Long overdue

I realized that "life" has gotten in the way of keeping up with my blog. I don't like that I haven't had time to keep up. I thought this past summer, I'd be able too...nope! A LOT has happened in our family the last 7 months. Things I can't wait to talk about and others not so much.

The biggest life change was that my father-in-law passed away on my birthday (April 2) after being diagnosed 6 weeks prior with liver cancer. I/we miss him so much and sometimes it just doesn't seem real and I expect him to be in his recliner when we go visit. Instead, he is with his Savior up in Heaven with no more pain. Here is the last family picture we have the 9 of us in December at the annual Chauvette Christmas party.

This is another favorite picture when we all went up north and hiked the flume in September 2012.

Three weeks after "Dad" passed away we went to Disney World as a family. This trip had been planned for a year and Dad was looking forward to going. He was greatly missed. It was a very bittersweet trip, but we all managed to put on our happy faces and have fun for the kids. We can't wait to go back and enjoy it all over again! :)

Summer came and we were busy with the lake, ocean trips, hanging out with friends and family, my parents came to visit for 2 weeks, we enjoyed swimming in our (ghetto) pool, playing mini golf, going to the Cape for a few days, Camp Berea, 6 Flags, fireworks, staying up late, movie nights, and just being together! :) Hayleigh lost her two front teeth within 2 weeks apart, and Lindsey got a retainer and headgear!

Summer came to an end and the girls are now in 4th and 1st grades. They are both doing well! A lot more homework each night, but they love school! Lindsey continues to do gymnastics each week, and she is now a Junior Girl Scout with her BFFs. Hayleigh played soccer this fall and she is really good! She gave up gymnastics, according to her it was boring. She is currently doing swim lessons because she told me that she is really a fish (true!). Here are some pictures of their first day of school.

Hopefully I can keep up now. I'll try my best. I am pretty sure I'll fill in the "gaps" now that I feel I have some time....the first quarter is already finished in the school year, yeah! Oh yeah, I moved down to 2nd grade this year...so far, so good!