The Wild and Sweet of 2020 - A Yearly Review

My favorite blog of the year will likely always be THIS one. I love taking a look back on the year and all the ways our family has grown and all we have experienced. It's always such a great reminder of God's faithfulness to us! I started sharing these the year before we had Bryleigh, so this will be my EIGHTH one to write, and hands down it's definitely the craziest.

As we wrap up this year, it would be so easy to focus on what SHOULD have happened, all that we missed out on. Similar to the ESPN fan-favorite "Not Top 10" segment, I could write a whole post on our Not Top 10 from 2020: NOT going on our Disney trip, NO big 1st birthday celebration bash, NO Rangers games, NO football games, NO summer library trips, NO Labor Day beach trip, NO kindergarten graduation, NO concerts in the summer (or any other time...), NO big family holiday get-togethers, NO end of the year celebration fun or last days of school...

While it is so easy to focus on all we wish 2020 could have been, there are so many things 2020 actually was...and that is where I choose to leave my focus. As I started to make our top 20 list (because 20TWENTY...), I realized there was SO MUCH MORE than 20. It's certainly all about perspective, and God gave us some incredible gifts. So without further ado, here's the HAMMONS TOP 20 of 2020!

20. As I've shared before, the BIG moments of a year might not always be the BEST moments, and this year we had our fair share of those - disappointments and heartbreak. This year, our family said goodbye to our MawMaw (my dad's mom) and to Cliffie (Brad's grandpa). We are thankful for the hope we have in Jesus and that we know they are celebrating with Him today, fully healed, fully whole, never more alive!

19. We started 2020 in the cutest way...our B girl got GLASSES!! She had been tested at her 4 year appointment, but we chalked up the colossal failure to her anxiety. She did a terrible job on her preschool eye check as well, but we just hadn't made the time to get her in with a doctor before the note came home from kindergarten...requesting a doctor's note signed back. Sister has been dealing with some major vision trouble, and we hoped it would help with some balance and headache issues, but so far she hasn't had any luck there. But goodness, she's just the cutest thing in her little pink ("cupcake") spectacles!

18. In February, back when our world (read: in the states...) was still normal and large social gatherings weren't frowned upon... our B-girl and B-dad headed out on a double date with our neighbor besties to the father-daughter dance at Bryleigh's school. They had the best time!

17. Right before getting out for Spring Break (you know...the one that didn't end...), Bryleigh's kinder friends were able to take a field trip to the zoo! It was both of our first times to the Fort Worth Zoo, and we had the best time hanging out with all her buddies and their mommas. I am SO SO thankful that she got this bit of normal!

16. If you think your never-ending Spring Break of 2020 was eventful...we potty trained a toddler who likely has OCD and is way too smart for his own good. There were nude days. There were potties in multiple rooms of our home. There were movie sessions on his little white throne. But all in all, our little guy did great and was able to enroll in preschool as a potty trained 3 year old!

15. With so much time at home, we had time to get a little more settled. When you sell your house last minute, live out of storage for a few months, do a bit of home improvements, and move in with weeks to spare before having a baby...you tend to take care of the basics and let the rest go. We kicked off 2020 with a new fireplace mantle from Pappy's Next Project and we're wrapping up the year with some new shelves. We got some new furniture for our media room/office where we spent hours together! This house certainly feels like home these days!

14. When the world shut down, Post Oak Academy opened up (twice). We did our best to have a routine to our day. We did our best to keep up with any and all work Bryleigh's kindergarten class received. And we did our best to keep Will somewhat entertained while sister had school work going on. We ended kindergarten in our dining room and we started first grade upstairs in Bryleigh's room. There were youtube videos with dancing fun, coloring activities, and so many books read. Listening to your child learn to read is like nothing I ever imagined.

13. Our first holiday to celebrate in quarantine is one of our favorites. We like to combine celebrating St Patricks Day and Brad's birthday and just make it 48 hours of fun...and this year was no different! We made the best of the stay-at-home situation and turned life at The Post as green as we could, including green milkshakes that left the kids begging for more!

12. The next holiday quickly followed with Easter, and this one was TOUGH. As Christians, it's certainly such a special time for our family and there are normally a few things we do to celebrate, but this year, we weren't even able to attend church. Our church did an incredible job and making the most of such a difficult situation. It was during a time when virtual services were still so new and most businesses were still shut down. It really was such a sweet time for our family with a Seder Meal on Thursday, a Good Friday service with Bryleigh, and a full day of celebrating on Easter Sunday - complete with watching church online, a crock pot roast and banana puddings all around, easter baskets, confetti eggs, and an indoor glow in the dark Easter egg hunt!

