1.) This year in blog posts…choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share.
2011 was a great year and here’s why…a compilation of my favorite posts and photos from each month of the year.
January:
I kicked off the year with this post about protecting my kids from anything bad ever happening to them…and where that would ultimately leave me.
My favorite photo is of Laina contemplating her first experience at the roller rink. She did great!
February:
We went to Disneyland and I posted about it no less than three times in February. It was the best trip ever. The girls had a blast, we stayed out well past their bed time every night, I nearly killed myself walking and I’m begging my husband to give me the go ahead for trip number two. This time WITH Kainoa.
My favorite photo this month is a glimpse of winter in my neighborhood. I love it when it snows…it never stays for long and it’s so peaceful looking when it’s here.
March:
In March I got ridiculously sick. I still don’t know how it happened. But the strep I was diagnosed with took three rounds of antibiotics and my doctor was concerned about a heart infection. I could NOT get well…but I did manage to rally enough to write this post.
My favorite photo is this one of Jack looking like one of those creepy EMO dolls people like to photograph:
April:
When I wasn’t writing about still being sick I was complaining about the sassy teen who currently resides within my daughter.
I’m pretty sure the sound of these sweet tunes is what finally healed me:
May:
In May I gave people a little glimpse into what’s going on in my head by sharing some random facts about me.
My favorite photo this month is this one of my three munchkins smiling at me on Mother’s Day:
June:
This month I shared my blog expertise in a post called 10 Benefits of Blogging. It’s a good thing people take me seriously around here.
One of my favorite photos is this one from the rooftop restaurant of the hotel we stayed at in Athens. So beautiful!:
July:
I was humbled by what Maile declared was “the best day of her life“.
This photo of the girls at swim lessons is symbolic of the struggle we had last summer to actually learn to swim. Glad that’s behind us…for now.
August:
I helped all of you by telling you what you should stop posting on Facebook…which is just about everything. Sorry about that.
My favorite photo from this month is this one I took before going to bed one night…I think it perfectly captures motherhood for me right now:
September:
In September I shared a mini concert when I performed Two Voices, One Song starring myself and myself.
The best photo award goes to this handsome guy:
October:
This month we officially accepted Jack and do not judge him for his personal choices.
My favorite photo is another of this guy…because he stands here and waves goodbye to me every time I drop him off at preschool:
November:
This month I tried to teach Laina about the value of a dollar and she juuuuuust didn’t seem to catch on.
My favorite photo is this snapshot of Fall in our neighborhood:
December:
My twentieth letter to Ellen has gone unanswered, but it was still the most fun to write.
And I love this picture of an art project the kids worked on. Let’s ignore the fact that Kainoa rearranged the letters on his wall to spell EVOL instead of LOVE.
I’m scared.
Jen says
Loved this post.
I have tried in the past to do a post like this but how do you pick just one favorite post? I start and then end up with a three page list and then just give up.
Maybe I just need to try harder.
Julie says
Good memory post!
Recovering Supermom says
Nice review! Since I’m a newbie, I liked looking back at some of your posts before I started following your blog. I especially liked your random facts one. :)
Carrigan's Joy says
What a great way to recap the year!
XLMIC says
Love your pictorial recap with links! I tried doing that, too… but I ended up with categories and not in chronological order :P So yeah, just a mishmash! LOL
Great pics and great linked posts! Here’s hoping for an awesome 2012 :)
Jessica says
Oh I loved looking back at your year! I found you last December, so I followed all year long. Im working on my review of the year too. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Erin says
This is awesome! And? Definitely let me know when you are coming to Disneyland again, I’ll hook you up again! And maybe we might even get to see you while you are here! =)
Maureen | Tatter Scoops says
Such a fun reading looking back into the highlights of your 2011. Love all the pictures :D
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Veronica @ Germlisch says
I love this post! It is such a good idea to look back at your year. Love the photos.
SMHMama says
Love the recap. You just inspired me to do one of my own. Btw, I am also scared of EVOL.
Amy Hagerup says
Great recap of your year. Loved the photos.
Natalie says
Loved this list.. And I might have cheated with my list & included more than one post. But I had a lot of favorites this year!
Stasha says
You crack me up. The photos are great, I love the stories you capture with them. Here is to a great New Year and Ellen answering your letter.
The Lovely One says
The love the Fall shot. I would love to live somewhere that had such distinct seasons!
Angelia Sims says
I am doing a year in photos, so why not a year in blog posts too (plus more pics!).
I love the photo of Kainoa in the window of preschool. That is too cute. Well……all the photos are great, and posts too. :-) Surely Ellen will come around soon!
Frelle says
Thank you so much for such a personal look into your year both in pictures and in posts! beautifully done :)
Teacher Girl says
You did such a good job with this!
Karen @ Time Crafted says
Lovin’ all the pics! The snowy one reminds me of living in New York as a kidlet, your sweet three smiling is adorable, and I love the painted canvases – might have to do that with my girl! :>
Charmaine Endaya-Cuartero says
I love this Writing Workshop Thingy! I already submitted mine but I don’t see it on the list yet. Is it there yet? Thanks!
