Year in Review

I chose a picture a month to summarize our year.  It's been a crazy one (as they all are).  Full of highs and lows.  

Ethan played soccer for QH (high), didn't make the team at Windermere (low). 

Sierra went to Korea on a trip! Travel is always fun fun fun!

The twins were born!

Grace had a great year.  She won science olympiad, got a part in the play, made all state for choir, competed in a choir competition in CA.

Hannah and Sawyer got married!

We got Disney passes (yay!)
Rob's done a lot of fishing, changed jobs (the verdict is out on if that is a high or a low).
We bought and sold a home.
Said good bye to friends, made new friends.
Went to the beach on both coasts and spent the holidays with family.

There's too much to capture.
I am grateful for a growing family, and for any and all time we spend together.
I am sad about health problems that every family faces, and ours is just the same as everyone else.
Jobs, I got offered a teaching position, which I was excited about, Rob's division lost a contract, we ended up moving (again). New job is hard, I subbed again, Hannah and Sawyer searched for jobs (and got them).
Now we live near a temple!!! But far from Utah :( But closer to Ohio!

See how we are all over the place.

another year ends

This morning I took Rob and Ethan to the airport at 4:45am. They had an unpleasant flight to LAX and now are there celebrating new years eve and looking forward to a full day of fun tomorrow.  

Then I came home and went back to bed.

Grace and I spent the morning cleaning.  I had planned for us to go up to Winter Park to see Mary Poppins and go to Cafe Rio (Grace's favorite).  She complained a lot about hating to go to the movies and begged not to, then she didn't want to go so far for lunch so we went to Disney Springs instead.  We ate at Raglan Rd, and the food was really good.  She had her favorite bangers and mash, I had a buffalo burger.  I really want to go back sometime in the evening because they have live music and dancing.  I wanted to do a little shopping...but no surprise she didn't.  

We did go to kohls on the way home and stopped at Books A Million.  So now I have a NYE companion (a new book to read).

Tomorrow Ashton is coming over to spend the day.  I offered to take the girls to the beach, the weather is perfect and I thought it would be an awesome way to start the new year.  Ashton wanted to but somehow Grace convinced her not to.  Oh that Lu is a lot of fun.

Yesterday we started our new "Come Follow Me, for Individuals and Families" right after church.  It is an awesome program and we learned that our family focused scripture study muscle is a little weak.  We did our hour of study and then chose a FHE topic for the week, that Grace will prepare, and got our individual assignments for the week.  I am not sure if that's how it's supposed to go but it seems like it went well so for now that's how we'll do it.

home

the cat missed us

It's in the 80's and so nice.  We are happy to be home.  Luka missed us and spent the whole first 12 hours we were home attached to one of us.  He's a friendly guy and we were glad to see him too.

This morning we went on a bike ride, it was very pretty cruising around the ponds and lakes. It's fun to see all the birds.

We went to the grocery store, unpacked, had to get a new battery for the flex because I got stranded.  I gave blood and Rob and I went on a date to a very crowded, very busy Disney Springs.  Grace went to Ashton's for the afternoon and Ethan set up his new electronics and went on a run.

bike ride

Two days

We’ve passed the last two days playing with babies and doing puzzles and watching movies. 

The Johnson’s left yesterday (sad) and we drive home tomorrow. It’s been a fun visit.

Christmas Day

We were all spoiled!

Many thoughtful and fun gifts were given and received. 

Much delicious food was eaten. 

Games were played. 

Family visited.

Phone calls were made.









Abba, Tom, Michael, Rob and Ethan were gifted with Rose Bowl tickets to see Ohio State play. It’ll be an awesome guys trip!!



Grace got roller blades. 

It was a good day, a lot of excess, a lot of time spent together, a lot of dishes washed :) I am blessed to have wonderful family and all that we want and/or need.

Christmas Eve

A trip to the mall to visit Santa. 









Lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.







Lots of dogs and babies and family!

Chinese food for dinner and then reindeer games!