11. 2020 was a big year for Bryleigh. She wrapped up kindergarten - an adventure we never dreamed she'd conquer the way she did - and went on to first grade. Watching (and listening to) her learn to read has been one of the greatest joys of 2020. It is so fun to listen to her read and watch her look up at us for celebration as she tackles the tougher words. It's given us a taste of what it will be like over the years to work with her and cheer her on as she faces all life has to offer, and I'm here for it!

10. Friendships have carried us through 2020. We are so grateful for the love of our friends, for making the effort to still have time together - whether on zoom, socially distanced in person, or small in-home gatherings, we have cherished every single minute with so many that God has put in our lives. Hours of laughs followed by the sweetest words of encouragement and surprise parties followed by a blessing basket after some of the scariest days we've faced. We never dreamed when we started this year that so much of it would revolve around the unknowns and health of our kids, ourselves, personal issues we have struggled and fought through, and beyond, but we had a circle behind us that was there every step of the way. I'm looking back on 2020, beyond thankful, and looking forward to 2021 knowing there are more memories to be made, laughs to be had, and encouragement to be given!

9. The highlight of 2020 and being quarantined at home was definitely having the best neighbors on the planet. Bryleigh and Will's next-door-besties spent countless hours outside at the fence, talking and playing. There was some property damage done at one point, but all in the name of good fun and better communication. The kids might call it problem-solving skills! The fence has since been completely replaced, but they're still finding ways to enjoy time outside together. We are so excited to watch these friendships over the years and are so thankful for the safe-space they always have to come home to in each other.

8. We had a trip planned to Disney. We still have a trip planned to Disney. We are hopeful we will get to take it, but we didn't sit around and mope - we made a plan!! We booked a lakeside condo in Conroe and had a Conroe-cation with the cousins, and everyone was happy about it! There were many rounds of cards, some little league baseball, and really yummy food. There was also a coca-cola puzzle that never got finished, a whole lot of laughs, and memories to cherish no matter where we ended up!

7. I'm a sucker for a cozy cabin, a pretty view, and some really good food - so our anniversary trip to San Marcos was absolutely perfect. 5 months into a pandemic, wrapping up a summer that seemed like it might not ever end, and 3 stir crazy kids - it was so nice to get away with Brad and enjoy time just us. We ate our way through the entire weekend, and I'm still dreaming about the garlic knots from the pizza place we randomly stopped at. We can't wait to go back to the cabin in the woods someday!

6. This was a big year for Brad. He celebrated TEN years with his company. He's moved from project to project and role to role, but he's kept his feet planted firm and he's whole-heartedly followed the Lord in obedience, staying every time the Lord said stay. And it was worth it. Brad received a well-earned promotion this year, and he also received the Shining Star award for all his efforts. We are so so proud of him, and so thankful for how hard he works to provide for our family. We are also thankful for all the time he's been at home with us, dating back to before the pandemic even hit!!

5. Bryleigh turned 6. These end of year blogs are always a little funny because our girl's birthday is right at the new year - meaning I chat about her turning 6 when she's so close to 7 now. At the time, it was big and new and exciting, but now, so is 7!! It is an absolute JOY to watch this girl grow and see all God has created her to be. I've loved watching all 6 had in store for her. (We actually celebrated in 2019 with a combined birthday, so she's more than ready for her 2021 party. Check back in a year for that update!) Bryleigh celebrated 6 at school with her classmates, Carson and I took her lunch, and Will was waiting on her arrival at the bus stop with presents for her at home. I think she had a great day!!

4. William turned 4. I had to continually remind myself all year that William was ONLY three years old. So much of the times he seems so much closer to Bryleigh than he is. We love listen to his sweet conversations and hearing as much as we can that he shares with us! But in 2020, he officially turned 4 and he was so excited about it! We had a front yard s'mores party for him right in our front yard where we were able to celebrate with some of our friends and family.

3. Carson turned 1. Carson's 1st birthday was April 29th, right at the beginning of the state-mandated shut down, so we were home and unable to have friends or family over to celebrate with us. While it wasn't anything like we pictured, we did our best to make the most of the situation and celebrate our precious little rookie...baseball style! We decorated, had ballpark food, zoomed everyone we could, and played with his new toys all day! He had the best time!!

