Rhoades Fam Highlight Reel

Okay I know there are a few of you out there who have specifically requested an update!
I do apologize that my blog has kind of gone to the wayside over the past year basically. With the addition of sweet Avila to our lives, I've been left wondering how ANY mom with two or more children finds the time to blog! So if you are that kind of mom - major props to you.
So without further ado, here's the highlight reel of our lives since Avi's entrance into the world.

In case you missed it, here is the birth story of Avila Grace. And here's Rocky's version. It's worth your time if you need a good laugh. She was born at home on April 2, 2013. She's my lil sugar snap.

The highlight of May was Avi's Baptism. Her godparents came down from Steubenville, OH to share this glorious occasion with us and participate in this beautiful Sacrament.

June had two wonderful events. Our dear, dear friends were united in marriage and we were blessed to join their wedding party and stand beside them as they said their vows. Gemma was the flower girl as well so it was a family affair.

The very next day, we closed on our first home. Homeowner's Club, baby. I still don't feel grown up enough to own a house.

July flew by as we got settled into our home and worked on all sorts of little improvement projects.
Hmm… don't have a lot of pics from July but here's a super cute one of chubbabubba Avi that month:

August's highlight was celebrating Gemma's third (yes, third!! already?!) birthday! Sweet girl! We had a fairy tale themed party for her, complete with a giant cardboard box castle. (There was a plus side to having all those moving boxes!) I also began my training course to become a certified labor/birth doula! More about this later.

September came with Rocky kicking off the school year of his youth ministry program. It was a busy month, but we had one weekend free to go down to North Carolina and get some apple-pickin' in. We got lots of other pick-you-own produce as well! I used all those tomatoes and peppers to make a gargantuan amount of homemade enchilada sauce. We're down to just one more 2-cup portion in our freezer!

The highlight of October was a visit from my FIL, Steve. He had a fantastic time meeting Avila for the first time, fixing up a gajillion things on our house, and visiting historic Jamestown with us. He was also here for our parish Chili Cook-off and was able to enjoy plenty of the winning chili - MINE!! Then we celebrated All Saints Day/Halloween!

Picture taken by Gemma! :)

Me after eating the spiciest thing I've ever tasted in my life - crushed Trinidad Peppers.

Me winning my prize!!!

The girls dressed up as Our lady of Lourdes and St. Gemma Galgani for All Saints Day.

We hosted our annual misfits Thanksgiving in our home, with everyone who didn't go to their hometowns to share the holiday with family. It was a small gathering this year, but we had the greatest time ever and the greatest food ever. The best part of a small gathering for Thanksgiving is - lots of leftovers!! Yum.

First bite of turkey!

Of course the highlight of December was Christmas!! This was Avila's first Christmas and our first Christmas spent in our very own home! The girls got lots of neat gifts, and are still enjoying them. They're working hard on learning to play well together. It'll be a long road there, I think.

January started off in the greatest way possible - I attended my very first birth as a doula, which happened to be the first baby to some of our very best friends here. He was born at 3:45am on New Year's Day, an adorable 9lb bundle of love!

Now we're in the final days of January, and I have something really fun to share with everyone! I just completed a hair detox. Yes, a hair detox. What the heck are you talking about, you ask? Well, I'll tell you all about it in my next post. Which I promise… will be VERY soon. As in like, later today. Or tomorrow. :D Here's a little preview of the beautiful shampoo bar that transformed my hair:

Radiantly You - Tea Tree Shampoo Bar