Into the Holidays 2011

Um yeah- a quick run down of the last few months:

(busy to say the least, but happy and that's always a good thing)

Our laptop has been having issues, so while the ipad is saving the day, I still haven't figured out transferring pictures and blogging yet on it. I wish I had Adam's brain, then it would all be solved! So this post is picture-less and boring to the average reader but I gotta get caught up! Anyway. . .

October:

*Grace turned 6 years old. We hit it off with a surprise party with some of her girlfriends. It was a Friday night, there were p.j.'s, paper crowns to decorate and frosted sugar cookies. She was way surprised and it was really. Hard to believe she is really growing up.

*Weekend in Blackfoot with Adam's parents & family. Everyone came to visit and we had tons of fun hanging out with Charity and her family (from Phoenix) and squeezing some Pocatello T.J. Maxx in. We had all intentions of having a cousin Halloween party, but everyone was just having so much fun and playing we lost track of time and it didn't happen. Oh well! Two sister in laws were pregnant which was fun sorting through baby stuff too :).

*Spent a weekend with Max and the croupe. He and I spent 2 separate nights up at PCMC in the emergency room, getting him back in shape. Poor guy- I really don't like croup.

*Halloween parade and party for Grace and Max. Grace was a bumblebee and Max Superman. I volunteered to do the classroom party and that was a good experience. Hunter tagged along too.

*Trick or Treating around our neighborhood and running into lots of people we love.

*Stressing and debating on putting an offer in on a home in Cottonwood Heights we liked. Seriously, 3 weeks of debating and doing a million drive byes. Finally we got brave and put in an offer (it was a short sale house).

November:

*Heard back really quickly on the home, which was a complete surprise. In the end decided something about the timing of it all felt weird so we turned it down.

*Five days after turning down the house, I was called as the Relief Society President in the Balmoral ward. What!?! Didn't see that one coming. Good thing I've had some amazing examples to teach me the last 5 1/2 years we have lived here. Adam is still in the High Council, so church is a busy and a big part of our lives . Thank heavens for a wonderful presidency!

*Grace and the Primary program "I Know the Scriptures are True." She was shining like a star along with my CTR 7 class.

*Went to Blackfoot for Thanksgiving and my sis in law ended up having her baby 5 weeks early and unexpectedly! Welcome baby Benjamin! Glad the hospital stay is over and you are healthy.

*Had our own Thanksgiving day at our house with just the 4 of us! It was unexpected and really a nice break. Adam, the kids, and I did our first batch of homemade rolls and they were delicious!!! Adam is a pro turkey and gravy maker, so we made a pretty good team getting dinner on the table. We really just enjoyed being together and not on a schedule.

*Black Friday shopping with Laurin- oh yeah and a 3am stop at the Belgian Waffle for some garbage hash.

*Lots of craziness in our neighborhood- unexpected hardships.

December:

*I feel turned upside down in my new calling as I'm thrown into the mix and holidays- but luckily there are tons of amazing people, friends, and support around. We're all in this together.

*Kids went and sang to Great Grandma Lewis (Higgins) for an evening, dressed in their Sunday best.

*Maybe a little too much Christmas shopping this year - oops :).

*Catching up with Michelle at lunch and seeing her new baby. Catching up over the phone with good friends that have known me forever.

*I added brown to my hair for the first time ever and got a new look. It's fun for the holidays but has taken some getting used to.

*Grace had a dance recital. We finished off at Leatherbys. Grace has really improved over the last year at her new studio.

*Getting ready for the holidays by making quilts for Christmas, treats, and about another zillion things. Felt strange having such warm temperatures and no snow this year.

*Christmas!!! Christmas Eve- dinner at my dad and Josie's. We opened presents with them also. Met Jessica's new 'step daughter' and we like her. Uh, the only bad thing might have been that my dad and Jos gave Chloe a living breathing bird for Christmas. Have I mentioned Henry doesn't love pets? Yikes. The looks on Jessica's and Henry's faces were priceless. Yeah, they are still working that one out.

Christmas morning was at our house- we opened presents, rushed to church, then came home to crash for a bit. We drove to Wanship to see Grandma Connie (Josie's mom) and have Christmas there too as well. Connie is crazy over Christmas and one of the most genuine and generous person I've met. My dad and Jos brought me some Coke in bottles too- which I was dying for.

*We all got snowshoes for Christmas but there was no snow to be found! We drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon and scouted some out for a few hours. Snowshoeing as a family may be my new favorite thing to do- ever. The kids were awesome and naturals. The best part? No whining, fighting, or nagging for 2 hours! Awesome.

*Back up to Idaho to visit family after Christmas. Adam and the kids staying together an extra day as I headed home with Alison and her kids to make it to Jess's pre wedding festivities.

*Crossed the 3 year mark of my mom being gone. I still feel an emptiness inside without her. At the same time, I feel like she's been right by my side during some of the difficult situations and problems I have faced these last few months.

*Fireside Dining at Deer Valley Lodge and getting nails done and Cafe Rio with Jessica and her 'to be' step daughters (niki and lindsay). It was nice getting to know them better. Everything in Park City was lit up and holiday magical except the lack of snow.

*New Years Eve Wedding- Jessica and Henry got married at 7:30pm then the party began. It was fancy and had the best flowers and heorsdeurves I've ever had. I loved getting dressed up and having a hot date with Adam. I REALLY wish I would have taken pics. Adam and I took all the kid (including Chloe and Floyd) to spend the night in a hotel with JoAnn and family. It was the first time in 3 years since I've seen all my aunts and uncles on my mom's side- it was great. If she couldn't be there, that was the next best thing.

January (yeah I know it's only the 4th):

*Something possessed me to sign up for the Utah Valley Marathon in June. I don't know if it's all the extra treats hanging around my mid section these last couple of years, or my dad's new found love for running and wanting to race but I signed us both up. Ready or not June is on it's way and I'm hoping running will be my ticket to getting back in shape and beating the winter blues. I really don't know what is possessing me.

Writing all this down feels great, but doesn't scratch the emotions I've felt particularly since being put in this new calling. All at the same time, I've felt a complete sense of: anxiety, being overwhelmed, clueless, loved, lifted, happy, grateful, bursting at the seams with concern and love for those around me, stretched, pulled, and everything in between. It's really hard to explain but one thing I do know is that the Lord has a plan for my life. Back in October I had different plans for my life which seemed like 'the next step' for me and my family. Well, I was wrong and we are being led down different paths which I know are the right thing. I don't have answers for things like moving, family drama, adding to our family, ect but I do feel peace and that I don't have to know right now. That is a good feeling for me.

More adventures to come. I have lots to learn but I'm grateful for the opportunities to do so. I'm especially grateful for the good people in my life that I know and are getting to know. It's amazing. People are amazing. Without the guidance of Heavenly Father in my life, always but particularly the past 3-4 years, I would not be where I am today and able to help and serve. He's given me healing, courage, hope, good friends, amazing family, and Adam- the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I have a good feeling- 2012 is going to be a great year!

I can't be held responsible for all the misspellings and grammar done wrong in this post. I just pumped this out during a slim window of opportunity as the kids were playing at friend's houses and Hunter was sleeping.