Can't Silence These Lambs: 2013, Our Year in Review

2013 was a full year for sure. I thought it would be fun to do a blog and look back through the year at all of the pictures we took to remember the year. We sold a house and moved, that was the big one, but we experienced so much more. 2013 was a year full of challenges, but we had a very blessed year. I will always remember the losses of Aunt Margie and Uncle Mart, but I have so many happy memories with them and know they are in heaven with my Grandpa, and many many others. I am so thankful for this past year. I feel like me and Mike have grown so much. I am so lucky to have him and my two boys. They have truly blessed my life. I am beyond thankful I have been able to stay a stay at home mom and will continue to do so for 2014. Everyone always thinks you are a stay at home mom to be with your kids, but I have learned it is about much more than that. It has definitely helped me to be a better mom, but also a better wife, a better friend, a better neighbor, a better daughter, a better sister, just a better person all around. I don't know what all 2014 will bring our family, but I am thankful for my friends, my family, and my faith. I know I will need and use all three as the year goes by. I'm not sure I have any big new year's resolutions, other than I really just want to concentrate on looking at the big picture, to always set goals to achieve, to stretch my self just enough so I continue to grow, but not so much I don't enjoy the process, to be healthier, to be more understanding, to have more patience, to help others more, to spread happiness, to do more than I did last year, to find a new career.......ok well maybe I do have a few New Year Resolutions. Here's to a fun, happy, healthy, adventurous 2014 to my family and yours.......

A look back on 2013......

We started off 2013 by ringing in the New Year at home with the boys

In January we made snowflakes for all of the kids returning to school at Sandy Cook Elementary after the shooting

We took the boys on a vacation to an indoor water park in Branson Missouri

We put our house up for sell by a new Realtor - Marcus Necessesary

Max turned 4! We celebrated at Boingo Bounce

Cousin Laney turned 4 the same week, 4 days earlier than Max

We started to look for new homes in Bentonville, AR incase ours were to sell

We celebrated our 10th Valentine's Day together

Mike's Grandpa Lamb turned 95

we all traveled to Delight, AR to celebrate, and I brought 95 cupcakes!!

In March, Alex had to have surgery on his face below his eye to remove a Hemangioma

In March we got some snow, not much, but we sure acted like it was

In March we experienced great sadness. My aunt Margie went in for what we thought was routine surgery. My Aunt Phyllis traveled down from Colorado and my mom and dad also traveled down to Little Rock. Her surgery did not go as planned. She had her surgery on Saturday and was in Hospice by Monday. She passed away Thursday morning. It was an incredible loss to our family. She was the best Aunt anyone could ask for never forgetting a Birthday or special event and everything in between.

This is me and Aunt Margie on my 1st Christmas. My memories from when I was a little girl was to wake up Christmas morning, travel to Russellville to visit the Van Es family (my dad's side) than travel 15 minutes to Darnelle, AR to visit Margie and Don. This was my first Christmas without her that I can remember. She was greatly missed, but thought about often.

Aunt Phyllis, Aunt Margie, me and my mom at my wedding shower in Russellville

This verse has special meaning to my Aunt Margie. It was printed on her funeral programs. This verse will always be near and dear to my heart. I placed it on some of our Christmas cards this year.

We sold our house!!! We feel like we will never be able to repay Marcus for everything he did for our family, but we will start by referring him to anyone and everyone that ever needs to buy or sell a house!!

Bitter sweet......we take the boys to say a last goodbye to the house we owned for almost 7 years. Lots of memories in this house.

Bye Bye Drexelwood house!!!!

oh my....of course, moving day - we get a flat tire on the way out to mom and dad's house

The four of us moved in with my mom and dad in Sonora!!! Here is the boys new temporary room

After much searching, and going back several times, making Marcus show us practically every house in Bentonville, we decided on a new home. We found a new neighborhood, Grammercy Park in Bentonville, AR. We were the first ones to move in. We were a little nervous because we knew this would be our "forever home" that we would stay at for atleast 15-20 years. We fell in love with it, and new it was the right place for us. We put in an offer and it got accepted!!! We were so excited, we set the move in date for about 45 days out. This was March, were were to move in May 1st.

1st house on the corner

our new home 1801 NE Frost Dr

We celebrated Easter in Sonora with mom and dad

1st of SEVERAL medical issues with Alex this year. Later we will find out it was all caused because of severe allergies. Here we are with extreme exema at a kids dermatologist.

more snow

Spring Break we took a trip to Branson, mainly for the Dixie Stampede, with my parents

Max started a sport! Soccer. Here he is at his first practice

one of many trips to visit Nana (my Grandma) in Russellville

Me and Mike took a trip to Houston. We left the kids in Delight on the way with his parents

We bought some new stuff at IKEA. It was so fun to go, we spent a lot of time there

more skin problems for Alex

It is soy here, so we had figured that out, we just hadn't cut anything else out.

TIME TO MOVE INTO THE NEW HOUSE!!!!!!

boys first meal in the new home

our front door

May 3rd, we got snow!!!

During May we had a really bad storm hit our neighborhood. We were in the Laundry room with the boys while the tornado sirens were going off. We were actually a little scared, we made them wear bike helmets. Lots of wind damage. Turns out an F1 tornado barely miss us and went South into Rogers.

we lost lots of trees

What was left of the neighborhood sign

things in our backyard were everywhere, look at the trampoline!!!

Annual Gentry safari Mother's Day trip

Mike took Max to see a movie....a cute daddy and me date

My dad took us out on the boat all for the first time (well max had been before)

I had a garage sale at my parents house in May. I was so excited. We got rid of a lot of stuff we didn't want to take to the new home AND I got to keep all of the money to plan a family vacation to St. Louis!