Happy New Year! :)
Brittany says
Holy smokes! Your neighborhood is absolutely gorgeous! I adored this post, it’s such a blessing to be able to go back through the year and remember the memories. :)
Simone @Greatfun4kids says
Ahhhh when I get the chance to read blogs again in a relaxed fashion (i.e. with no kids and hubby breathing down my neck) I want to come back and visit every one of your links. I love your “favourite photo” idea too… wish I’d thought of that, darn it!
Have you noticed how QUIET it is in Blogland at the moment? Like a ghost town, tumbleweeds and all.
I hope your Christmas was Merry and your New Year’s Eve will be a Blast
xxx
JDaniel4's Mom says
What a wonderful year! I love the trips you got to go on and getting to see what events in your kids’ lives made the top 12.
jen says
That was so nice, loved the pictures. Wish I’d thought of adding them to mine!
Dianna says
This was a neat prompt! Loved reading your choices.
Although it took time to go back and choose my favorites, it was a fun project!
Happy New Year
Peg says
I love your letters to Ellen. And for the record…Having three daughters who have made it through the terrible teens… it IS an awful time. Much worse than the terrible twos….times about ten, BUT once they get on the other side? They become wonderful young women!
Peg says
)Oh, I also wanted to tell you that when I did my year in review? Amazingly MOST of the favorites were your Writer’s Workshops! Imagine that!
Katie says
Great post!
Feel free to link up to my 2011 Year-in-Review party here: http://theterpblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-looking-back.html
Thanks!
liz says
I love that you paired a photo with every month, too. It’s so fun to look back like this.
I think Kainoa can totally rock a ‘hawk, too!
Dana K says
I loved having a reason to pick out my favorite posts from each month. Thank you so much for the prompts.
The post about your “sassy teen” was one of the first posts I read of yours that wasn’t part of your weekly prompts…naturally, I then had to go through all of your Ellen posts.
Thanks for helping me be a better blogger! Happy New Year!!!
Sorta Southern Single Mom says
Great year in review post. I love the shot of your three in May… a photo any Mamma would love!
Karen Greenberg says
Thanks for the prompts, linky, and your Year in Review post. It was great fun all around. I hope 2012 is a fantastic year for you!
Angie@MamaInsomnia says
I loved your Facebook post. Happy New Year!
John says
I think I stayed in the same hotel in Athens as you!
Katina says
Love the Santa Pics! The year in review was great also! Can’t believe 2012 will be here in just a few days! May you and your family be blessed.
Natalie says
I also loved that picture of the kids too! I am actually hosting a Best of link up because I love seeing everybody’s favorites of the year :)
Amber says
I love this prompt. It’s been so much fun seeing what all I missed this year.
Lindsay says
I love doing these round-up posts at the end of the year. Makes me go back and really READ what I wrote and take note if I have enough quality content or if I need to step up my game!
Steph from Be Positive Mom says
Fun way to wrap up the year! Very fun to look back over our year of blogging and see all we’ve done… which is a lot! Love your family pics :-) Happy New Year!
Arnebya @whatnowandwhy says
I really enjoyed going backwards (well, I went backwards; guess I could have started at January like a normal person. Ahem). I missed a few of these during the year, so this is great.
Janmary, N Ireland says
I love to do a review of my year on my blog, so I’ve linked up mine – it even includes a pic of a certain famous (infamous) blogger!
Jackie says
How beautiful is that photo from the rooftop in Athens? UGH!
Love the “love” art project too! Looks like a fabulous year.
Victoria KP says
This was fun to go back through my posts. There were some months I wanted to pick 2 or 3 favorites and others I was stretching it to pick a “favorite”.
debi9kids says
if only I had completed my year in Review post before today… I could’ve linked up.
Great year Kat. It’s amazing how much you packed in and how many wonderful things you have shared with “us”.
Have a happy New Year!
Robin | Farewell, Stranger says
Much more fun and funny than mine! ;)
Marie says
English was my favorite subject. Can you be my teacher, please?
Lisa ~ AutismWonderland says
Looks like you had a wonderful year! Your children are absolutely beautiful.
Happy New Year!
Loukia says
LOVE this idea, and I did somethign similar but only published it today… :(
Happy New Year to you… I can’t wait for many more writer’s workshops in 2012!
Tiffany says
Thank you so much, it was a so fun going back through my posts! Love your post too. Love all the pics =)
Happy New Years!
Link up again next year ;)
Denise says
Happy New Year, thanks for making me laugh uncontrollably on more occasions than I can count this year. Oh and the ranch on the sheets in the hotel room totally tops the list.
Aimee says
Wow, this is fabulous. I only started reading you a month or two ago, so this catch-up is great. Your photos are gorgeous, too…Athens?!? JEALOUS.