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A Cornwell Year In Review

 Every year I have the best intentions of sending out a letter with our Christmas cards giving everyone an update on what we've done throughout the year, but every year December comes around and I get overwhelmed with everything else I have to do and it never ends up happening.

So this year I thought I would post our top accomplishments for the year.

Enjoy:

This year we were lucky enough to have Nana and Granddad in town in January so we could celebrate Ethan and Granddad's birthday together -- the first time since Ethan was born six years ago.

Happy Birthday Granddad and Ethan!
April was a big month for us (mostly Jason and I). Jason earned his company's Masters Retreat and we were off for four days to Sicily, Italy. It was an amazing experience. We stayed in a four star resort, were spoiled with amazing gifts and taken to several amazing sights around the area - plus fed amazing five, six and seven course meals. This was a trip of a lifetime for us!
On our way home, we spent a whirlwind 26 hours in Amsterdam -- just enough time for Jason to celebrate his 40th birthday (with a tour of the Heineken Brewery and a walk through the Red Light District) and for me to have a nice visit with a childhood friend who now lives outside the city there.
Then it was home to celebrate Wyatt's 4th birthday! Someone please tell my kids to stop growing up so fast!!

We had an amazing summer vacation with three weeks of it spent in Seattle spending lots of time with family and friends. The boys loved all their time with Uncle Jason and Auntie Jake as well as the grandparents. And we even had Daddy in town a couple times (for work) to spend time with as well.
We sure do hate living so far away from family but love all the time we get to spend with them.
Then it was back home for a month before school started -- and almost all of it was spent potty training Ethan. I will admit we waited far too long to start, which made the process even harder, but luckily we are now about 90% of the way there (5 months later -- sigh).
This was a big year for Ethan -- not only the potty training, but he started kindergarten (again) -- this time in the general education classroom for most of the day.

It has been a lot of ups and downs for him with a lot of big transitions being handed to him all at once but now that we are half way through the school year I think he's doing a fantastic job and has come a long way.  We are so proud of him!!
Jack celebrated his 9th birthday and he seems so grown up!  As Jason just commented the other night, he's halfway to being an adult (and boy does he act like it at times).
This year has been a fantastic travel year for Jason and I. We hadn't taken a vacation together without kids since before Jack was born and he we are embarking on our second trip!  We planned a cruise with three other couples way before the Italy trip got awarded. So thankful for Nana, Auntie Jake and Grandma Christy to help out with the boys.

Jason and I enjoyed eight days with some of the best friends we have cruising in the Caribbean!
Unfortunately I don't have a photo of all eight of us so this will have to do.
We also added to the family this year -- meet our new Dalmatian puppy Bandit!
It's been an adjustment for us all to have a puppy in the house (the chewing, the activity level, etc.) but he is a sweet dog that loves to snuggle and is super smart -- he crate trained himself and was potty trained very quickly. I know the boys love him and he is a great addition to our crazy family.
We were also blessed with a visit from Granny Annie - who hasn't been able to visit in several years. We all loved having her here and are looking forward to her moving here once her mother, Granny G, passes away (which we don't want to happen but know it will be sooner than later....).
And finally some big news for Jason.  He has been selected for promotion to Major in the National Guard. We are very proud of him but also excited that he is over 19 years into his military career and under a year until he can retire!!

It looks like 2015 will be just as eventful.  I hope you will continue to follow us as we make our way through this crazy thing we call life.

Cheers to a prosperous and happy New Year for everyone!!




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