2013 In Review

I really feel like it wasn't that long ago that I was writing the 2012 in review post, but here we are almost a year later, and we're reflecting on 2013.  I can say with confidence that 2013 was the fastest year in the history of the Lowe fam.  Here's the Lowe Down on how we spent our 2013:

• Places We Traveled - This section is a little smaller this year than it was last year, but to be fair, we had an extra traveler who isn't exactly easy to pack up and take a million places.  And the Razorbacks were terrible, so no one wanted to go see them play anywhere!  This year we did our annual jaunt to Destin, but with a five week old.  And we went down to New Orleans last month for my cousin Brooke's wedding.  On the way, we also stopped over in Ruston, LA where my mom's sister and our cousins live.   Both trips were so much fun and full of family time.  In addition, I went solo to Colorado for a girls' trip to celebrate my friend Kerri's bachelorette party. We also spent an entire afternoon in Clarksville/Lamar, Arkansas visiting old sights from my grandfather and grandmother's growing up.  Alli even got to meet her great great great Aunt Kathryn.

• Things Alli Did - Alli had yet another wonderful year.  She became a big sister, spent a summer home with her mama, won her class Spelling Bee and came in second in the school-wide one, and graduated from second grade and started third.  She cantered and jumped her pony, played soccer, and paddleboarded and parasailed in Florida.  She loves to draw, play her Skylanders video game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and her little sister.

• Things Riley Did - Oh, you know, besides being born??  That's right, she did more than just come into the world this year, but that's by far her biggest accomplishment.  We welcomed this sweet little girl in June of this year, and she's changed our worlds for the better.  She's also rolled over, can sit up unassisted, babbles constantly, and eats solid foods.  She's been to the barn, the soccer field, Bourbon Street, swimming, and the beach to name a few.

• Fun Things We Did - Besides events and travel for the girls, we had our first ever trip to the Gentry Drive Thru Zoo, our Diddy ran a half marathon, and we painted almost our entire house! There was a baby shower for Riley, snow in May and snow on Alli's birthday in December.  Alli went to horse camp, soccer camp, and Camp Wilson.  We spent almost a month in Little Rock this summer where we ate lunch with Tata at Heifer Village and went to the Museum of Discovery twice.  Alli met the Ninja Turtles at Arvest Ballpark.  We saw baby Evie at the barn when she was just hours old and celebrated the centennial of my sorority Delta Delta Delta at the University of Arkansas.

What a year 2013 was!  We added to our family with Riley, Emma Grace, and my cousin Brooke marrying Keith.  We lost my Pawpaw's brother Uncle Don, but my last memory of him was wonderful, sitting at his table during our jaunt around Clarksville this summer.  I spent so much time with my family with 12 weeks of maternity leave and two weeks at Christmas.  Alli grew and developed as a rider, a student, a soccer player, and a person.  And our precious Riley was safely born and has grown leaps and bounds ever since.  2013 has been one of my favorite years so far, and I am so anxious to see what 2014 has in store!