The Year in Review

Another busy year is coming to an end and I thought I'd take some time to review what the Hall-Smith Family did over these last twelve months.

January

Ok, so it was technically December 30th, but it didn't fit into any other year end review so here it goes:

Chris and I went to go see Jeff Dunham at the Bilo Center!!! Sooooo awesome!!!


February


Chris and I went to Myrtle Beach


to see Alice in Chains!

We also brought home a souvenir. Had he been a girl, we would have named her Evangeline Alice (as a nod to that weekend); however, he was a boy and his name is William Lucas.


March


We took the kids to see the circus at the Bilo Center


April

Chris celebrated his 33rd birthday and


we heard "Pistachio's" heart beat for the first time.

Chris and I also went on a hiking day trip and found five waterfalls and two caves in one day.






May

Gabriel turned three and got a big boy room





and


Cadence graduated from kindergarten!


June


We took the kids and went with Emily and Christy to Great Wolf Lodge


July


My baby sister got married!!!


This meant a trip for Chris and I to Niagara Falls!!!


August


Cadence began first grade


September

The whole family (dogs and all) went camping over Labor Day weekend. We met Charlie & Elizabeth at got to go out on their sailboat.








October

We went apple picking at Nivens' Apple Orchard






We went to Gatlinburg, TN over my 29th birthday weekend






and Cadence celebrated her 7th birthday





November


At 7:50pm on Saturday, November 20th, William Lucas Hall entered this world weighing 9lbs 6oz, measuring 22 inches long and completed the Hall-Smith Family.


December


We celebrated our first Christmas with Liam

Year One

Valentine's Day is our one year anniversary. Crazy! It does not feel like it has been a year. In some ways it feels like we got married last weekend and in others it feels like we have always been together. I can say that I never thought I could be so incredibly happy. I am happy that I have someone that enjoys going through the routine with me... getting the kids up in the morning, going on family outings, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, playing with the dogs, going to church, etc. I am blessed to have married my best friend. Someone that came into my life at a pretty crappy time and effortlessly picked the kids and I up, dusted us off and held our hands as we continued forward on the road of life.

I am thankful for the awesome friends and family that Cadence, Gabriel and I have gained. When Cadence, Gabriel and I were on our own, the prospect of remarrying terrified me in part because I didn't want the kids to feel like they were third-wheels at family events. The "step" feeling can be pretty hard for little kids to deal with. I could not ask for a more welcoming family. Cadence and Gabriel see all of their aunts, uncles and grandparents as part of their big family and it is awesome.