Looking Back on 2012

 

Not the best blogger.. but some blog is better than NO blog!

Summary of the year looking back on 2012.  I want to have a place "better" than  a baby book - for the kids and really all of us to look back on and rememeber back.   Incase the catch up blogs from the past year never get written.. at least we have the Year in Review

  

Kole- age 4:

 Kole loved FOOTBALL - more than ever

Memorized all the NFL teams and the cities they are from

He can catch and throw a ball like a Professional QB - ( and I am not biased)

Can hit a baseball almost everytime with nearly perfect "adult" form

Got bit by a little dog ( nothing huge but it left a  mental reminder to always ask before you pet a cute little dog.. as they may not 'act' as cute as they look!)

Loved the Power Rangers

Kole stayed home with Eric and enjoyed Daddy Daycare

Started Soccer

Can spell and write his name

Sings and Talks all day long ( mostly One Direction)

 

Friends: Lailonie, KK ( girls from daycare)

Best buddies Cousin Sydney and Cousin Chase, Olivia Ahrens, Max and Owen Tatterson 

 

Kali - age 13:

 Mastered the art of Self Portraits and ( blossomed into an amazingly beautiful girl)

Rocked the MSP

Got Straight A's

Is an Amazing Artist - Like WOW !!!

Uses Instgram like a PRO

Makes funny video's to popular songs -( Must post one to prove how funny Kali is?!)

Year of the YouTube boys:  The list is long. she will write a blog post on that alone!

Brave enough to try out with a monologue from Wizard of Oz for a talent agent

Addicted to her iPad but has amazing photos to make it worthwhile

 

Friends: Natalie, Sierra ( moved to Germany :( ), Keilea,  and "cousin" Stephanie and of course forever sister/cousin/friend - Sidney

I am sure a list I have

not met yet, but these are the girls I know and have had at our house

 

Eric - age 39:

Lived in California for 6 months this year - The year of the Cousin!

Made his man cave.. or at least the beginnings of it! 

(I can hear my Mom saying a place for everything and everything in it's place)  I almost would live out there.. it makes me feel like Life is under control when I step in there! 

Eric did Daddy Daycare and started a side business - ACN

ACN - hit amazing goals in first 30 days and was recognized infront of a room of 1000 people 

 

Geetha - age 39:

Worked at ImageSource and made a family there!

Got new job at Concur!   Best Decision !  Love it!

Got my eliptical from Fujitsu Points ( but didn't use it ) :)

Fell in love with H20 products for the home

Couponed like a crazy girl

blogged and took amazing photos of my family

 

Family Memories:

Went to Disneyland at the end of August

Watched The Voice, American Idol, America's Got Talent and Xfactor as a family every week

Kali and I finished Season 1&2 of Glee

Music Group that  took over the house:  One Direction

Facebook (even Kole was in the "know" of Facebook)

Facetimed with Daddy everyday

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2012

Keeping track of life's memories. I have always tried to make sure that I appreciate every milestone and every memory.   Remembering is just as great as making memories.  I have now had a family for 5 years and I already can't remember where we were each year.   Today is the day after our weekend of thanksgiving celebrations and I want to do this before another 5 years passes us by.

Thanksgiving Day (take one) spent @ Uncle Bachen and Glennie Aunties.   -  Elizabeth did a great deal of the heavy lifting and I appreciate her taking the ball to make this happen. It isn't easy to pull off the meal for 20+ people.   Still in amazement that Mommy and my Aunties have done this for the ever growing group for the last 40+ years.  Thankful for your efforts!

Thanksgiving (take two)  French/Maretich/Fluke - Celebration!
This time LeAnn raised her hand first to host for 20 of us in her and Eli's home in Lakes Stevens.  After her generous offer.. some how Eric managed on taking the offer and molded it into a Olympia based Thanksgiving - still enjoying LeAnn as the main chef.  (Big brothers and the way they get us to do things "their" way :)
LeAnn put on a an amazing spread and once again made me feel like she is my sister and partner in crime in this lifetime!  We have been friends for 20+ years.  I am thankful for her also because I just started a new job and would have never been able to pull this off without her being willing to do all that she did.

New Family Tradition -  What are you thankful for in the last 12 months - but it had to start with the first letter of your Name.

I promised to document this for future celebrations to look back on as years pass.

1. Tom Fluke - Troops in Iraq
2. Mary Fluke - Marie Fluke
3. Marie Fluke - Mom Fluke
4. Zack - wasn't with us
5. Eli Fluke - Engineering Field and Elephants
6. LeAnn Fluke - Little Ones
7. Chase Fluke - age 4 Chocolate
8. Bailee Fluke - age 2 Brother
9. Sidney Malloy - age 13 Silly and amazing friends and family
10. Eric French - Electricity and the "energizer bunny"
11. Geetha French - Getting to stay in WA
12. Kole French  - age 4 Kittens ( or Kanas City Chiefs) he is a football fanatic
13. Kali French - age 13  - Kole
14. Sam Maretich - Soldiers
15. Jerad Maretich - Jeff Tule ( QB from the Cougs - They won the apple cup today)
16. Dani Thompson -"Destination"  WA for Thanksgiving 2012
17.  Lee French -  Lucky to have a wonderful family
18.  Mimi French - My family

19. Arnie French - Left before we did this
20. Ray French  - Left before we did this

Dani Amber visiting from Texas

Kole and Chase - Age 4

All the Girls

Eating Grandma Mo's Bologna Salad Sandwiches