A Recap of 2012

It's been quite a year at our house!  This year has been very full and, as we look back at where this year has taken us, we feel very blessed.

Family Pictures, November 2012

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To say that the past year for Craig has been very busy is definitely an understatement.  Craig was called as the Elders Quorum president for our church at the very beginning of the year.  We missed him a lot on Sundays and during the week, but we felt very blessed by his service, and watching him grow within this capacity was incredible.  

Craig is also a full time student at UVU and a part-time intern at Novell.  This past semester he worked mornings and attended school at night.  Often times Daddy would leave just as the girls were waking up in the morning and would come home just before or after the girls were in bed.  We are so grateful for how hard he works to make it possible for our family's future to be bright.

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This year has been quite a year for me.  I like to think it has been the greatest year of transformation and growth for me in so many ways.  I am enjoying more than ever the wonderful but challenging full time jobs that I have--Mommy and Graphic Designer.  My work has taken off in the last few months but my love and passion for creating keeps me motivated and determined to keep going.  I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love.

I also feel so blessed to have flexibility in my job.  This has enabled me to make the most amazing transformation in my life over the past year.

At the beginning of January I made a resolution to myself that I needed to improve my physical fitness.  I started doing Zumba two times a week and watched as my life started improving in so many ways by doing something so small for myself only twice a week.

By early April I had completed my first 5k run and felt more empowered than ever to make a lifestyle change.  I started going to the gym everyday and was determined to enter more and more challenging races.  I competed in my first Biathlon at the beginning of July and ran another 5k with Shelly and my sister all in the same week.

Improving my physical fitness has been life-changing for me.  Since becoming a mother just over three years ago, I haven't done a lot of things just for me.  I didn't realize how important it is to dedicate time and take care of myself until this past year.  Working out has made me feel so much more confident in myself and my ability to be a better wife, mother and person.

I am so excited for the opportunities that living a healthier lifestyle will bring our family in 2013.  We have many goals and much more room to improve!

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I feel like Olivia (3) has grown leaps and bounds this year.  I can't believe that our toddler turned into a little girl over the past year!  Olivia's personality is fiery, passionate, kind, and very serious at times.  Olivia enjoyed owning a pass to Seven Peaks this summer and loved splashing and sliding down the big water slides.  We were so proud of her bravery!

Olivia, November 2012

She also loved boating with Grandpa and trying out the surf board for her first time, and going on a big girl sleepover at her Aunt Alycia and Uncle Chris' house!  She also looks forward to seeing her friends at the gym, watching Curious George, playing dress-ups and playing with her little sister.  She is such a great big sister - watching the girls' relationship blossom over this past year has brought us so much happiness.

The girls, November 2012

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Emery (20 months) is our little dare devil child.  In the past year, she climbed to very impressive heights on, well, everything, landed a front flip from a chair, and basically amazed us by her athletic abilities for a toddler.  We had multiple people tell us that we need to record everything that she does so that we can look back and chuckle when she is an Olympian one day.  In all seriousness, though, Emery has been such a special part of our family since the moment she came into our lives.  She has a smile that lights up our world and a hug that warms your soul and makes even the darkest days bright.

Emery, November 2012

As 2012 has come to a close, we look forward to the coming year with excitement, hope, and gratitude for the opportunities that lie ahead for our little crew!  Happy 2013, all!

I'm like Sassy today!

Okay, people, this is going to be a really quick post.  But, it's just too funny and sums up Olivia's (Miss Sassy Pants') personality in its entirety.

Olivia loves to watch cartoons.  Many children's cartoons are very interactive and will ask questions to the audience during the duration of the show.  Olivia is always VERY frank in her responses.   For instance, she loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but every time Mickey asks, "Would you like to come inside my playhouse?"  Olivia never hesitates to say, "No!"

Today Olivia was watching a show that was teaching kids about baking.  After baking a cake, one of the characters on the show asked the kids if they wanted a piece of the cake.  Olivia promptly answered by saying, "Yes, but do you really think that cake will feed all of us kids watching the show?  I don't think so!"  [insert visual of sassy blonde bobbing her head and rolling her eyes while giving her answer]..

I love my little Miss Sassy Pants, though, and can't believe that she is turning three this Saturday!  Wow, the big three!  I can't imagine the last three years without her--she truly keeps me smiling, and never ceases to amaze me with her attitude!  Her favorite thing to tell me is, "Mom, I'm like sassy today!"  I can only imagine what this little blonde beauty is going to be like in 12 years {scary!}.

What We've Been Up To

Yes, we are alive!  We survived another fun, whirlwind summer filled with wonderful memories that will have to wait for another day to post about.  Honestly, that's why I haven't blogged in such a long time--I have been so overwhelmed by the amount of things I need to blog about that I haven't known where to start.  So we're starting with baby steps by catching you up on what has happened in our lives as of recent.  And then if you get lucky--maybe you'll get a post recapping our summer.

We have been so busy this past month preparing for tenants to move in and out of the four-plex {we're the managers}.  We have also been doing quite a bit of updates in our place, too!  The front room and hallway got quite a facelift with a beautiful new coat of paint and new carpet.  We are absolutely loving the new-home feel, and now I appreciate how much hard work goes into making a house a home.  Painting is not for the weary of heart, but all of the the pain, sweat, and tears were worth it!  I've learned quite a bit for our someday house in this process, too!

Craig started school a few weeks ago, too!  We are excited to be back into more of a routine but are missing having dad around.  We see him out the door most days around nine o'clock am to go to work and often times he gets home just before or after bedtime for the girls.  It has been quite an adjustment for the girls and me.  We are slowly trying to figure things out, but have enjoyed watching chick flicks, doing toe nails, and staying up later than usual cuddling on the couch together. 

Work has really picked up for me now that school is back in.  I have been working late into the evening every night this month and I just keep hoping that things will slow down or I will get back on top of things as we get more into fall.  I can't wait to be able to do fun things with the girls this fall!  As you saw from the pictures, we went to story time at the library this past Friday.  I am excited to get out and do more fun things like this now that the girls are older and enjoy doing activities together.

On a more romantic note, Craig and I celebrated four wonderful years on the 28th of August.  We celebrated by going to a beautiful dinner together at La Jolla Grove at the River Woods.  It was the tastiest, quietest, most wonderful meal with the Mr.  And did I mention that Craig surprised me with a Kitchenaid? {insert applause} I have wanted one for years and, as his mother pointed out, he has now set the bar very high for anniversaries to come. 

It has been a wonderful four years, though!  Who would have thought that we would have two rambunctious kiddos under three, be finishing up school, and living in Provo on our fourth.  I couldn't imagine things being any better than they are!  We feel very blessed!