What a year it's been!

It is no seceret that this year was a big busy year for us. Here is a good overview as to what we are saying good bye to as we welcome in 2010! We hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and are blessed throughout 2010!

January


We had one of the biggest snow storms to start off the new year. We enjoyed sledding, building a snow cave and having all sorts of snow fun.

February Mason started back to Early Learning services after regressing from the progress he made while in the program over the summer of 2008. He went back to ELS 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. We also met with the speech therapist once a week until he turned 3.


March We spent the first part of March spread out over Idaho. Emma and Mason spent 2 weeks with Grandma and Grandpa's while Paige and I joined Shawn on his insane job hunt. We traveled from Pullman, to Nampa. Paige and I then joined Shawn in Buhl, Idaho. From there we went to Pocatello, Blackfoot, Rigby and then to Idaho Falls. Paige and I got to see the Rexburg Temple and we spent plenty of time looking a homes. Paige and Daddy even found some time to play in the pool together. That was a nice evening. All these job interviews and no good offers. There was a good purpose for this though.

At the end of March Shawn had a 2 week vacation and we spent part of that time going to Portland, Oregon to visit with my Grandparents. It was the last time we would get to visit them in their home. Since then, they have moved to a Assisted Care home.

April

On Mason's 3rd Birthday he started his first of day Special Ed Pre School. His teacher we already knew as she was working on the ELS team with us. He was so excited to learn that he got to ride the school bus. Even better, Shawn was home to be there for this big 1st.




We celebrated Mason's 3rd Birthday a few days later and had some friends from our play group and Mason's class at church come to eat cake and play. Thanks to our neighbors for letting us use their trampoline and the kids had a great time.

May

We accomplished what we went to Pullman for. Shawn graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Veterinarian. He worked since Jr. High to get here and it was a wonderful day for all of us.

We finally got everyone in Shawn's family to come for a visit. We were missing Monica's husband Seth due to having to work, but she and their little boy came and it was good to see everyone.

June

We said good bye to this place and jumped in the truck and van to head out on a new adventure. We didn't know what to expect in this new phase of life, but we were together and that is really what mattered.

July The kids and I went to Idaho for a week to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. We also got to spend time with my sister and her little boy. We really should learn that traveling right after moving doesn't go together, but it seems like the thing we do.

Shawn and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary right after we got home from Idaho.

A week later we found ourselves at the Spanish Fork Rodeo. Shawn had to work at the rodeo, but it was also a little birthday activity for him. We really had fun. We really stayed up TOO late.

The next day was Shawn's birthday. The kids made his cake. He loved it.

August

We went to Nampa, Idaho at the beginning of the month for a short weekend. Shawn celebrated his 10 year high school reunion. It was nice to see old friends and catch up on how everyone was doing. Some things never change.

I celebrated another birthday. This year we were in Idaho for my birthday and it was nice to spend my b-day with all my family.

Mason started back to school and was SO EXCITED to ride the school bus. We loved his bus driver and aid on the bus while we were in Springville. Emma could hardly stand it that Mason was starting school before her again, but she knew her turn was coming.

September

We took advantage of the only weekend we could and went camping for the first time in Utah. We choose a quite little spot not too far from Heber City and really enjoyed ourselves. Next year, we are going to take some vacation time and go longer. The kids really had a lot of fun and it was nice to get away from our everyday stuff.

We took the only time we had for camping this month. It was a short camping trip, but was well worth it. The kids had fun, we had fun and our family tradition continues on.
After we got back from camping, Emma started school. She is in Preschool this year and absolutely loves it. It is the saddest day when she doesn't have school. Getting her out of bed in the morning... well, that is another story. She defiantly is not a morning person.

October

Paige turned 1 year old. We were all sick the whole week of her birthday. When we got better later in the week we celebrated her special day with Grandma Clausen who came to visit for the weekend. It was nice to have Grandma with us to celebrate Paige turning 1.

And of course we had Halloween. We all got dressed up, and Shawn too all the kids our trick or treating until Paige couldn't handle it anymore and she got to help me had out the last of our candy. Halloween this year was fun, cause we had lots of ghosts and goblins come visit our house.

November

We bought our first house this month. It was such a relief to finally get the process of buying a home done, and even more of a relief that we no longer felt like we were in limbo. The ward we were living in supplied much help and packing the trailer didn't take as long as we were thinking. The ward we moved into, came out to help and dealt with bad snowy conditions to help us get into the house. It was quite the adventure.

A few short weeks later, Emma celebrated her 5th birthday. We had a small family party and enjoyed the quietness of her small celebration.

December

We kicked off our holiday celebrations by having an open house and inviting all our neighbors. It was so much fun getting ready for this night, and was even better that we were finally meeting our neighbors in the dead of winter.

We took our first trip to see the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake. It was one of our best outing with the kids and despite the cold, everyone had a good time.

Christmas Morning was wonderful. Christmas Day was relaxing and allowed time for reflection on the birth of the babe that changed the world and our own daily lives. We are ever grateful for his selfless love that has brought us all we enjoy.