my look back on 2018

2018 was a fantastic year! Sorry but there are ton of photos. More than years past!! We did so much this year and I wanted to get it all in. I love documenting our memories and being able to look back, reflect and cherish all of these moments. It is the best part of this blog. I LOVE being able to look at these photos and go back to that time for a second. It's so cool how you look at a photo and all these feelings from that moment flood back to you!! SO MUCH FUN! I hope ya'll had a great year as well and if not... there is much to look forward in the New Year! It's a new beginning!

I'm probably going to write a long blog so sorry!

Our year was full of so many joyful experiences. Our Winter, we received snow and we had lot of fun with Haylee sledding and making snow angels. She did not want to come back inside. Souwan celebrated with a low key birthday at my mom's house with family with Haylee singing Happy Birthday. I signed up for online photography courses.

The Spring, We took a few bike rides in the neighborhood and park. We celebrated the Thai/Lao New Year with a fun family BBQ under our gazebo in the backyard. We caught the Japanese Magnolias bloom in the park. Our church had a delicious pie day to celebrate pie day and St. Patrick's day. I got my wisdom teeth taken out. Haylee had fun at our church Easter egg hunt, she loved getting all of the colorful eggs. We went with our friends and Haylee for the first time to Zootastic.

Summer, We celebrated our 5 year anniversary at Lake Norman bike riding and swimming. We taught Haylee to play tennis. Our herb garden was a success. Our Camilla's did not return, but we planted some new banana trees, blueberry and raspberry bushes. Souwan played on his office's kickball team again. Haylee started her second year ballet and recvd her first trophy for her first year! We took an East Coast tour stopping in DC, Philadelphia, NJ, New York, Boston and Martha's Vineyard. My brother graduated from UMass. Our niece Lyna visited NC and Haylee found a new bff to get snow cones with. My sister in law and her family came to stay with us for a couple days and we attended our first football challenge (VTO All American). #teamthomas Souwan competed in the Dragon Boat race again. Haylee turned 3 and we celebrated with a Moana birthday party in our backyard. It was a hit! We went to see the Incredibles 2 at the movie theater and had our first Alino's Pizza. Our friend Gary in heaven would have loved it and we were thinking of him for sure!

Fall was full of so many activities and weather! Our family added two kittens Walt and Duchess to the family. We had 2 hurricanes - Michael and Florence effect our area. Florence flooded our street and we stayed with my mom for a couple of days. We celebrated my birthday with a day of pampering! I got my nails and hair done. Haylee and Souwan got their nails done too. I loved my hair, thanks to my friend and stylist Petra! We took Haylee to Disney World where we went to 3 parks! Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. We really enjoyed the food and wine festival. After visiting Disney we headed to visit our family in Alabama. It was the best memory of the year for us! Our family visited Grand Father Mountain with Haylee for the first time. She went across the swinging bridge! We took Haylee to pick pumpkins at Patterson Farms and she painted it! She also went trick or treating house to house in the historic district in downtown Salisbury/Fulton St.! She was Moana for Halloween. Our family got to experience the Caravan parade, I loved all of the floats! Haylee had her first Starbucks (it was Hot cocoa).

December flew by fast this year. We joined the gym. We had so much fun at the Polar Express (Haylee actually sat and talked with Santa), Festival of trees, the snow in December, baking cookies for our Cookie exchange at church, our first time going to the Charlotte Ballet to see the Nutcracker and having a special day/lunch with all of the family.

In 2019 we want to learn pottery and patience. We want to get better at photography, quick meals, ABC/Counting. We would like to try deviled eggs and escargot. We want to get a dishwasher and leaf blower. Haylee's favorite toy was her American Girl Doll from Uncle Lee and her barbies. Our family would love to go to Disney World and Carolina Beach, I would love to give more to our local children's home, make a wish foundation and relay for life. Our favorite songs of the year were "You Say" Lauren Daigle and "Baby Shark"- Haylee's fave lol, "Known" Toren Wells. The best advice "Keep Moving Forward" Walt Disney

Our family had fun with doing a review of the year of our favorites:

Favorite Food - Crab cake at Epcot's food and wine festival

Favorite Movie - The Crazy Rich Asians/The Incredibles 2

Favorite Book - Walt Disney - The triumph of the American Imagination

Favorite activity - Bike riding, Ars & Craft

Favorite TV Shows - The Crown, The Good Doctor, & Peppa Pig

Favorite Memory- Haylee and Uncle Lee at the Charlotte Ballet - The Nutcracker

Looking forward to 2019 & Goals!

- Going back to Disney World

-We're going to enjoy more of our deck

- More bike riding

-I want to finish my photography courses

-I hope to purchase more lens and gear

-I want to stay off my phone more

- I really want to hit our goal of paying off more debt and saving 10k

- Staying healthy

-Finish our sunroom

-Reading more books

- Make more family photos
- Being more artistic

- Learning to give myself grace! I want to accept not everyone is going to like me and be ok with that!

Goals for Davong Marie

- Networking

- Update the website

- Work on Social Media outreach

I wanted to say Thank you so much to every one who support Davong Marie. Especially my husband who supports all my big dreams and helps me with everything here!! It's been a wonderful 2018!!! I cannot express how grateful I am for each and every person! it's truly amazing and a humbling experience to be able to be a part of your lives!

We sincerely hope and pray that this New Year brings you new hopes, new dreams, and new beginnings. May this truly be your best year yet.
Love The Kiengkhams!