Here's To 2009

We had such a great year! Here are some recaps of what our year looked like. We are so grateful for all the blessings that have come our way this past year. We hope for a bright and happy 2010. Happy New Year everyone!!

• JANUARY: Chanell turned the big 25! We moved out of our apartment in hopes to find a house.

• FEBRUARY : Had the privilege to stay with my sister while waiting for our house to close.

• MARCH: FINALLY...able to move into our new home.

• APRIL: We had a nice Easter with family. And were able to get a family picture.

• MAY : Enjoyed some time up in the White Mountains. And many first time things for Chandlar.

• JUNE : Spent some vacation time at Lake Powell.

• JULY : Spent more time up North with family..celebrating all the fun summer festivities.

• AUGUST: Celebrated Skylar's 26th Birthday. And the chance to go to the cabin with our good friends.

• SEPTEMBER: Chandlar turned One years old!!

• OCTOBER: Had a great Halloween and celebrated 4 happy years of marriage.

• NOVEMBER: Chandlar had her real taste of what its like to camp at the sand dunes. She had a blast.

• DECEMBER: Our Christmas for sure was filled with lots of fun. So fun that we forgot to take any pictures. It was so nice to be around family and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas with them.

We can't believe that 2009 is already over. We had many fun times and we can't wait to get the new year started. Hopefully I will be better at capturing the moments that 2010 brings us. Happy New to all of our family and friends. We look forward to spending more time with all of you. Best of Luck to everyone this New Year!!

Christmas Tag

1.WRAPPING PAPER or GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper..Christmas isn't Christmas without all the wrapped presents under the tree. 2.REAL or ARTIFICIAL TREE? I love real and grew up with a real tree, but I my self have an artificial tree...maybe someday I will switch over. 3.WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? As soon as I can. 4.DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? Yes, but it kinda has a nasty after taste. But that just me. 5.FAVORITE GIFT AS A CHILD? I have many fond memories of all the presents I got, but here are some of my most favorite....barbi van, a baby feel so real, a tape recorder, and a cabbage patch kid!! 6.DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? NO, but I would love love love to have one....especially the Willow Tree Nativity Scene. 7.HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? My parents, by far. 8.EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Chandlar 9.EMAIL OR CARDS? Cards. I try to hand make my cards every year. 10.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? White Christmas 11.WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? I try not to procrastinate, but I am always finding my self shopping at the last minute. 12.FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT DURING CHRISTMAS? Any kind of Christmas snacks, from cookies, to candy and all the fun appitizers. 13.WHITE LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS? Colored 14.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? Let in Snow, Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire ( don't know the title to that one) and I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. 15.TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? Stay home. 16.CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen....but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all... Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. haha had to sing the song, but I think I got it. 17.ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? Star 18.DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS MORNING? Christmas Morning 19.MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? All the people shopping. 20.UP EARLY OR SLEEP IN? Wake up early. 21.ARE YOUR GIFTS FROM SANTA OR MRS.CLAUS? They will be from Santa when all my kids are old enough to know the differnece 22.DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? Yes 23.DO YOU LEAVE COOKIES OUT FOR SANTA? Nope and I don't think I will for a while. 24.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Well.. When I was a kid..my dad and all the kids would put together a Norman Rockwell puzzle. I always liked doing that. And of course spending time with family. Looking forward to making some of my own traditions with my kids. I tag anyone who wants to do this.... MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Fun Filled Festivities

Here is a few things that we have been up to in the last couple of weeks/months. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Playing in the Entertainment Center

Spending Time with Family

Scrapbooking (or should I say getting into) Going to weddings (Congrats Anthon & Jenelle) And of course spending Thanksgiving at the Sand Dunes with Family & Friends

Halloween

This was Chandlar's first official Halloween!!! We were awful parents and had only one good picture that Skylar took with his phone. But hopefully I will receive the ones my sister took. We had a great Halloween. I thought that Chandlar was adorable dressed up as Eeyore. We really didn't let her go trick or treating since she can't quite walk fully on her own and because of the fact that she really doesn't know any better. So less I had to worry about. HA! Anyway. We visited with one of my sisters who wanted to see Chandlar all dressed up and another sister was nice enough to let us walk around with her kids as they went trick or treating. Thanks Jessie, hope we didn't invade too much. Chandlar loved seeing all the kids walking around in their costumes. It was such a nice night to be out. It was a lot of fun. Hopefully next year we will have more exciting things to post about. Hope everyone had a good one. GOODBYE Halloween......HELLO to the HOLIDAYS!!

4 Happy Years!!

Today is Skylar and I's 4 year Anniversary. I can't believe it has been that long and I couldn't be any happier. I am truly blessed to be married to such a great person who takes care of me and supports me in all aspects of my life. I am also blessed to be a part of the Gospel that makes it possible to be sealed to him and my family for All Time and Eternity. I know that God lives and loves me and I know that He is so proud of the decision I made to have Skylar be my eternal companion. Life has brought us many experiences and I am happy to go through those with him. We often have conversations of the things that we have done it the past 4 years and all we do is laugh together and remember all the fun times we have had. I am looking forward to build many more memories with him. He is the greatest and I wouldn't ask for anything more. I love you! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Some of my Favorite Engagement Photos

Chandlar's 1st Birthday!!

Today is Chandlar's birthday!! I can't believe that a whole year has past already. I can still remember crystal clear how my day went when I was in labor with Chandlar. ( I don't think I really every told my labor story.) It was such an emotional day and to this day I am very thankful that I had a successful 10 hour labor. Its was pretty scary at first because I was having hard and steady contractions but was not even dilated to a 1. My doc was a little concerned but told me to get plenty of rest and have some "intimate time" with my husband.. Well, we took that advice and before we knew it my water had broken. But me being a little stubborn... waited a good 7 hours before I was admitted to the hospital. They checked me in and sure enough my "water had ruptured". ( thats how the english nurse told us.) So she preceded to check my dilation and lo and behold... I was maybe 1/2 dilated. At this point I was pretty much frustrated but since my water broke they kept me at the hospital and put me on pitocin. From then on my contraction got harder and harder, which I thought I was going to die at one point, but it progressed me to a 3. After a 3 they went ahead and gave me the epidural. I was pretty amazing how fast everything went from then on.... in 3 hours I went to a 6 and and in 3 more I was fully dilated and started to push. I only pushed for 30 mins and she was here. It was such an amazing feeling to finally have her in my arms. I was truly blessed that she got here with no complications. And now she is here to stay... She has been such a joy in the last year. I love watching her grow and learn new things everyday. She is the best thing on earth and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am looking forward to many more memories with her and can't wait for her next birthday!! We love you Chandlar Rae!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Labor Day Fun

Labor Day was so much fun this year. We had a good ole time in Snowflake once again. Lots of softball watching, family and friend time, staying up late, eating good food, nice weather, and last but not least celebrating birthdays. The birthday party is the only thing I caught on camera, but i guess its better than nothing. The party was a blast, and thank you Heather for letting us come and stay with you. I love my family and friends!!