2011 RECAP

Since there were some things I never blogged about (especially towards the end of the year), I decided to do a quick Recap of our 2011 year:

JANUARY...

We had a job install in Utah, where Van experienced snow for the first time. I received my calling as the Gospel Doctrine Teacher for Sunday School (scariest calling of my life!), and I can't believe it's been a year already. Van scooted backwards all over the house, at age 7 months.

FEBRUARY...

Found out my parents are serving as Mission President and Mom in the Puebla, Mexico Mission (80 miles from where Ryan's parents are serving)! We celebrated Valentines Day at the Cunninghams with Susan & Dennis, and Brian & Lanie. It snowed in Arizona- in our backyard!! Van is crawling and pulling himself up onto furniture at 8 months!

MARCH...

Got in our first car accident as a family... my car was totaled! We went to Utah because my sister, Kelli was sealed to her hubbby, Adam and to my niece, Chealsey. Then we spent 2 weeks in HAWAII!

Van loved the sand!! I changed sandy diapers for days :)

APRIL...

Got a new car :) I was able to participate in our wards performance of the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Ryan and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. I spent most of this month planning for my sister's wedding, which I loved doing! While in Utah for her wedding, I painted Brooklyn and Vanessa's room...

Even though it snowed on Lindsay and Darren's special day, it was still beautiful!

MAY...

Ryan went to Alaska and brought home TONS of halibut! I chopped my hair for the AZ summer heat. I turned 28... we went to Ryan's parents' cabin for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and Memorial Day, and Ryan got me a professional recording mic, and I love it!

JUNE...

My brother, Taylor came home to see my parents before they left. It was also the last time we would see him before he was deployed. Van started to walk, and then he turned ONE!! We had a big celebration: swimming, food, presents, and dessert, with lots of family and friends (even Lindsay came all the way from Utah)!

My parents were set apart by Elder Holland in Salt Lake City, UT. Ryan and I also saw President Eyring while we were there. I will never forget this experience.

JULY...

My parents left to Mexico for the next 3 years... they will be missed!

We celebrated 4th of July with Rich, Nickie and their kids: we went to the movies, swam, BBQ-ed, and set off some fireworks. Our pool fence was also put in this month!

We had 3 jobs this month: one in Arizona, one in Southern Cali, and one in Northern Cali, but the most exciting thing for our business is that we got a store!!

AUGUST...

We finished our job in Northern CA , then headed straight to Vegas for Market. We went camping with Van for the first time, and he loved it.

My brother, Taylor was deployed. The rest of the month was spent working on the store.

SEPTEMBER...

Baby Abigail was born to my brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Melanie. We fixed the store some more. We had another install in Arizona. Then Ryan and I took a trip to New York!

OCTOBER...

We watched General Conference with my cousins in New york. We had our "soft opening" for the store, which we invited all our family and friends to (thanks for the support everyone that came). We had ANOTHER install in AZ! Van was an indian for Halloween, which was the cutest EVER! He loved getting candy in his basket :)

NOVEMBER...

November was pretty busy for us... We went to California for my cousin, Lesley's wedding. Then we went to Seattle for a job install.

We celebrated Ryan's 33rd Birthday. Ben got "home" from his mission (he went straight to Mexico to my parents). We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Stouts. We had our Hicken Christmas Party the day after Thanksgiving! And Van got his first haircut, by me :)

DECEMBER...

To finish off the year, we had our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the City. Van hated sitting on Santa's lap this year at our ward Christmas Party. We went to the annual "Friends Christmas Party" which was a lot of fun. Then we left for Mexico:

We first went to my parents' in Puebla. We got to see Uncle Ben for the 1st time since he returned from his mission. We also saw Taylor, who returned from Afghanistan, and met his girlfriend, Nicole.

Van got to see Mamaw and Papa for the first time since he was born!

We went to the coolest zoo, where we were able to hold and touch the wild animals. We saw amazing pyramids, took a boat ride, ate yummy food, and got to spend quality time with our families.

2011 was full of fun, traveling, celebrating, working, family, friends, and love. Can't wait to see what 2012 brings us!!