Has It Really Been A Year?

I'm finally at it again.  I can't believe it's been a whole year!  At this time last year I was super excited for all the changes that were on the horizon.  So much has happened and I regret not blogging about all of it as it occurred. There were so many ups and downs. 2013 was packed full of really happy moments and extremely sad ones. So here is my attempt at writing a brief summary of a years worth of LIFE.  

We bought our dream house and remodeled it a bit before (and after) moving in. The home buying process was intense and there were times I thought I might lose my mind, but it was all worth it.  The move from the rental house was exhausting since I was 9 months pregnant by the time we were finally sleeping at the "new house" (June 30th).  

                   

(above)37 weeks along. 8 days before arrival. 

Still packing and scrubbing the rental house.

 (below) About an hour after giving birth.

We welcomed Vincent Elliot Price into our family on July 1st. (Yes, we realize his name is Vincent Price....we did that on purpose). The experience was so amazing and finding the words to describe it is nearly impossible for me.  It was my first time with a Midwife, and my first water birth.  I'm sure I'll write about that experience exclusively at another time. 

I closed Sophia's Home Preschool, and had to say goodbye to all the little angels that I'd grown so attached to.  I miss them all the time.  Luckily, I get to see most of them every so often. That was an enriching chapter of my life. I feel so lucky to have been able to have my own business.  Nothing is more rewarding than watching children learn and grow.  


I turned 30! It finally happened. Yikes!

We got a new ride. Very much like the one I grew up riding in. We love her.

I quit using online school for my kiddos and started a more traditional form of homeschooling.  We turned one of the rooms in our new house into a classroom.  It is so nice having everything in one place and having a space free from distractions (mostly).  

We took an epic trip to Disneyland with the entire Price family (21 of us) at the end of August.  This was an incredibly meaningful trip, as it was my father-in-law's dying wish to see all his grandchildren at Disneyland. It's truly a miracle that everything timed out the way it did. Papa was a trooper as he suffered through quite a few flights, layovers, 100 degree weather, and a lot of pain. It was a trip we will never forget. 

Papa with Aunt Patty, his sister

On September 22, 2013 Papa Rick passed away after years of battling cancer.  We were all so relieved that he would not suffer any longer. Yet I have never felt such sadness.  I miss him always.  He was a beautiful person. I always felt like we had a special bond.  I wouldn't be surprised if everyone felt that way about him.  He was just that kind of person. So kind. So generous. I cherish the special times we spent together during those last few months of his life. 

We added a new furry friend to the family. His name is Alexander the Great. He is an 8 year old Persian. Just another one of my babies.  

And there you go! One of the most eventful and trying years of my life has come and gone.  I'm feeling healthy & happy, and very positive about the future. I am grateful for all of my blessings and recognize that it is only through our trials that we are able to grow.