Dear 2009,
It is time for your letter.
You might remember, I wrote a letter to 2008 last New Year's Eve.
Now this year has come to an end, so here you go!
You have been a really great year!
Kevin and I were talking today about how we feel so blessed because 2009 was a good year for us even though it was a hard year for so many people.
This year was the end of a decade & it also marked the end of my 20's and the beginning of my life as a thirty-something (that still kind of freaks me out!)
I started this decade as a clueless 20 year old who was a junior in college.
I ended this decade as a 30 year old, wife, mom of 2 beautiful girls, homeowner, college graduate & tenured teacher.
It has been an amazing decade, the best of my life for sure. I am kind of sad to see it end, but I am excited to see what the next decade holds in store for me & my family.
Here are some of the highlights of our year month by month!
January:
Kate's 2nd Birthday Party
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDt2DUPIL-BiLYhZA1lPTI7QYaemctlZRcIo9mo2GkWgKgLe1t26dC-T26SN06ixmUicw3t7G7Hh_CpZhBXD61qjfZXleZWQsf25p4D3BFAEfHu_c_AWWkp7lRSSyIEAQ7kv3hVrUqw8/s400/IMG_9833crop.jpg)
Wine tasting on Valentine's Day with Reid & Kelly
Taking the girls to the city with my mom
Kevin passing hisGeneral Comp Test for Real Estate Appraisal
(didn't blog about it, but it was a HUGE accomplishment & big hurdle for his career and it meant no more studying & more family time!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjznTFPNhg2Ar6PVaqyJy3jpjbSXH6zRl8OPFNozr3TtiXfajOoaKEKEj2Cu5ewVv1AHkkII0b0FsN2ey6SWAaz5_jMtZPqA9HQSVmebGzNA2m_jLfjq9Q9jrhhlOgU27e3QcdYwEdZs/s400/IMG_3709+copy+2.jpg)
My 30th Birthday!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nv6O78Bx6VzF0nPKyXPqQcYTYuoRR_YnFbrH_LHoBNShVwwMFYotsMITnA9B9VEFuQXYm1XWdIP8IbRxJEWoOH2ejv2kunGJx3_Kwckf9aXeQDYoIjR5UwX00kBq_3aQsE44EpHEexc/s400/IMG_6322crop+copy.jpg)
Getting my new camera
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVplrxCyDv5NnAmIVmHUZhTCZhKU-9xz1EeaGzIZUvmsun0LrSZmLL_TEWX7xxdcKO4h_TZCPcxwwSnAh9eKEHXZzg338nCagV7e94kEv4iXSBLtIyaisDlfv-8-ivO1jb_ueFG72jRs/s400/IMG_1785crop.jpg)
Lake Tahoe
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBXoveYAnamseQ0MaFt37K3Aq27vNneUJUc6JEKxGf6O4kkVN1kJ4dnUcqK7suw40y-gJsbHSPTJ-inpPjovOvy9ea2UP_BrDuySYWmVie11POs77QzL04qsROV4WaOy5PG-6X4X4uLo/s400/IMG_0746+copy+3.jpg)
Potty Training Kate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOPWMA37xinAkvpTId5i4BmzkDU9WWenDlGPp7ES9YXVTb3HMxjXCA9U6DPiyoHuCLVvseXyyiD7aVlHF72uw3UrN7_GDfM4moMmnZkm-Nu4F2zabfNDQosPGm_KvC3cStbMlFs8Yu8Xc/s400/pottu.jpg)
Claire turning 1
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLL7oY2XiS_F6NAaLefQ7vhPp_njmFAxC5tBEVj6jV4I5MjXxQdU4VxVsasvKF00rYLy_9N7VyUOSw4I7t0M_emVfaMe-9Kmm65bIvAuzo5PTc9oIj8nM5Zfqaat79S8PbHvtGjAGYARc/s400/IMG_5631+copy.jpg)
Halloween & Trick or Treating
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqMzsfMkvVnLhXCNPYYmqKmlh5KGp5bTSXp-sL3kgjdC8Snq3K0cVVmP882fA-xUjli4EJ5LyUqSEIAKl-rKj__fQyZCuHhGh663-zJJcJvVG_DA8LO10zRtpLRkY9h-Ivi9t0T65vOc/s400/IMG_9000+copy.jpg)
MKL Designs, my little side business of photography & designing Christmas cards!
{I made over 50 Christmas Cards this year. Amazing!}
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6NW5CoEG1t6nnevGuhuycTEEE5YSmXgGYfFTc_044OGojLzje7Pur0kJu0eHOmBpEvrzg-I2rGc7FqLJBEMjfj-8H2AzST9r_H5Dh38d-BGYmCZlya3NAtj9XhP5LD8YWT1PWP55bQU/s400/IMG_1357+copy.jpg)
Being a part of Project 320, going to So Cal & seeing how God worked in big ways!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Etoz8f_4JTsxzR1FB_uclIGMePtfcyS2w-3arc3qvwmdc0lEu5MlOZNIQXrtD2kdRDbmbk7HkFAMzFGyw4HdIRzCl3Shce-4dqm04iuQ69BlVzshCiU_-JT25yd4x5zLynaVl8HPYig/s400/IMG_3306crop.jpg)
getting more involved in our church,
weekly playdates with Becky, Maddie & Samuel,
the challenges of teaching 1 more class,
going on fun trips with kids (Tahoe 4 times, Pebble Beach, & our staycation)
and without kids (to Florida & Vegas),
seeing Kate become more independent,
and
watching Claire morph from a baby to a toddler.
Most of Claire's "firsts" were in 2009 (teeth, crawling, walking, etc)
2009 has been a year where God has shown me His love, grace and faithfulness over and over and over again!
So, thanks for the memories 2009 & thanks for being a fun year & a wonderful end to a great decade.
You will be missed, but I look forward to see what 2010 has in store!