2018 Year in Review

Happy New Years Eve! We've made it to the last day of 2018 a little older, hopefully a little wiser and with one more little girl in the mix. It's been an incredible journey this past year and we'll give you our Top 5 as is customary but first a brief run down of our Holiday Season.

Scott landed back in America the Saturday before Christmas. Finley had a rough transition period for the next two days as she re-met Daddy and then met the rest of her Jackson relatives. We spent Christmas Eve with the Hammonds then traveled the short distance to Scott's brother's home for Christmas Day with the Jacksons. 16 people in total were in attendance around the tree and it was wonderful. Many terrific gifts and memories. Later that week we took the older girls to see Mary Poppins Returns which was their first movie in the theater and the parents had more fun watching the joy and excitement on their faces than the film (it was good but they were better). Finley also accompanied us and didn't enjoy it quite as much.

Playing with stickers.

Aunt Carey invited us to play at Nook.

Mackenzie and Grace loved these little cars.

We participated in a Harry Potter Escape Room before Christmas with some friends at their house.

Making Christmas Eve Eve pizzas.

Enjoying the Hammond Family Christmas Eve Concert.
Uncle Brad is singing Dominic the Donkey for us.

Grandma Jackson bought the girls matching Flamenco outfits in Barcelona.

We recreated the Nativity with two Marys, Uncle Brenton as the Donkey and of course, Finley as the Baby Jesus.

Finley turned 2 months old on December 23 and since has begun to master smiling and cooing which is a delight to her parents and grandparents alike. And then this morning, just shy of being 10 weeks old, kind of rolled over. She had one arm tucked underneath propping her up on her side and just pushed herself the rest of the way. It was very exciting.

Now our Top 5 of 2018!

#5 - In February we received an extension to make our 2 year tour a 3 year tour! We are excited to stay on another year to continue to learn Spanish, enjoy the culture and watch our children grow up on foreign soil.

#4 - In July we hit our year mark living in Asuncion! Two more years to go and we still love living there. If anyone wants to visit, we've got a room with your name on it.

#3 - Mackenzie started preschool! Mom was a little sad/nervous to send her baby off to school but Mackenzie was so excited to spend the mornings with other kids her own age. We really wanted her to be immersed in Spanish as well which is why we took the leap. She only attended for 2 months before we came back to America for Finley's birth but she loved the experience. Come February 2019 she'll be back!

All ready for her first day!

#2 - We were the definition of world travelers this year. In February we went to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In May we visited London, England and a few other locals in England. August we found ourselves in Santiago, Chile where Scott skied in the Andes Mountains. We also took two fun trips within Paraguay. In January we drove a little outside of Asuncion to see the giant lily pads of Paraguay and in September we visited the beautiful Encarnacion down South. And naturally we visited the United States in the Summer and Fall-Winter.

Giant lily pads in Piquete Cue, Paraguay.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Stonehenge in England.

High up in the Andes Mountains in Chile.

Visiting Jesuit Mission ruins in Encarnacion.

#1 - And the number one top event of 2018 should come as no surprise; the birth of our daughter Finley Adela! It was a hard fought road to get her here but it was so worth the bed rest and 3 week hospital stay on Mom's part. We all love her very much and she is a wonderful addition to our little family. We are excited for the growth she will have as an individual and sister in the new year.

One week old.

One month.

We've all done a lot of learning and growing this year but no one more than Mackenzie. She turned two in June and every month she seems to have hit a new milestone. Her communicating skills and vocabulary increase exponentially every day. She can count to 10 in two languages and she knows all her colors in English. She has taken the role of big sister like a champ and adores her baby sister. What more could you ask for as a parent?

As we say goodbye to this year and welcome in the new, we thank all of our family and friends who have followed us on our journeys this year. We wish you and yours a Happy New Year.