Jarod's Annual Year End Post

2012 has been quite exciting. I started out traveling to Rochester, NY for a project at Kodak, an interesting client for a photography hobbyist. The commute wasn’t great, but the work wasn’t bad. We also purchased a new car, which is a fun change. News of a baby arriving in the summer/fall timeframe perked us up for the coming year. Melanie’s personality was flourishing, and crawling would soon turn to toddling. March brought her first birthday celebration, which was a treat for the entire family. April took us to Vegas with friends for a wedding, always a good time. Summer led to lots of swimming, a few lake retreats, and some of the new traditions we’ve established like berry picking and regular zoo visits. It also brought me back to St. Louis for an in-town job. While this normally would be cause for elation, the job itself has turned into more of a nuisance than a blessing. It’s a difficult environment to deal with on a daily basis, and I can’t wait to move on. August welcomed Lucas, and he’s been growing like a weed. He seriously can’t be stopped, and may in fact be part “monster”…at least that’s what I keep telling him. Melanie’s done very well with her brother, and loves to help out when he’s in need. The fall season is highly favored in our household, and while a newborn limits some of the outdoor activities we can partake in, we still made the most of it. Playground visits, nature trail walks, the pumpkin patch and Halloween…we had a blast. Christmas festivities were grand as always, and a few days away from work were a nice way to close out the year. The four of us are largely healthy, and the kids are making great progress. Pride in every day.
Here are some of my favorite blog pictures from the past year: