2011

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I kinda love these posts. I love looking back over the year and revisiting our stories and photos and memories. So – as much for me as for you – I present 2011 with the Hoods.

January. We started the year with a disappointing Razorback loss in the Sugar Bowl, but we had a great time at a watch party with friends. And, per the usual, we had PLENTY of snow.

February. More snow. And then some more snow… And the formal announcement of the 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation – long time coming! After the record-breaking snow postponed the original party, we finally celebrated the first anniversary of The Harbor at the end of the month.

March. After all the crazy snow in January and February we were rewarded with some really fantastic warm weather so we played outside as much as possible. And Colt went all out for St. Paddy’s Day.

April. Things started picking up a bit. We spent some time being tourists in our own town, did some hiking, celebrated Easter, and spent an afternoon at Touch-A-Truck. I ran my first 5K… then immediately ran another.

May. I traveled to Cabot to help present the 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Scholarship. And the Martins invaded Northwest Arkansas to celebrate Mother’s Day, (early) Father’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and anything else they could think of. We aren’t ALL together that often – so we made the most of it! We even made it to a baseball game!

June. The monkey turned the big 3 and we went to Arkadelphia to celebrate Father’s Day and his birthday (Again! This child had TWO birthday parties this year!). While we were down south I ran in the one and only Smackover Oil Run and received the biggest trophy of my life. And I even convinced Jeff to do a trail race with me!

July. We spent the 4th of July weekend with friends — here in town and on the river! Then! Vacation! In keeping with our new tradition of doing something adventurous and exhausting with our summer vacation – Jeff and I spent four days hiking in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, including a summit of Half Dome. It was an incredible trip. July also brought Colt’s first movie!

August. August brought a chicken pox diagnosis, a few trips to the pool, Colt’s first Vacation Bible School, and another first day of school – back in the swing of things after the summer. And I bought a bike!

September. The Month of Colt! I felt like the Little Guy was getting slighted on the blog because of all my crazy running posts so I did a whole month of nothing but Colt. (It was QUITE popular. I may have to anniversary it for 2012.) September also brought football, my first 10K, and the Warrior Dash! What better way to celebrate our 5th Anniversary?

October. A big month for the Hoods — my birthday, Jeff’s birthday, Halloween. Bikes, Blues & BBQ, more football, my First Runniversary and POTTY TRAINING. October also brings sad anniversaries for my family – my brother‘s birthday on the 10th and the anniversary of his KIA on the 14th. But this year we spent time together in Cabot at a fundraiser for the foundation. It was perfect.

November. We spent Thanksgiving in Dallas with my family and I somehow convinced my Dad, Laura and Leo to run the Dallas Turkey Trot with me. Then we headed to Arkadelphia for a few days with Jeff’s parents — and hiking with Pop.