2. To be honest...I always fill this little list out as the year goes and I think about the excitement of the holidays to come. I'm not sure when I first started the Top 20, but I wrote "diagnosis" on there because I was just so sure that we would have one for Carson by the end of this year. Just like so many times I thought we were about to have one for Bryleigh. We are closing out a year of more doctors appointments and tests than I can count and we still have no clear answers for either of them. It's not at all how the year began or how we expected it to go, but God has carried us every scary step of the way! He has provided us with incredible friends and family that have prayed for us, loved on us, and encouraged us. So while it wasn't a great part to 2020, it was definitely a major part of it, and it definitely drew us even closer to God.

(Will came in at the 11th hour and added to the fun, so he gets his picture included too - this was our first trip to the ER as parents in 7 years, so we take it as a win!)

1. Time. One of the greatest things to come out of 2020 was the TIME we got to spend together. It absolutely made life more difficult at times, more frustrating, more sad...but the time we got to spend together is something we will never take fore granted! There was LOTS of extra time with Brad home because of no traveling. There was extra time with Bryleigh getting to watch her learn and understanding how we best work together. There was time for art projects and card games, home cooked meals and dance parties...so many dance parties. (Our kids are officially country music fans, and we are SO proud!) The time with Bryleigh reading books each night is something I will hold so dear in my heart for the rest of my life.

...Meet The Ham Fam 2020 Quaranteam...

First up, we have BRADLEY KYLE. Lovingly referred to as B-Dad around our house. While this year didn't have quite the normal excitement of a usual year with football games and cross-country travel, it was still a really good year for him! We are so thankful for all the time we had with him at home with us, and we are celebrating his promotion to Manager this year along with an award he received for his hard work. Highlight of the year:

Next up, we have big sister BRYLEIGH RENEE. In the last year, this girl has continued to blow us away as she has learned to read, loved her brothers well, and danced and created her way through a pandemic. She rocked virtual school and waited patiently for the day she got to go back and meet her new teacher and new classmates. She has taken everything in stride and never once complained about missing out on different things or being home so much more. I have loved all my extra time with her! Highlight of the year:

Middle of the line and middle of the kids, we have WILLIAM BRADLEY. William is a force to be reckoned with, lovingly referred to as our wild one, and frequently makes me do mental math to figure out how old he really is. He has kept us laughing through the pandemic...and kept us pressing into Jesus. His strong will and debating skills are going to take him for in life! Will wrapped up his ECC 2's class and has moved up to the 3's this year. Highlight of the year:

We can't forget littlest brother, CARSON MERRITT. He's proven to be tiny and mighty! Our little guy spent lots and lots of the last year in therapy and doctors offices. He's got some work ahead of him, but he has proven to be quite the fighter, both with his physical strength and his mental. We are praying that 2021 holds answers for him and lots of growth, but I can honestly say the progress he's shown over the last year has been such a joy to watch! Highlight of the year: Early morning Teen Beach marathons with mommy or daddy when I was awake before everyone else.

Momma. Me. CARRIE ALLISON. I was able to start and finish this year with weddings...and a whole lot of life (and growth) was lived in between! I've learned so much about life and myself this year. I've learned more about who God is and who I am in Him. I've learned about letting go and hanging on. I've learned about trusting in the Lord and His plans for me. I've learned about honoring Him in all ways, always. Highlight of the year: Spending SO much time with my family: watching Carson grow, listening to ALL the William stories, reading with Bryleigh at nights, and my getaway trip with Brad!

2015 – A *JOYFUL* Year in Review

I have loved sharing our life with friends and family on our blog over the past few years, and one of my favorite posts each year is our “Year in Review.”  This year was full of blessings from God coupled with His mercy and grace through some tougher times.  It’s always so amazing to look back and see how God continually took care of us along the way.  So without further ado, here’s our Top 15 in 2015…

15.  Celebrating Bryleigh.  We kicked off 2015 celebrating our sweet little girl at her 1^st birthday party.  We had so much fun making new memories, starting traditions, and celebrating her life with friends and family.  It was truly wonderful to top off her first year of life with a Onederland birthday party, complete with Christmas trees, snowflakes, and Hopkins County Stew.  I am thankful for a beautiful baby girl that reminds me of God’s miracles and great love every single day and thankful to be celebrating her sweet little life to kick off 2016.

