A Decade in Review

Ok...I have seen several people do a decade in review and I thought....why not jump on the bandwagon! Here it goes!

2000
~my little sister graduated from high school
~finished my sophmore year in college
~found out I was pregnant
~started student teaching in December so that I would be done before the baby was born

2001
~ found out we were going to have a boy
~finished student teaching March 11th approximately
~had Rylan James Poole on March 18th
~spent some long days at home with Rylan as Jason left for school at 7:00 am and got home from work at midnight. Those were some long days....but I cherish the memories. (and looking back at them make me so grateful for the little things like having gas money to run to the store if I just need to get out...and living close enough to do so quickly)
~Graduated with an elementary ed degree and middle school endorsement in May
~June moved from Huxley to a duplex in Des Moines
~found out we were expecting another baby on the same due date as last year
~found out it was a girl
~worked at home doing data entry for a few months

2002
~Rylan turned one on March 18th 

~Elaina Hope Poole was born on March 24th
~traveled to Portugal for the first time in June
~bought and moved into our first house in July
~worked on fixing up our first house

2003
~Grandma and Grandpa Voelker visited from Portugal during the summer

~the kids and I traveled to California and saw lots of family. Jason met us in Arizona for cousin's wedding as well as a visit to Great-Grandma Burnett
~took the kids to Knot's Berry Farm while in California

2004
~started doing daycare for one little girl in our home
~continued to love being a stay-at-home mom...at least most days : )
~started working at Campus part time teaching kid's classes
~little sister graduated from Moody
~Traveled to Portugal for Christmas...the whole family was together
~Went to Spain on a layover as a family on our way home from Portuagal

2005
~Little Sister got married
~Grandma and Grandpa Voelker were in Iowa for the summer
~visited Aunt Angela and Uncle Tobias in Chicago
~Began teaching at GPBS in the fourth grade
~kids started preschool at Grandview

2006
~Bought our current home in Pleasant Hill in May
~Littlest sister graduated from high school
~spent a girl's weekend in Chicago with my mom, my sisters and Elaina to help Charity move into the dorms
~enjoyed visits from both Grandpa and Grandma Voelker at different times during the year
~second year teaching at GPBS
~Rylan started Kindergarten and Elaina was in preschool

2007
~Back to Chicago
~3rd year teaching fourth grade
~traveled to London for a Christmas where my whole family was together.
~Rylan started first grade and Elaina started Kindergarten

2008
~fourth year teaching fourth grade
~traveled to Minnesota for another cousin wedding
~watched the kids play soccer and baseball
~enjoyed the kids' first piano recital
~Rylan started second grade and Elaina started first
~My parents spent six months in the U.S.
~My whole family was together for Christmas at our house.

2009
~the kids and I spent a month in Portugal with Grandma and Grandpa
~saw two cousins get married in the Cedar Rapids area
~watched lots of flag football and soccer games
~fifth year teaching


There are so many more 'everyday moments' that I cherish with my family. The everyday moments are the best part of being a mom. I love the inside jokes with the kids, the fun family nicknames, the games, the laughter and giggles, the smiles and smirks, and every little thing that makes us family. Thank you Lord for the blessings on our family over the last decade. May we praise you in times of rejoicing and sorrow because you alone sustain us.