So long 2011

Well, I must say I am pretty happy in MANY ways to say goodbye to 2011- I cannot wait to have a better year, though I know it can ALWAYS be worse.. Here are some things that happened in the year of 2011: 

~ Last December my brother and sister in law moved into our home with there 3 1/2  kids.. 

Dillon- (10) at the time

Ashlynn (8)

Samantha (6) 

and baby in the belly...

my brother was laid off from his job in Las Vegas so we moved them up here- well my Mom, brother etc. did Shawn and I were not able to do so... We were busy in our home getting our basement done so that they would have somewhere to stay, we had AWESOME ward members who came in and helped with the work and we Thank you and appreciate you! While they were moving here Shawn and I were at some good Friends home- The Fullers at a Christmas Party- Well... we got a phone call that our basement was flooding- yep, new basement etc. flooding.. Thanks to our awesome home teacher coming by to say He was the saving grace along with my Mom until Shawn and I could get home. So, that was taken care of.. 

We survived Christmas last year with wonderful Family and Friends who made it happen! We had a lot of Snow last year! Lot's of ups and downs.. I think more downs then anything, it seemed if something was going to happen it happened to us.. So, I am not going to be the poor me but I tell ya- don't pick off of the same tree: you will be in trouble =)

January 2011 was both Mine and my niece Ashlynn's Birthday- I really cannot remember anything happening, I have noticed my years since my brother passed away have become a blur so I really have been trying to keep a journal to look back and focus on those things that are good. Well, we did get a new Primary class and it had 4 boys and 3 girls, what a fun Primary class..

February- Shawn and I had our 10 year wedding anniversary, again we didn't do much but I tell ya for all we have been through together it could have  been a 100 years. I am thankful for Shawn, he is a great guy and is such a hard worker. And... We made it to 10 years for those of you who thought we wouldn't =)

March- March was my nephew Dillon's birthday- (11) he's getting so big, it's weird.. he used to be that little baby we'd hold- well, not anymore. The end of March was Biz's 6th birthday- WOW I cannot believe it, time sure has gone fast =(

April- We welcomed a beautiful blessing into our homes, as I marked the 3 and 4 year mark of losing 2 of my babies we as a family were blessed with the birth of my niece Anniston Jala ~ she has been such a Joy to our hearts through the pain and loss of Trent, She has made my world so happy! I am glad she got here safely and Steph did a great job.

May- The end of May my little guy Ashton would have turned 7 years old, not a day goes by that I don't think of him.. I miss him and I love him- I still cannot believe I had him and I wish so much he would have lived, I often wonder what he thinks of me as a Mom or how he feels. I cannot wait to see him again.

June- School is OUT- Bugs made it through 2nd grade and Buzy made it through kindergarten.. Summer wasn't all that exciting, though we did hit a few fun things.

July- Dustin's Birthday- one year older =) I think this is when you count backwards.. July also marked the 2 years since Trent is gone, WOW really- 2 yrs and you really are gone- I am still in the denial/anger/everything else stage: I hope to one day come out of it, I am not sure that I will. It has also been a year since our good friend Tal passed away and my Grandma V- wow how time goes fast sometimes.

August- Samantha had her birthday and she was also kind enough to share her 7th birthday with Bugs: Bugs was baptized- after all the crazy stuff that went on it finally happened and we appreciate you Samantha for giving up your special day for Danica- it was a combined day of fun. The end of August the kids all started School:

Dillon- 6th grade

Ashlynn- 4th grade

Danica- 3rd grade

Samantha- 2nd grade

Bryhn 1st grade

Anniston- 4 mos. old

September- Dad's & Jer's Birthday- it also would have been Trent's 29th Birthday: WOW!! Trenty being 29... love him, we also got the final approvals ready for Trent's monument- it makes it final when you actually see there name in the ground =( 

October- Somewhere along the way Steph and I did some night shift works for Pier 1 imports- it was exhausting .. but we made it. October is Halloween and I love Halloween: Me and my niece Ash were driving around and found a cool house: SO, we made sure we took the Fam up there on the 31st- we did and it was a blast, it had a haunted house; they also had hot chocolate.. Here is what the kids were"

Dillon- Ghostsbuster ( my sis in law did a cool costume)

Ash- Cleopatra

Danica- started out and Frankie Stein then ended up as a Devil like her Sister

Samantha- Little Red Riding Hood

Bryhn- A devil

Anniston- a lady bug

we had fun putting the costumes together.. My Mom was a Christmas Elf- we cannot forget her =) it was a lot of fun.

November- Mom and Steph's Birthday along With Danica on Turkey Day- this year D&S went to Las Vegas to stay with friends so the rest of us went to Turkey Dinner to "The Sizzler", it was SO much fun, we also celebrated Bugs- birthday. All in all it's been an ok year. 

December:- Shawn had a birthday!! We were released from our Primary teaching calling and are now the Cub Scout (Scout Masters). Shawn also ran for Draper City Council- he did a great job, he didn't make it but it was SO close and he got his name out there and he is well respected and if anything, he can say he was clean about the way he ran his campaign even though there was smearing done from other parts. Employment has been a shuffle and I pray a new year brings on new meanings from all directions.

Shawn and I were set apart today at Church, the Bishop gave me my blessing and Brother Ward gave Shawn his- I feel so great listening to both of these men, and I really did take the time to listen to what they had to say; I needed the assurance of things in my mind and in my heart- and I know that both the Bishop and  Brother Ward were in tune, they both gave a beautiful blessing. Things have been tough for us and I won't go into detail, I have also had a close friend leave the church and my heart seriously has broken ever since, she is AMAZING- I just love, love, love her and this has been heart wrenching for me! I am glad I was able to sit down and talk with her to get it off of my mind and let her know of the love I have for her- I pray all the time she will come back and I guess that time will tell.

I however am thankful for the gospel- and sure I have questions just like the next person but through faith and the atonement I know it's true- I loved my Primary class and today has been a bit hard, but I am so glad to have had comfort with 2 of my friends and sisters in my ward today- sitting side by side with them, 2 women I LOVE so much and felt so prompted last night to write each of them a card along with a message I gave them, it was so fitting that I'd walk in the room and right there was a seat right by one of the one's I had this card for. As time went on in Relief Society with the chair next to me empty- the other sister I had a card for walked in with tears and sat right by me, how fitting- I followed the prompting last  night to stay up even though I was drained to write this card out and have it ready- and wow, both of them are sitting right by me today, that my friends is Christ- he knows the needs of other's as well as he knows mine and I am Thankful each day for the Family I have and those I surround myself with and those friends that have stayed to be my friends- who are genuine and really care. May you have a wonderful New Year!!

As for me, lot's of volunteer hours, lack of sleep, yard work, and trying to give of service. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR= good bye 2011 =)