Highlights of 2014

This has been a pretty good year for us. A lot of adventures and a lot of memories made. I will try to only touch on the highlights, otherwise this could become a short novel.

One of my goals for this year was to do one fun, memorable thing a month as a family. Something out of our normal routine. I did really well with sticking to this goal...except for February. I don't know what happened there!

January

• It was a snowy month in Michigan. We broke our snowfall record with over 94 inches of snow. The boys enjoyed this particular day playing in the snow!

• We attended the Shrine Circus as we usually do in January. Evan finally got to ride a pony! He was pretty nervous. Alex of course enjoyed the lights and sounds. We had a really nice time.

February

• This picture on Valentine's Day of Alex and Evan is one of my favorites. It shows how much they love and adore each other.

March

•  Since we couldn't get away anywhere warm over the winter, we decided to treat the boys to a couple nights at The Bavarian Inn Hotel in Frankenmuth. They had a blast at the pools and arcade. Evan has been asking when we are going back. Definitely a hit!

April

• Easter brought multiple Easter Egg Hunts and time with cousins!

Easter Egg Hunt with Blake and Casey

Easter with Cousins

• The boys got to go to Chuck E Cheese for the first time and LOVED IT!



One of my all time favorites. Evan busting a move with Chuck E

• Alex started back at EuroPeds

Such an amazing photo

May

• Mothers Day

Me and My Boys



Kristy, Mom and I

 

• Fieldtrip to The Zoo! My Best Friend Stephanie took the day off of work to come with us!

 

 

June

• My Mom turned 60



Happy Birthday Mom!

• The boys and I took off to Georgia for 18 days!! Eric joined us for 10 of them!!



One of many days at the River



Eric's Sister and her family - "The McKays"



The Boys in the Smoky Mountains



On our way to Gatlinburg

July

• Alex and Evan turn 4. They had dinner at Rainforest Café and Cake and Ice Cream!



Dinner at Rainforest Cafe



Unbreakable Bond



Brotherly Love



Celebrating 4

August

• We went up north for the weekend with our friends Derek, Rachel, Lauren and Nathan. We got to go on the boat and to the beach for two days! It was so much fun we all had a blast!!



Rachel, Nathan, Alex and I



Friends for Life - Alex, Lauren, Evan and Nathan

 

September

• Alex gets his own adaptive bike!!!



Look at that smile!



Evan loved riding alongside Alex

• Alex and Evan start school - Pre-K

October

• We visited the Shriners Hospital in Chicago and spent the weekend exploring the city



Navy Pier

Lincoln Park Zoo



The Shedd Aquarium



View of the skyline from the pier on a beautiful fall evening

• Trick or Treating at Crossroads Village



Mario and Luigi!!

November

• We do our annual dinner at Bavarian Inn and trip to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. This year we went with Grandma and Grandpa Williams



Mommy, Alex and Grandma



Daddy, Evan and Grandpa



Bronners

December

• Crossroads Village with friends



Fun times with The Raddatz Family

• Christmas morning!

Our third son Brody

Happy Boys - Santa was good to them!

Thank you for being a part of our blog and a part of our lives.

Cheers to 2015!!!!

Love,
The Williams Family

Jingle Jingle Jingle

Last Thursday was the boys' Christmas Program/Party at school. They gathered in the music room to sing 4 holiday songs, then we got to go back to the classroom for fun and games. The best part was that Eric showed up to surprise us all! I was just as excited as the boys were. We all had a great time. Here are some pictures of our fun!!






Getting Ready to Sing



Alex shaking his bells!



Fun with Slime



First attempt at a family shot




Coloring




Making a Christmas Tree




Frosting Face




Frosting Face




Attempt #2




Alex and his Best Friend Maddison




Evan giving his friend Emily a hug good bye

One Year

I cannot believe it has been a year since my beloved cat Oreo of 17 1/2 years passed away. The time has gone by so fast and I still think about her everyday. Evan hasn't forgotten her yet either, he still talks about her. It makes me smile. We love and miss you Little O. See you on the rainbow bridge.

Blogiversary

On December 4, 2011 Double the Love was born and over the past three years I have shared countless memories and experiences that our family has gone through. I have done 167 posts to date  (this one is number 168) and the blog that started out about twin brothers has become more of a family affair. So today we celebrate Double The Love's 3rd Blogiversary!!


When I started the blog, I initially did it to spread the word about Alex's life with Cerebral Palsy. I wanted family and friends to know the whole story. I wanted them to feel involved and made aware of the Cerebral Palsy world. Eric and I were new to it and had discovered and learned so much in our first year that we wanted everyone close to us to know as well.


As Double the Love evolved, it became more of a family blog. I wanted to create a personal journal of our life so that years from now, Alex and Evan have this to reflect on. They can go back and read and see so many of our experiences in pictures and stories.


Life can be crazy and busy and there are things through the years that are going to slip my mind, but I figure as long as I have the blog, I can record these little moments to remember for a lifetime. Sometimes I wish I had something from childhood to look back on. I hope my boys will appreciate the blog years from now.

I am fortunate to have the time to devote to the blog. I want to Thank all of the people who take the time to read and follow the blog. It means a lot to me and I hope you will continue to tune in for years to come. Below are pics of us as a family through the years.

Love,

The Williams Family

Eric, Keri, Alex & Evan



July 2010 in the NICU



October 2011



February 2012 in Georgia



August 2013 in Myrtle Beach



Our 2014 Family Photo

Pre-K Photos

Alex and Evan's School Pictures. So Handsome
How did they get so big?