatal – I had surgery. My stomach now works the way it should and bile is no longer constantly dumped into my stomach for me throw up. Second surgery was the NovaSure procedure. I highly recommend it and am so glad I did it.
- JRP had a great fall and I feel like I really could do this photography business thing. First time I’ve ever felt like that!
- I didn’t buy any “want” clothes for a whole year. I bought some essentials like layering $3 tee shirts from old navy, an ivory and gray cardigan (also like $5 each), and another pair of skinny jeans. Everything was cheap and replaced stuff I had been using for years and was gross. I am trying really hard to not binge online shop this week, but my closet needs some grown up stuff in it. I’ve been wearing the same stuff for 6+ years. I am slightly tempted to narrow my wardrobe down to #x things and only wear them for the year. That would include everything so I really need to think of a realistic number and commit to not getting bored.
- I made 3 trips to the east coast this year. In 2013, the east coast is going to have to come to Austin. I might get a trip into NEPA, but there are way too many factors to decide on a date.
- I worked with the March of Dimes and wish every photographer would consider volunteering with them. It is very rewarding and humbling. I’ve seen loss and miracles. My heart can ache and be full of hope all within minutes when I am there. I meet the littlest, but strongest of humans. The lighting is horrible and I can’t touch the babies, but the photos I give to the families are better than what their point and shoot and iphone photos. March of Dimes has taught me so much about photography. Photographers demand control over lighting and settings – I have had to just let it go when I’m in the NICU. I do my best and give everything I have while I am there and editing. It isn’t always pretty or very good, but it isn’t about my work. It is about the beautiful baby in the photo.
- Had another year with Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Love that organization – it is easy and organized. The relationships with those that I serve with and serve have grown and blessed me in ways I couldn’t even imagine a year ago.
- This was a huge year for me with relationships. I have close friends in my life daily. I have friends who go out of their way to help me and spend time with me – and not just me – my husband and kids.

I know 2013 is going to be another big year. B goes to kindergarten, we want to do a mission trip, we will visit Idaho in August, we want to visit Georgia, Brandon’s parents close on their house in Austin, we have other local volunteer opportunities we are ready to jump into, JRP has some changes in the works, we have family and friends visiting us, house projects, and then all the other 4,000 unplanned things that I am sure will come up.

And a high five if you actually read all that!

You know how one project usually snowballs into 4,000 projects? I’m about to tell you all about it. We are getting new flooring for Christmas. I hated the white carpeting that we destroyed within 3 days of moving into the house. I also was over the faux suede paint job from 1995. Why put new flooring in when I’m going to want to paint soon? Why not just paint now? Then it snowballed even more – if we are going to paint and put in a new floor why don’t get the trim painted? So, now all that is happening. The house is 20 years old and I don’t think the trim has been painted since it was built.

Here are the before pictures: