Special Blog Post from Micah on Kendra’s Birthday: Year in Review - My 10 Favorite Events from 2014

Today is Kendra’s birthday.  I always find it tough to come up with good ideas for what to get her for her birthday.  She always gives a few ideas for things she needs like clothes or shoes and a few things she wants like Starbucks gift cards or an hour-long massage.  I usually take the easy road and pick out something she’ll want and I know she’ll enjoy.  But the problem for me is, they never end up being very memorable.  I think she might be able to tell you what I got her for her birthday last year, or the year before that, or even 5 years ago – she has an uncanny ability to remember the little stuff like that.  I can’t however.  But I do remember the big stuff, like getting engaged on her 22^nd birthday.  Or finding out she was pregnant with triplets a few days before her 30^th birthday.  The thing is, those aren’t things.  Those are events.  Real life happenings and not a new article of clothing or another Pumpkin Spice Latte, things that are all forgotten tomorrow. 

When I thought about what to do or get for her birthday this year, I remembered a comment she made about a month ago after having looked at some pictures from the past year – “wow, it’s been a really good year!”  That it has.  We’ve done a lot, watched our kids grow a LOT, traveled a lot, and had a lot of fun.  Yes, there has also been a LOT of time and work put into taking care of our trio.  However, when I reflect on the past year, while I do think about the work (and how Kendra’s done the lion’s share of it), I think the most memorable things are some of the events from this past year. So I wanted to somehow capture that in a meaningful way and wrap it up as a birthday gift for her.  Pretty hard to do when we’re talking about experiences and places, intangible things that can’t be boxed up and wrapped.  Well, the pictures of those experiences and places can at least.  Then this blog popped into my head – maybe I should write a blog post for Kendra’s birthday?  She’s really devoted a lot of time towards this blog over the past year and a half, documenting our lives for friends and family to experience with us.  And to document for kids to hopefully one days look back on.  I have to confess, the idea wasn’t entirely original on my own part.  Kendra went to Seattle back in July and took care of the kids, on my own, for 3 or 4 days while she was gone.  She thought it would be a good idea for me to write a blog post about the weekend taking care of the kids on my own.  I did too.  The only problem is it never got written.  Just one of many things that I find myself all too often thinking I’d like to do but never finding the time to do.

It’s taken me a while to learn this, but what I’ve come know Kendra really likes receiving from me for her birthday or Christmas or any time really is my time.  Quality time, as she’ll often put it.  While it was tempting to go get a gift card to Starbucks for her instead of finding the time to sit down and write a blog post, I ultimately decided writing this post would be far more memorable than a few of many Starbucks drinks she consumes in a year.  Finding the time hasn’t been easy.  There isn’t much time when I’m home, she’s gone, and the kids are sleeping.  There’s about one night a week that this happens.  So, I had to arrange for her friend Val to invite her over during Sunday afternoon nap time so I could start writing this.  While this technically doesn’t count as “quality time” because I’m not spending this time with her, I think she’ll appreciate the time and thought I put into this.

Every year, right around this time, all the news sources seem to start posting articles about the past year.  Aricles like: “2014: The Year in Review” and “Top 10 <blah blah blah> from 2014.”  So, when I thought about Kendra’s “it’s been a good year” comment and writing some sort of blog post for her birthday, I decided to make a list of all the memorable events from this past year, from my perspective.  Here’s what I came up with.  I agree, Kendra, it has been a GREAT year, thanks to you and all you do for our family.  Happy Birthday!

Kent and Emily’s Wedding in August

We went to Michigan in August for her brother Kent and now sister-in-law Emily’s wedding.  Traveling of course was challenge but it was made easier with help of my mom who traveled with us.  It was a fun trip with lots of time spent seeing friends and family.  I flew back to Albuquerque after a week while Kendra, the kids and my mom stayed for another week.  Then Kendra and my mom flew back with the 3 kids.  2 adults + 3 14-month olds = not easy.  It’s a feat Kendra and I will try to repeat when our family of 5 flies to Michigan for Christmas in a few days.

Kent and Emily's wedding

Kyle, Kent and Kendra

Fenton Lake Camping in July

Our friends Kaytee and Jason from church organized a weekend camping trip to Fenton Lake State Park in July.  I had been wanting to start camping with the kids this summer to start getting them familiar with the camping life, so this sounded like a good first opportunity.  While we only camped one night and were gone from home a little over 24 hours it went pretty well.  It’s a family camping trip I will always remember since it was the first.

Snack time at Fenton

Tent time

Kendra goes to Seattle in July

At the start of the summer Kendra had been talking about going to Seattle to visit her friend Katie.  I really wanted to make this happen for her since I know how much she enjoys the time she gets to spend with Katie and since I knew how much she could use a break from the daily grind of diapers, bottles, meals and clean-up.  So, she booked a ticket for the day after the 4^th of July and I got to play Mr. Mom for a long weekend.  I look back to that weekend as one of the only weekends I’ve gotten to take care of the trio all on my own and despite all the work I truly enjoyed it.  Kendra has another Seattle trip coming up in January and I’m looking forward to the challenge and the fun we’ll have.

Bye bye Mom! 

