A Year in the Life: 2023 In Review

January

We rang in the New Year with some of our favorite people. Early in January, Kyndall decided that she wanted to graduate early, so we frantically began preparations for all that entailed. Jase celebrated turning 8 with ALL the birthday parties. He also began his love of duck hunting. Our first senior event for our fast-forwarded senior year. Prom dress shopping with my girls. I wrapped up January by turning 38.

February

Valentine’s Box for school. Valentine’s gifts from friends. Beta Club inductions for Libby. Volleyball tournament in Atlanta. Jesse Murph concert and pajama party in Nashville. Baseball season begins.

March

Auburn vs. Alabama basketball game at Coleman Coliseum. Girls trip to Nashville for Broadway and volleyball. Papa is announced “2022 Cattleman of the Year”. Prom #1. College tour #1. Leg waxing (EASILY one of the top 5 funniest things that happened this year.) Gulf Shores + Orlando vacations (stay tuned for blog posts).

April

Easter celebration. Flashlight egg hunt at Pops’ and GraGra’s house. Prep for Prom #2–pedicures for everyone. Prom #2. Beauty Walk for Libby–1st Alternate. All the baseball.

May

ALL THE GRADUATION things. Awards Days. New Orleans + Carnival cruise for Maggie’s Senior trip. (stay tuned for blog posts).

June / July

Lake days. Celebrating Todd turning 13. More baseball. Cheer Camp in Tuscaloosa for our All-American cheerleader. Weekend getaway to Dauphin Island.

Waterpark visit. Late nights at the race track. Cheer banner pictures. More lake days. Lineman graduation. Lauren Spencer Smith concert in Atlanta with my girls. First attempt at a 15th birthday celebration for Lib (failure). Family celebration for Libby. Rock the South for Kyndall and Levi.

August

More waterpark fun. Celebrating Kyndall turning 17. Second attempt at a birthday celebration for Libby (this one was successful). Family game night. Back to School events. Libby gets her driving permit.

September

Friday night lights. Ice baths. Homecoming festivities. Powder Puff football. Millie. Wedding celebration for the Thornes.

October

October began with some dark, heavy days but we tried to find the bright places when we could. We had spend-the-night parties, built living room forts, and made candy charcuterie boards. We visited Puerto Rico. We welcomed Henry, the goose, to the farm. Annual Halloween party shenanigans. Extremely rare family dinner.

November

Basketball begins. Jase’s first deer of the season. HSV > ORL: Disney World. Thanksgiving celebration at Panama City Beach. (stay tuned for blog posts).

December

Kyndall and Levi’s first kills of the season. Photos for GraGra by the amazing Mallory Hall Photography (aka Mal-Mal). Gingerbread trains. HSV > SLC for Utah family vacation. (stay tuned for blog posts).

2023 was a tough year. We lost too many amazing people and hit some rough patches for a while. But we had some truly great, core-memory-moments, too. And always, we will continue to look for bright places among the dark. Here’s to 2024 and all the adventure it may bring!