Top Five of 2010

2010 has been an amazing year for Kevin and I.  We have received so many blessings this past year, that I decided to pick my top five and reflect upon them.

Number Five:

Purchasing the ground for our future home.  We first stumbled upon this ground in the Fall of 2009.  Kevin and I even made an offer on it, but decided to step away as the whole thing happened so quickly and we really hadn't even been looking at the the time.  We decided even before getting married that we eventually wanted to live outside of town and that our goal was to have a larger yard for our future kids to play in and a bit more privacy than our current location offers.  After stepping away from this ground, we began to seriously look.  Maddy took many a nap in the back seat of the car and truck while we drove around to different locations in the area.  We added another criteria to our list for the ground, it needed to shorten Kevin's comute to work.  His fifty minute drive one way was cutting into time that he could be spending with the girls.  We looked and looked.  Our realtor took us to look at several properties, and ended up right back where we started.  This eight acres met all of our criteria and was more bang for our buck that some of the other properties where.  So we again negotiated, but this time didn't change our minds.  We were both excited about it and Kevin was already planning out his shed and picking out his tractor before we signed the closing papers.  So hopefully, my 2011 reflections will mention us beginning construction of our new home.

 It was very hard to order the rest of these, so

here is

Number Four:

Celebrating my grandfather's 90th birthday.  My Grandpa Bud, as everyone calls him, turned 90 in May.  We celebrated this milestone with an open house in his honor.  And he definately deserves to be honored.  He is an excellent father, father-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather.  I have many childhood memories of visiting their house on the weekends and fishing with Grandpa, playing wiffle ball, feeding the cats in their shed. He always made time for us grandkids, as did my grandmother.  Grandpa continues to be an excellent example for the rest of us today. This next year, they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary and I think that may also make my list.

 Number Three:

My sister FINALLY, got married to Dave this past May.

There wedding was wonderful and it was great to see the two of them begin a new chapter of their lives together.  And now that people have stopped bothering Dave about when Lindsey is getting a ring, they are asking him about babies.  Poor guy just can't catch a break:)  Not! I would like one of my top fives of 2011 to be becomming an aunt - no pressure though guys.

Number Two:

Watching Madelynn turn into a toddler in what seems to have been the blink of an eye.  She has learned so much and changed so much in the past year it is simply amazing to watch.  I can honestly say that she makes sure my days are busy and always entertaining.  I am very lucky to be her mommy.  She has also become a pretty great big sister!

 Number One:

Being blessed with another beautiful, healthy baby girl.

We welcomed Emma Lynn Luitjohan to our family on July 21st, 2010.  She is just as amazing as her big sister, and I am lucky to be her mommy too.  There is nothing like watching your kids growing, learning and changing.  It is the best and most amazing thing there is.

Happy New Year!

Have an Amazing 2011!