Memorial Day Weekend, Mabry turns 6!

Because of all of the snow, Mabry's Kindergarten Graduation was in June! We had fun seeing her graduate and celebrated at Chick Fila

Our good friend welcome their daughter, Ansley Davis into the world.

Happy Father's Day to mike, a hiking trip to a creek!

Max started swim lessons at the Walton Life Fitness Center

We surprised Max with a mommy, daddy and me picnic

After the picnic we took him to see Scooby Doo Live at the Walton Art Center, such a fun experience

I volunteered for the 2nd year in a row for Vacation Bible SChool and all 5 Grandkids attended (well Alex is too little so he was in the nursery but believe me, he didn't know the difference, haha)

Took all 5 to see the Naturals game with our church

First Church night out at the baseball fields. Me and Mike in our cool church shirts

I prepared for it for months by saving and planning. We just went with the 4 of us, but we had oh so much fun. At the end of June, we took the kids to St Louis. I think we stayed 5 days? We went everywhere, kids museum, zoo, park, paddle boat on the lake, the arch, an aquatic center. We will always remember this vacation with the boys. Max still talks about it til this day. Next year our goal is the beach. I picked a few good memory pics from our vacation to St Louis

3 story slide....and BOTH of my boys went several times, so did I

For the 4th of July we traveled down to Delight and all went to Suck Creek. His 95 year old Grandpa joined us and several of The Lamb relatives. It was a lot of fun

4th of July weekend

FINALLY - we Alex in to see an Allergist. We got him tested and learned that he is allergic to milk and eggs. He is a 4 for milk and a 3 for eggs. He can not have even a trace of milk or eggs.
We have spent months learning how to cope with his allergies and keep him safe. WE have had a few mishaps but he is improving as time goes by. He is a happy healthier kid, and he is finally starting to gain weight and get bigger!

July, Allergry Clinic, Dr. Tina Merritt in Bentonville

In July my parents celebrated their 41st Wedding Anniversary. We made them a handmade poster

We took the 5 kids down to Russellville to visit Nana. A few other great grandkids that live in Russeellville joined us for afternoon of fun

In August our new Sunday school class had a Lake Day. We took the kids and my parents. We had a lot of fun

August 12, 2013 we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.

August 12, 2006

We had cheesecake from the Fresh Market to celebrate

we watched our old wedding video and took snapshots on our phone and set some out to our friends that were there

In August, Mary Frannie turned 9 and for her Birthday wanted the whole family to go to Branson for the weekend. We went, and here is all the kids with Grandpa watching the magic show before the Dixie Stampede.

In August we ran the color run. It was the hardest storm I have ever been outside during, without an umbrella. We could barely see. It was crazy. We ran with our good friend, Jennifer Fox. We will always remember this crazy stormy morning

Also in August we went with Matt and Jennifer Fox and Mike's cousin John to see Rush in Kansas City. It was a blast. I laughed the most on this trip as I have probably ever in one day.

Me and Mike see rush. If my hair looks bad....its because I straightened it than walked in the rain!

neat stage effects at Rush concert

In August they started our Clubhouse!!! We sat outside everyday - or most everyday, eating a popsicle and watching them work. Quite entertaining for a 2 and 4 year old boy

We created the PRIZE BUCKET. We use it to try and promote and reward good behavior

Labor Day Weekend. Alex turned 2. We gave him a Mickey Mouse Birthday party

In September my Grandma turned 85. We all traveled down to Russellville and gave her a big Birthday Party at the Park. Here she is with her great grandchildren. There are now 17 total

My Grandma with her "kids"

the whole group, we got this on the tripod!!

My Grandma with her brother Mart and his wife Shar

Our entire family gathered on September 8th to celebrate my Grandma's 85th Birthday. My uncle Mart and Aunt Shar traveled in from Iowa for the big day. Monday September 9th 6am, I received news my great Uncle Mart had passed away from a Massive heart attack. This was tough so unexpected loss for our family. A sad reminder that we can be taken from this earth anytime at any moment. I am thankful I got to spend all day with my Uncle Mart making new memories, but I will miss him, and think of him often.

Mike's work, ISD had there annual Fall carnival and we took the boys for a little while. They had a blast. All the food, drink, and fun you can have for free

prizes, necklaces, snowcone, popcorn.....

Bounny houses at the fall ISD carnival

Me and Mike celebrated our 7 year Wedding Anniversary and our 10 year dating anniversary with a date night out.

more skin problems with Alex....good news is I'm pretty sure September was the last time he has had to go to the dermatologist. I am 100 percent sure his allergies were causing all of his problems. They have almost disappeared if he eats right.

My parents and several other family members traveled to IOWA for Mart's funeral services

They were able to stop by the farm where they grew up. My family is from IOWA for those of you who didn't know. We still have several relatives up in IOWA.

A highlight of our fall is definately Max playing big boy soccer. So fun to go watch him play

The end of September on the 21st we participated in the local Food Allergy Awareness Walk. We enjoyed learning more, getting a bag of goodies, getting some shirts for the boys, and meeting other families that deal with food allergies.

In October we headed back to Branson for our 2nd annual Triple Birthday Celebration. We celebreated my dad's birthday, Setpember 26th, Mike's Birthday, October 3rd, and my brother Todd's Birthday, October 9th......all on the same weekend by renting a big house at Big Cedar Lodge and all going as a family. Below are few pictures from the weekend.