What a fantastic year it has been! I think that ever year of my life has somehow added something remarkable and this year was no exception. Life gets better with age. At least it does for me.
We started the year with a 2 month old baby, which kept us in town until February when we went to Vegas for a wedding! It was beautiful and it was Aspen's first trip. She looked adorable and we had SO much fun seeing old friends. At the end of February we went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a little chilly, but we still had an incredible time. We played by the pool and enjoyed the little town (and Brian's "Mexican driving."
March brought our first winter trip to Salt Lake City and Jackson Hole. I got Brian up on skis for the first time in his entire life. Hunter went to ski school and both of them loved the new experience! On top of that, we fell even more in love with Jackson and bought a timeshare so we could go 3X a year! We went through the temple for the first time and were lucky to go through the Newport Temple and the Salt Lake City temple.
April was a blast with a Disney cruise. You know the best thing about Disney cruises? Besides the great characters, fun food, and toddler themed everything, it is the only cruise line where you can put your kids in the kid's club (which they LOVE) and get off the boat! Brian and I LOVED dining alone, or with just 1 or 2 kids and going on several excursions off the boat. Amazing. We also got to visit my aunts, cousins and grandparents and that is a great blessing to see them! My Papa was thrilled to meet his first great granddaughter.
May brought my aunt out for a SUPER quick trip to Hunter's 4th birthday party! We went to Arizona at the end of the month, as we always do. It was really a great time! We just love the pool there and the kids are so at home there since we've been going for 7 years now. This month also marked 11 years of dating for me and Brian! How does he put up with me?!
June was a relaxing month where we actually stayed home. It was nice to get back into a routine and be at home and catch up on sleep. We spent a lot of time at the beach and with our friends. We were sealed together as a family, for time and eternity, in the Los Angeles Temple on June 9. It is a day I will never forget. Aspen and I also made a quick jaunt up to Portland to visit my brother and meet his new girlfriend.
In July my wonderful aunts came to handle the crazy kids (all 3 of them!) and Brian and I took off for 2 nights (breast pump in hand.) We had a wonderful time in Newport Beach sitting by the pool, getting a massage and eating yummy food. We even went to the movies! It was sensational. When we came back we still had 4 fun days with my amazing aunts. This week is possibly the highlight of my year every year. I love time alone with my hubby and I adore spending time with my aunts.
August took us to San Diego for a week. We have our timeshare there and it is always fun to stay at the resort, play in the pool and relax. Of course, we are too busy to relax: taking the train to downtown so we can eat at Ghirardelli, and going to Sea World and Legoland! We were only home for a short time before we left again for Jackson Hole. We spent our 7th wedding anniversary whitewater rafting down the Snake river. It was a phenomenal way to spend our day - enjoy one another and doing something adventurous like we used to back before kids. We also spent that week going for our first huckleberry shake, horseback riding, fishing, driving through the National Park, getting charged by a bear (seriously!) and visiting our photographer friend Tom Mangelsen. Nate Hill, our missionary, stayed with us for 3 nights and the boys were out of their heads excited. It was a phenomenal trip! My brother and his girlfriend came out to visit and it was great to spend time in the pool with them.
September was here before we knew it and it was a BUSY month. We went to Maui for a week, which was incredible. We made friends by the pool, played at the beach and walked all over to eat good food and enjoy one another. Brian and I always make a point of going out on dates, especially on vacation, and we got to enjoy Spago. It is completely different from the Spago in Beverly Hills and I think it is about 10X better. It's a must do if you are in Maui! 10 days after returning home from Maui we packed up for a completely opposite vacation! We went to Connecticut and Vermont to see the fall leaves turn and stay with our wonderful friends, the Paternas. We stayed with them (unusual for us) at their house in Connecticut and then their house in Vermont. It was a peaceful, relaxing trip, minus the 5 kids we had between the 2 families. We love this family and are looking forward to a Disney cruise with them in 2013!
October came swiftly. We were lucky to meet up with my Aunt and her husband, the honorable Michael Kaplan. I think it's pretty cool that I'm related to a Judge. Anyhow, we saw them just for a day in San Diego and it was a highlight for me, as seeing my aunt always is! We were mostly home for the rest of the month and enjoy Halloween as members of Pooh's entourage. I made my first costumes (thanks Megan for all of your help) and was super proud of my Tigger, Pooh and Piglet. Brian and I were Christopher Robin and I was Rabbit.
November brought my sweet little girl's first birthday. I cannot believe she is 1 already! I am so in love with this little baby. She had a Minnie Mouse themed birthday party and my brother came down to celebrate with us. I'm never happier than when I am surrounded by family and I was thrilled to see him. We had a peaceful Thanksgiving with one other family and were happy to be together.
December was a blur. It began with us leaving town (what else is new) to Punta Mita Mexico. We had a free timeshare there and it was incredible. We spent a week relaxing by the pool and on the beach. They actually wanted us to get 2 babysitters to go out, so we didn't take any time by ourselves but when we got home we had several dates. Before we knew it we were riding the Polar Express to see Santa and then company came to town. The Hill family stayed for a week and spent 3 days with us. The Calef family (Brian's sister and her family) were here for 10 days. Christmas was fun and overwhelming, with Santa spoiling our children like crazy. Now I sit here on New Year's Eve, reflecting on how very blessed we are.
Highlights for me this year included:
- The timeshare in Jackson because now I know we can go back there 2-3 times a year
- We implemented weekly date nights which has been a great blessing to the 2 of us
- Growing another year older with my sweet husband
- Going to the Temple 1-2 times a month
- Traveling and exploring together as a family
- Being with my extended family
- Watching my children grow into spunky, silly, sweet kids. I adore these little people.
- Making and hanging out with some of the best friends of my life - The McPhies, Silitoes and Pulhams to name a few (very few.)
Wishes for 2013
- I pray for another healthy baby
- I pray that things continue to improve in areas of my life where there has been trouble in the past
- I pray that we can be better missionaries in the church
- I pray that we will continue to travel safely and smartly and have fun together as a family
- I pray that my family (immediate and extended) will be healthy and happy and that I will see them as much as possible this year! Life is short and family is the most important thing we have (along with the Gospel.)
Happy New Year to all!!!! I pray that everyone has a wonderful year ahead.
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