14.  Growing Pains.  Bryleigh's 1st birthday also meant the dreaded Well Check visit.  These had been pretty routine for us during B's first year.  She was meeting all her milestones and doing great with all of the recommended vaccines, but her One-Year well check ended up leading to some follow up appointments regarding her size and a year-long question that we still don't really have answers for.  (Bryleigh's growth had fallen from 95-99 percentile down to the 60's.)  We followed up a few times as her growth started to level out and our pediatrician was sure Bryleigh was just getting settled in to a new percentile.  (Let's face it, if you have been around Bryleigh, you know she is very happy and healthy!!) However, over the summer, Bryleigh began to have some other health issues that have left us with more questions that answers at this point.  We've spent a lot of money on diapers, a lot of time at Cook's, and ZERO (almost) time researching related issues on the Internet.  I am thankful that we have incredible doctors we are working with, modern technology and medicine at our disposal, and most of all, that we serve the ultimate Healer.  I am thankful that although 2016 will have more follow ups, God is with us and knows every detail about Bryleigh's body.  (And insurance.  I'm thankful for insurance.)

13.  Getaways.  Last year, we focused a whole lot on “Bryleigh’s First,” from her first smile, to her first steps and everything in between, but we celebrated a big FIRST this year ourselves…our first night away!  Mimi and Pappy came and stayed with our little Miss while we headed to Dallas for a Valentine’s dinner and a night at the Ritz, followed by brunch at Crossroads Diner.  It was the perfect getaway for us (for me), and Brad was still able to spend some time with Bryleigh while he was home over the weekend.  (We LOVE celebrating the holidays…all of them, both together and as a family.)  I am thankful for family that steps in to help out with our little one, and I am thankful for a husband that takes time for us and makes me feel so special.  I’m thankful for all the moment’s he’ll steal away for us in 2016.

12.  No More Years.  Not only do we like to celebrate holidays in our family, we just like to CELEBRATE in general.  So when my mom retired after teaching at Sulphur Springs ISD for 25 years, we had to celebrate in a big way.  I was so glad to be able to be with my mom for her last week before her Endless Summer began, and I loved being able to pull off some fun surprises for her, along with my brother and dad.  There were parties at her school, a dinner with family and friends, and a surprise trip from my brother and his family.  There were also a few “prizes” along the way!  I am so thankful that God provided my mom with a career that she loved and was so gifted in but also allowed her to be home with my brother and I any time we were out of school.  I’m also very thankful that 2016 will bring lots of new exciting things with mom’s new freedom in her time, she’s already making the most of it!

11.  New Car (New Freedom).  After 2.5 years of only having one car, we decided to make a BIG purchase and get a family car!  We celebrated paying OFF Brad's car in February, and went two months without a car payment.  Now that is something to celebrate!!  New cars are always fun, but when schedules are as crazy as ours, with early morning/late night trips to and from the airport, adding a second car was SUCH a blessing for us.  We made the whole "One-Car" thing work for us, but it has been so nice to have the freedom a second car allows for.  (And we finished up the night we purchased our car in the closet due to tornado warnings...something we won't ever forget!)  I am thankful for the Lord's provision for our family over the years and for all He will provide in 2016.

10.  Snow Days.  Not only did we spend quite a few moments in the closet this spring due to tornado warnings, but we also enjoyed several snow days!  Thankfully, Daddy was even home to enjoy a few of them with us, and he had a few of his own in North Carolina.  We made a lot of memories in our little back yard on Velvet Antler this year, and the snow days were some of my favorite ones.  Our little girl's love for the outdoors completely blossomed over 2015.  What we did not love was driving to one of Bryleigh's follow up doctor's appointment in blizzard-like weather, turning our 10-15 minute drive in to almost an hour, and the ride home was even longer!  And you better believe we made snow ice cream. ;)  I am thankful for unbelievably fun memories with our little family (and for the two of them that are along for the ride every step of the way).  I am so thankful for all of the memories we will make in 2016.

9.  Living for the Weekends (Still).  I never knew that my husband could be gone Sunday/Monday through Thursday and I would be okay.  It used to terrify me, but somehow, we've made it work for our little family.  Although we would LOVE more time together and a little bit easier schedule, we definitely make the most of our time together and it has taught us to appreciate each other more.  I am thankful that God has sustained us during this season of our lives and all the time we've spent apart, and I'm thankful that He has gone before us in 2016 to make the days apart quick and the time together very special!

8.  Our Teams.  We obviously love sports, and cheering on our teams always brings a little more joy. We were able to cheer on the Rangers at the Ballpark some great games including Opening Sunday, Josh Hamilton's comeback, Cole Hamel's first start, and the Rangers WINNING the AL West.  Brad has enjoyed going to the Cowboy's games with his dad all season, and I even got to go to one with him!  There hasn't been much to cheer for their, but we love them anyways! ;) And one of our favorite games of the season was traveling all the way to DC to see Bryce Harper and the Nats!!  I am thankful for all the things Brad and I have in common, including our love for sports, but I'm thankful that on years like this one (FULL of disappoints), we know life is so much more than our teams winning a few games.  I'm really thankful that 2016 is a new year with a few less quarterback injuries (we're looking at you - cowboys, bears, and broncos).