It was a day of merriment and family time and fun!

Christmas Sunday

The girls and I matched, unintentionally, but I was delighted!

These two are so cute! We went to church this morning and then spent the afternoon watching them play.



Ethan drove us home from church.

Grace and I sat in the backseat and played with Snapchat filters.

We also watched movies, played games and ate pie. 

Holidays

Do you know how hard it is to get two poodle (mixes) to sit for a Christmas photo dressed as reindeer?

Impossible.

Abe and Z. 

In much cuter news look how awesome these girls are doing! They are munching on stuff, army crawling, sitting, playing with toys, rocking on their knees, starting to crawl and many other amazing and wonderful things!

Today we went shopping, went to lunch, played with the babies. Good times!

An amazing chocolatier at Dorothy Lane market!


Nana and I also spent some time at urgent care. She’s having some swelling which is both random and uncomfortable. I hope she’ll feel better soon! Stinks to be sick with family here and during Christmas!

17 hrs

That’s how long it took us to drive our 13 hr long trip from Orlando to Miamisburg. It was all Atlanta’s fault.

Other than the length of time it took everything went smoothly.

2 days ago I decided it was about time I watched the Lord of the Rings. I had seen little bits here and there but never all of it, or even nearly all of it.

So we watched #1 over the course of two nights and 2-3 today while we drove.  I drove the middle 5 hr shift so was able to fit in the movies before and after.

I have to say I loved them. 

Also every other film seems to have been hugely influenced by this story. By every other I mean: HP, Eragon, Angry Birds (game and movie), Hunger Games and I am sure many others that I am too tired to think of tonight.

Also this reminded me very much of the epic BOM battles: the tragedy at Nephihah, wicked King Noah telling his men to flee and leave the women and children, Alma and Amulek, the curelon and cumelons (which I always pictured as larger and more ferocious elephants...not that I know anything), the final battle scenes. The way gathering forces took so long and communication took so long. I could totally see parallels.

Also what a timeless tale of good vs almost insurmountable evil, friendship, love and valor, and the value of doing good even if the outcome looks poor or hopeless.

Lastly Rob told me that Frodo was an archetype of Christ, which I totally see. But I would argue so is Sam. He never leaves Frodo to carry his horrible burden alone, and in fact carries him when he can’t go on. He encourages and takes care of and believes in Frodo in a selfless and sacrificing manner. 

It was gory and long but beautiful and moving. And I am so glad that good won in the end. (Spoiler alert)

Done

In October our dear prophet, President Russel M Nelson, challenged the women and girls of the church to read the Book Of Mormon by the end of the year. We were to read specifically to look for a strong testimony of Christ.

I had been wanting the new wide margin Book of Mormon and decided to get one especially for this reading. 

Fortunately we have a LDS bookstore near us. 

So I highlighted every reference to the Savior, and every thing He said or did as I read. I was a little surprised how much got highlighted. I knew it would be a lot but seeing it in living color was eye opening. Often Grace would walk in while I was reading and say “you might as well just color the whole page!” I also wrote notes in the margins of thoughts I had or lists of things that stood out to me.
It was a very sweet experience. I felt the spirit as I read. I noticed details and learned things that I had missed before, or forgotten or something. 

I am so grateful to have a living prophet on the earth today. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon, which truly is another testament of Jesus Christ. Most of all I am grateful for a Savior. For His great love for us, for the blessings of the antonment, for His patience and long suffering, for His forgiveness and His love. We would be nothing and no where with out Him. We are saved by His redeeming grace and mercy. We are tutored but His  example, teachings and guidance.  I love Him and hope to be His disciple in my family, callings, neighborhood, whole life.

Now today I am back in 1 Nephi:)

temple

Today I had lunch with Jess. We went to Toasted, my fav grilled cheese place!

I finished Christmas shopping!  And I am almost finished wrapping!

Rob and I went to the temple this evening.  It was a quiet evening there but sweet.  I am grateful for the chance to learn and to sit quietly and to spend the evening with Rob.