Kendra and Katie

Michigan in May

At the end of 2013, I started talking to my climbing buddy Dave about a trip to Yosemite to do some climbing.  Our main objective was to climb Half Dome via the Regular Northwest Face – a route we hoped to do a year and a half prior but ultimately didn’t even start.  We were hoping for a bit of redemption.  Making this trip happen wouldn’t have been possible without Kendra.  She was the one who agreed to bear the child care load while I would be gone.  We had also been talking about spending some time with Kendra’s side of the family in Michigan, so with my mom’s help we all flew to Michigan.  I spent the first weekend with the family before flying back west to meet up with Dave and head to Yosemite.  My most memorable part of that trip was taking the kids to the Big Red lighthouse on Lake Michigan (where Kendra and I got engaged 10 years ago today!) and taking pictures with them.  Dave and I ended up climbing Half Dome.  Never ending thanks to Kendra, my mom, and all the Snyder family for making every aspect of our trip to Michigan and my trip to Yosemite possible.

Kendra, me, and my mom with Faith, Jack, and Alexis at Lake Michigan

Me on Half Dome

Tulip Time!

Megan Visits in July!

July was a busy month for us.  One of  my best friends from childhood, Landan, got  married in July.  After getting engaged last winter, they planned the wedding for the summer… in Jamaica!  This sounded like a great opportunity for Kendra and I to get some grand-parental support and leave the country for a tropical destination.  The only problem was the dates didn’t work so well for our parents, so Kendra and I made the tough decision that I would attend on my own.  Not wanting Kendra to have to go solo with the kids at home, I secretly schemed with her good friend Megan from our Colorado days (Megan now lives in Utah) to fly in the day before I flew out.  I won’t forget the look on Kendra’s face when Megan walked in door that day!  Thanks to Megan for coming to see Kendra and our trio.  This was definitely one of the highlights of the summer!

Story time with Megan

Flying Star with Megan!

Fall Climbing Trips

Our friends Dan and Val and their two boys (they now have three boys!) have become our go-to climbing partners for family climbing trips.  Just like I was itching to get our kids out on some camping trips, I was also itching to get our kids out on some fall sport climbing trips.  With three one-plus-year-olds, this is only possible if you have some friends who are willing to help with child care as much a they are willing to offer a belay.  Dan and Val are such people.  We took several family climbing trips around New Mexico, made possible thanks to them!  We look forward to many more in the future.  Thanks Dan and Val!

All the kids at a climbing area in El Rito

Dinner time!

The Enchanted Tower

Halloween 2014

Halloween isn’t my favorite.  In fact, I can remember thinking one of the benefits of having kids some day is you get to dress them up and hence you no longer have to yourself.  This fall, Kendra came up with the idea that they would be 3 little sheep for Halloween and she would be Little Bo Peep.  Ahh, my wishes came true and didn’t have to dress up (though Kendra did point out I could be the Big Bad Wolf if I wanted).  It was so cute seeing our 3 little sheep running around in their costumes this year and we’re looking forward to Halloween next year when they understand a little more about what’s going on.

Little Bo Peep and her 3 sheep!

Grandma Visits in October

Grandma Snyder has been good to all of us this year.  Way too good.  I can’t even remember the number of trips she’s taken out to Albuquerque.  I’m convinced Southwest has a seat with her name on it.  I had another climbing excursion planned with my friend Dave in October and Grandma Snyder came out to see Kendra and the kids.  Balloon Fiesta was going on at the same time so they went to one of the events.  Though just like Halloween, I’m sure they will enjoy Balloon Fiesta a little more when they are a year older.  Judging from the pictures I saw when I returned, I think they all had a good time while I was gone!

Balloon Fiesta!

At the park with Grandma Snyder

Kendra’s Birthday

Today, Kendra’s birthday, isn’t shaping up to be anything particularly special.  I’m working and she’s at home with the kids.  We’re getting take out for dinner.  And we get our usual 3 hours between when we put the kids to bed and when we get to go to bed.  Kendra said she’s trying not to think about today as her birthday but instead we’ll really celebrate when we are in Michigan later this week.  Nonetheless, today is her birthday, and there’s a lot to be thankful for and look forward to.  One year ago today, Alexis, Jack and Faith were baptized.  When I look at the picture from their baptism I’m amazed by how much they’ve grown up and how thankful we are that they are all healthy, happy babies.  This past March we bought a house and moved into a much better and much bigger house for our family.  We also celebrated our triplets first birthday in June.  How short this past year has felt!  While today isn’t anything special, our three wonderful kids are.  They surprise us in some new way everyday.  I can’t think of a better birthday gift than the gift of our three little babies.

Baptism one year ago

Playing with the new house in the new house

First birthday

Happy Birthday Mom!  Love your 3 cuties!

Christmas 2014

The story still has to be written for the Howard Family Christmas 2014. We’re going back to Michigan in a few days to spend Christmas with the Snyder side of the family.  We’ve had a little bit of a start to Christmas here at home since we’ve already let our kids open up some presents we aren’t planning on carting to and from Michigan.  They love the Christmas tree, that for sure!  I’m hoping for a white Christmas in Michigan and I’m really looking forward to spending time with Kendra, the kids, and all the Snyders while away from the day-to-day of home and work.

Ready for Christmas

That’s my “year in review” for the Howard family.  There are many other events that stand out that I didn’t list here.  I don’t have enough time recount them all – just finding several hours to write this much was tough!  When I think about this past year, what comes to the front of my mind is all of the people who have come to visit, all of the people we’ve gone to visit, and all the help our friends and family has given us.  But Kendra has done the most of all.  Everything we’ve done this year wouldn’t have been possible without her.  She’s been the best wife and mom and she amazes me every day with her patience and perseverance in taking care of our kids and me!  I love you Kendra!  Happy Birthday!