Good Bye 2012, Hello 2013

   It is so hard to believe that it is now 2013. Another year has gone, and a new one beginning. 2012 even with some hard times that took place it was a great year for Joel and I. We got to do things together that I never imagined that we would.
   2012 brought us so much in our lives. Even in the hard times we saw the good in everything. We had fun even though it was rough for us at times. We even laughed through our tears. We learned so much with each other. Being a family is so important to us.

Preschool 2011-2012

Preschool 2012-2013

 Joel had and still is enjoying preschool. It is hard to believe that this year is his last year, and will be going to kindergarten in the fall. He has had fun making friends both 2011-2012 school year as well as 2012-2013. He loves his teachers, and they are really good with him. They have done so much for Joel's learning. Joel is a very fast learner, and catches on sometimes fast than others. His teachers loves to challenge him. He had really found a true love for reading, and math. Sometimes Joel loves going to school and then coming home and practice what he learned from that day.

    Joel played in his 2nd year of Blastball during the mid Spring. He got bored with it though this year because he says it isn't real baseball. He loves the ball being thrown at him and he hits it. He thinks that hitting it off the Tee is for babies. Got to love the way he thinks sometimes (LOL). 
    In late fall / early winter of 2012 Joel tried a new sport. He decided to go out for Pee Wee wrestling. It is nice that they have sport for preschoolers to enjoy that is more than one month long, and only doing practices. He loved compeating. We went to several tournaments for him to enjoy. I refused to be a "Super Parent" (a parent that yells at their child if they don't win or do something wrong). I wanted it to be fun for him, and me as well. He never won a tournament. Did win one match though. I say, "It doesn't matter if you win or loose; it is how you play the game." As long as he had fun that is what mattered. Through the sports Joel is loving I have learned that I needed to play a double roll parent. Joel doesn't have his dad in his life to teach him some of the neat boy sports like wrestling. So, I learned to love the sport (by the 2nd tournament I wanted to take him to more), and sometimes being the only mom in weigh in rooms with all the fathers. Thank you to my parents and Joel's godparents for also being there during the wrestling season. 

 We as usual went to Arkansas on mini vacations to see family. July 2012 we got to go to my brother's wedding in San Francisco, California. It was a chance in a lifetime to go. I had never been there so it was something new for both Joel and I to enjoy together. It was nice to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and touch the ocean. We had so much fun. The week went by so fast for the two of us. Some day I really hope that we can go back. There is so much to do and see out there. 
We also enjoyed going to the Iowa State Fair, and even going camping with my son's godparents. It was truly a great year. We did have some hard times as my heart situation had made a change. Things were looking worse. I had to see new doctors that could deal with the complexity of issues. So, there were many trips and times I had to stay in Omaha, Nebraska. Eventually, the doctors decided that it would be best to try putting in a 3rd lead from my ICD in December. We made it through.