~2009~

So now that 2009 is over, I looked back and thought of all that happened with our little family this past year. It really didn't seem like a lot had happened. But when I think back we really had some fun and scary events happen this past year. My kids all took their first plane ride, went on their first trip to Disneyland (which was really something to remember), and we went on many day trips. We have started many new traditions this year. Like going to see a movie on Thanksgiving; spending Christmas Eve at home with our little family sledding, watching Christmas shows, etc; going to Salt Lake to ride the train and then go play at Gateway; and others.

We added a new member to our family this year, our dog Marley. He is soo big now. Lexi could stand upright under his belly :)

Dave and I were released as Sunday school teachers, and Dave was put in the Stake High Council. (ya, we can't believe it either). So needless to say, I am a single mom at church again :). Although, his calling as a high councilman is a sinch compared to being in the bishopric. Well, a sinch for me. He really only has meetings on Sundays and every once in a while on a Thurday night. When he was in the bishopric, he was gone Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, every once in a while on Thursdays, and some Saturdays. So I am not minding the high councilman calling at all :) And I was called to be a Relief Society Instructor, which is not so bad :) I teach once a month. This is the perfect calling for me right now, since (1) I am a single mom at church and (2) Lexi is not nursery age yet, but at the age where she doesn't like staying in a meeting for very long, so I spend a lot of church in the halls :)

Hunter went from Kindergarten to First Grade and has loved going to school all day. He is learning to read, a great speller, is so good in math, and has made a lot of new friends. Dave and I have had to get used to not spelling things out anymore to each other, because Hunter now can figure out what we are saying :) Mckell loves her preschool class and has learned to write her name. Lexi has learned to crawl, walk, talk, feed herself, blow kisses, give kisses, give hugs, fold her arms, climb the stairs, look at books, etc over the year. It is amazing how much they grow and learn each year.

TopTenReviews, the company Dave works for, bought a company out of New York this year, Space.com. So Dave and I took our first trip to New York. It was probably the first real trip we have taken, just the two of us, since our honeymoon. We had a lot of fun! Since then Dave has gone back several times, and will be going several more. One of these times I will get back there with him :)

One of the biggest things that I think has happened this year was the scare we had with my health. An IUD went missing, which led to finding a tumor on my kidney. They weren't sure if it was cancerous or not, so went in and removed half of my kidney. Everything turned out to be OK, and I'm all back to normal :) It was a scary time for us, but I 'm glad we made it through it. The whole experience made me realize how much I love my family, what GREAT neighbors and friends I have, and I know the Lord has a hand in our lives. He blesses us, even if at first we don't see it as a blessing. The IUD that went missing was scary and I thought (at the time) a terrible thing. But it ended up being a blessing that it had gone up into my fallopian tube, because if it hadn't we never would have found the tumor on my kidney.

Overall, 2009 was a great year. I love my family more and more each day, and am so grateful that we are going into this new year together. I am excited to see what the new year will bring.