7.  Will Run for Chocolate.  The number 1 reason I started running was to run in the Dallas Hot Chocolate 5k with my momma!  It was well worth it and such a fun experience.  I'm proud to be a runner (although I'm not much of one these days), and I look forward to all the miles I'll put on my Asics in 2016.  I'm thankful that my mom has taken her health and staying in shape seriously and the impact it has made on me, as well as the memories we've made sharing in all kinds of experiences.  I'm thankful for the 2016 Hot Chocolate and all the other miles we'll run together in the days ahead.

6.  Bryleigh Girl's First (round 2).  Just because Bryleigh's first year is behind us doesn't mean our lives aren't full of "Firsts" on a regular basis.  Our sweet little trooper, who is always along for the ride, went on her first flight and had the flu for the first (and hopefully last) time this year.  She's also sported her first ponytail, attended her first, and second Rangers games, and she's tried a whole lot of foods for the first time (including chocolate chip cookies and ice cream)!  She took her first trip to the zoo and her first trip to Waco, Baylor's campus, and the Bear Pit.  The biggest first this year - STEPS.  We celebrated a new year with our new little walker, and she hasn't slowed down since!! I am thankful for the firsts we celebrated in 2015 and the ones to come in 2016!

5.  Glory Baby.  I've mentioned before that the "top moments" aren't necessarily the "best moments" from the previous year but rather the ones that have shaped our family the most, and losing our precious little baby is definitely something we won't ever forget - nor is it "just a moment." I wrote back in April when I shared the news that for the first time in my blogging history I "didn't have the words," and that maybe at some point I would...well, I still don't  I've learned a lot over the past 8 months, and I've learned more about finding  JOY than I really bargained for at the beginning of this year, but I just still don't have the words...So I'll leave you with some pictures of that time instead ;)  I am thankful that we serve a God who heals our broken hearts, and I am thankful that He will minister to us in 2016 through all the highs and lows that come our way.  I am thankful that He has far better plans for our family than we do ourselves.

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. Ps 71: 14

4.  2015 Holidays.  As I mentioned early, we like to celebrate EVERYTHING in this family, so we make the most of all the holidays.  The older Bryleigh gets, the more she understands, and the more she gets in to all the celebrating as well.  By the end of Christmas she was singing the songs, opening her presents, and getting excited over all the lights.  I am so looking forward to making more memories with her, and the rest of our family, in 2016.  I am so thankful for all the memories God allowed us to create in 2015 and thankful for the ones ahead of us in 2016.

3.  BCinDC.  Brad and I celebrated SIX years of marriage this year, and we decided to take a little anniversary trip.  It was our first time to be away for more than one night, so we decided to go over a weekend.  We also used it as an opportunity to check some items off our bucket list - including a trip to DC, two ballparks, and crab cakes at Jimmy's Famous Seafood.  We loved our time away, just the two of us, and we truly fell in love with the city.  We still have days where we miss being there, and we can't wait to go back again soon.  We LOVED getting to see this years NL MVP, Bryce Harper, who played in MVP fashion - great base running, great fielding, and to top it all off, a home run!!  I am thankful for 6 years of life with my husband and for the "Lucky Number 7" ahead of us!

2.  MPBCBinNYC.  My absolute most favorite place on the planet is New York City.  I'm normally ready to go back "next time" before we even leave "this time," and this trip was no different!  This year, we got to do a lot of things we had never done before, including the Central Park Zoo, Serendipity 3, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and a trip to Eloise in the Plaza.  Of course there were a few repeats like Shake Shack, Ellen's Stardust Diner, and the best view of The City - Top of the Rock.  We won't talk about the fact that Bryleigh got the FLU the day before we left.  She was such a trooper and loved her first trip to The City!!  I am so thankful that God allowed us to go on this memorable trip this year and for the countless ways He took care of us while we were there, and I am thankful for the unexpected blessings for 2016 He has coming our way. 

1.  Family Fun.  We have the BEST family in the world.  Bryleigh is blessed with 2 amazing aunts, the coolest uncle, the funnest cousins, and the most incredible grandparents.  She is surrounded by love, as every little girl should be.  There are obviously a million (and that's probably not much of an exaggeration) pictures I could have filled this collage with below from all the memories we made this year.  We were blessed with lots of time over the past year with our families, and we are looking forward to all the time together in 2016!  I am so thankful for the incredible family God has blessed us with and the memories we made this year, and I am thankful for all He has in store for our family in 2016.