Goodbye 2013

2013 was a great, great, great year for our little family (wow, three "greats," that's how great it really was).  They say the most stressful things that can happen in a person's life are:  starting a new job/career, having a baby, and moving.  And we did all three of those in this one year!!  But, as crazy as things did get in our lives at times, the happy moments by far out weighed the stressful ones.  Here is quick review of our year:


JANUARY:   We found out that we were having a little boy, and had a Reveal Party with family in Springfield to celebrate (with blue cake and all).

                                                   

FEBRUARY:   Unfortunately, February was not one of the fun months in our year.  I ended up in the ER one night with extreme stomach pains.  It turns out I have gallstones and was having a gallbladder attack.  Not cool.

MARCH:   March was a fun month, with Chris and I taking a little babymoon.  For Chris's last spring break we decided to take a trip out west to Seattle, WA and Astoria, OR.  My best friend, Becky, also lives out that way so it was nice to get to spend some time with her.

On top of the Space Needle.

At Pike's Place.              

                                  

At Cannon Beach, OR

APRIL:   In April, we traveled to Springfield for my second baby shower, thrown by Chris's mom and Aunt Rita.  It was such a fun time with friends and family, and Mr. Mitchell received some great gifts.  

MAY:   May was an incredible month!!  I was trying to just mention one highlight per month, but May was just too good and I have to mention two highlights:  the birth of our sweet son, Mitchell, and Chris's graduation (graduating Magna Cum Laude, no less).  Both were fantastic moments (Of course, I'm a little more partial to the first moment.  Shhh... don't tell Chris.  Haha, actually, I think he would agree:)).

                    

Four generations of Swishers at Chris's graduation.

JUNE:   Chris started his job in June.  It was a bitter-sweet moment.  Sweet, because YEAH, Chris was lucky enough to get a job right after college.  And bitter, because he had to go out to Idaho alone while I stayed behind with Mitchell to wait for our movers.  Chris is putting his Nuclear Engineering degree to work, working as a refueling engineer for Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation (a contractor for the U.S. Navy).

JULY:   In July, Mitchell took his 1st airplane ride when we officially moved to Idaho.  Another bitter-sweet moment.  Sweet, because we were reunited with Chris and excited to start our new adventures in Idaho;  bitter, because we were sad to move away from family in Missouri.

Our new home sweet home:)

AUGUST:   August was a super exciting month.  We bought our first house!!!  And we had a great visit from Opa and Oma to help us get moved and settled into our new home.

Home sweet home.

Mitchell loves to snuggle with his Oma.

SEPTEMBER:   September brought a visit from Meemaw!!  She just couldn't resist not seeing Chris and me... Haha, who are we kidding, it was all about Mitchell:)  Not that she didn't like seeing us, but her heart belongs to that boy.  We're ok with that:)  We also took a fun trip down to Salt Lake City, UT.

OCTOBER:   Halloween!!  Mitchell's first Halloween to be exact.  Of course, we did Star Wars theme costumes (that's right, costumeS).  We had found a Darth Vader costume and then my sister sent us a Yoda costume.  Although he was too young to go trick-or-treating this year, it was fun getting him all dressed up.

Angry Darth Vader

Happy Yoda

NOVEMBER:   In November my sister, Nicole, and her family came to visit us for Thanksgiving.  She has three boys:  Rylan, Colten, and Rhett.  Rhett is three months younger than Mitchell, so hopefully they will be close cousins.

Fun with cousins:  Colten, Rhett, Rylan, and Mitchell.

DECEMBER:   December was fantastic!!  Mitchell had his first Christmas, we had a great visit from Meemaw and Uncle Justin, and we took a fun trip to Jackson Hole, WY.  It was the best way to end this year.

Christmas morning!!  Great gifts from Santa.

Come back anytime Meemaw and Uncle Justin.

Jackson, WY

WELCOME 2014:   2013 was a great year.  There were a lot of changes and a lot of blessings.  We do miss our family in Missouri, but we are happy to be in Idaho for the time being.  It is a nice adventure for now anyway.  In 2014, we plan on checking out Yellowstone, maybe going back to Jackson Hole to see what the Spring and Summer months have to offer, and making it back to Missouri at some point to visit family.  To all our loved ones:  We love you so so so much; thank you for all of your support this last year, and we can't wait to share 2014 with you!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!