New Year's Eve- And a HAPPY NEW YEAR

I apologize for not writing or posting much. We are house sitting right now and their computer is super duper slow when it comes to downloading pictures.  So, I am waiting until next week to do all my picture postings.  Be warned that it will be an overload... but so worth it. 

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  I hope that 2012 was fantastic for all of you like it was for us.  When we took the time to look back at all that happenend during 2012 we are amazed that we survived.  It was packed with adventure and changes that have brought much happiness and needed improvement to our lives. 

Here is the list:

1. Lived with Parents for 5 months
2. Adam traveled to do interviews for Physical Therapy Schools
3. Adam was accepted to all 8 schools that he applied to and we accepted URI
4. Made plans to move across country
5. Adam and my dad drove a moving truck that pulled our car across country to Rhode Island
6. Welcomed Ethan Adam into the world
7. Adam flew back to Rhode Island a week after Ethan was born and started school
8. One week after that, the kids and myself and Adam's mom flew to Rhode Island to meet up with Adam.
9. Adam successfully does well in his first class
10. Tour Boston, Plymouth and surrounding areas
11. Go to the beach almost everyday!!
12. Get in a rythm of school and life at home
13. Gabby turned 2
14. Celebrated Thanksgiving with friends
15. Celebrated Christmas with just our small family
16. Learned to LOVE EVERYTHING about our PERFECT and most EXCELLENT new life!!
So Very Grateful that we live here.  That we have been blessed beyond that which we could have thought of for ourselves. The Lord has taken great care of us.  We have seen His hand in the most trying moments of the past year and look forward to the miracles that we will witness in the year to come. 

It is sad for me to say goodbye to our sweet 2012, but I welcome the prospect of 2013 and all that it might bring to our family.

Gratitude

For a Relief Society activity, I decided to do a night of Gratitude and Service.  We started with a short lesson on Gratitude, then some food, then we tied quilts and made stockings for the Women's Shelter.  It was a great evening.  I am enjoying being with the sisters in this area.  I love each of them and what they have brought into my life.  So grateful for them.

As part of the lesson, I made gratitude journals and gave them a goal to write 1-3 NEW things in it everyday that they were grateful for until Christmas.  I really don't know if anyone did it, actually, I do. One woman came up to me a few weeks later and thanked me for the challenge.  She said that normally she doesn't do challenges like that, but she was going through a hard time and I had promised that it would make even the most difficult times manageable.  So she did it and said that it has helped her see past the difficulty and to see the Lord's hand in her life.

Matter of fact.  It has helped me be more grateful in SO many ways.  I have seen a great and true love for our area, circumstances, etc.  I have felt more peace and happiness during the past few months than I have felt in a long time.  Gratitude plays a HUGE part in happiness and in just getting through life.  It makes life count.  It makes it sweeter and it has brought me closer to my Father in Heaven and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for being grateful.

Wrestling

My kids are very much attached to me.  So anytime I try to relax at night and let them play with Adam, they seem to always end up on me.  I love that Adam took pictures of it.  It is fun to just play and be with them... how I love them so.

Trick or Treating

Since Sandy happened over Halloween, it was canceled and moved to that Saturday.  Unfortunately, Adam had a meeting that night, so I went with some of our friends.  It was still fun and enjoyable and FREEZING.  We got a lot of candy, however, because there weren't a lot of people out.  Sweet deal.

Halloween Photo Shoot

I wanted to take some shots of the kids all dressed up in their get up. SO CUTE.  But they were not in the mood.  Gabby wouldn't smile and Ethan refused to take his thumb out.  It ended in tears for all parties.... Won't be trying that one again for a while.

Dress Up

Gabby has always liked playing dress up but after dressing up for Halloween, she has been on a rampage of dressing up and dancing all over.  She is too much fun to have around.

 

Making Cookies to Help the Storm Pass

Since we were all stuck in our homes for the storm, we decided to make sugar halloween cookies.  YUM.  It was fun to just do something and to just be together.

Hurricane Sandy

When we heard about the hurricane coming we did everything to prepare. I managed to get all the supplies before the herd of others got to them and set up things around the home to make us more snug for the storm.  It was harsh outside.  The wind was loud.  We went to bed expecting the worse in the morning.  When we woke up, I saw that we were the only car in the parking lot, minus 2 others.  And that the storm was picking up.

Adam was off the day and we waited, but nothing major happened to our area.  The next day, Adam was able to go and help those who were hit by the storm.  It was nice to serve and help where we could.

We have still been helping those who were hit by the storm.  Even months later.  Crazy.

Ward Halloween Party

We had a fun time at the Halloween Party.  It was a trunk or treat.  Gabby loved running from one car to another getting candy and then running around with the other kids.  Ethan enjoyed his thumb and being held.  Funny boy.  We were the Mickey Mouse Gang.  I was Clara Belle cow... Adam was Goofy. Gabby Minnie and Ethan Mickey.  So adorable.

The Intensity of Adam's School

Adam is always making lists of things that he has to do.  He enjoys crossing them off when he gets them done.  Here is a list for a week and half of things that he had to do.  Front and back... goodness.  So happy I'm not him. Ha.  He is my hero.

 FRONT

BACK

Farewell Old Cast

FINALLY, the days for Gabby having a cast are coming to an end.  Yeah.  Although she loves the pink, sparkle cast, I do not.  I don't dislike it completely, I just don't like the problems that come with it. Not bathing, not being able to put some clothes on, etc.

These are the last photos of our sweet girl in the cast.  She loves the thing and has done well wearing it.  Total ease and comfort.  Always happy about it all.  And she LOVES wearing my shoes or Adam's.  Our shoes are never safe.... Ah.

 At the doctors, right after the cast was taken off and one more Xray was done.

She got stickers and a sucker, what a lucky girl.  Thank goodness Ethan was a happy boy. Got to love them.

 After, she insisted on putting the cast on her bear... She is so funny.