2011 Year in Review

What a great year! We have so much to be grateful for. I loved traveling so much this year, either to see family and friends or to become closer as a family ourselves, we loved every minute!

January

Julianne came to visit before heading down to Brazil, Audrey got second place in the Spelling Bee, Neal went to the Cotton Bowl with his menfolk, we performed lots of temple ordinances for my family, the kids had Western Day at Florence, Neal celebrated 36, and my parents came to visit!

February

We had FIVE snow days in a row, the boys got antsy for baseball season, Audrey's DI team won first place in the regional competition, we had Trooper Trauma, and Audrey and I visited Rebecca and Callie in Amarillo.

March

Trooper turned one and Audrey turned ten; we lost our tortoise, Bruiser; our Amarillo friends came to see us; we planted some things in the front yard; Parker joined the Tigers; and Audrey had her ears pierced.

April

Neal coached Miles and the rest of the Angels in Blast Ball, Audrey's DI team won third place in the State Competition in Lubbock, I visited Natalie in Virginia, Parker turned EIGHT, Baby David came to visit, we surprised the kids with a trip to the Rangers' game, we spent Easter in Weatherford, and we had TWO uncles visit on the same day.

May

Parker was baptized, so we had family in town; Neal and I went to New York for the weekend; Pa came to visit and Miles got a Blast Ball trophy; we celebrated Daddy Jeff's birthday; Audrey got to dance around the Maypole; she also got to stay in the dorms at the University of Tennessee during DI Globals.

June

We fell in love with Costa Rica; Parker went to Rangers Baseball Camp and we went to a game; we went to Athens for a reunion.

July

We went to Nebraska, we swam a lot, friends from Houston and Amarillo came to visit Audrey, and Miles took swimming lessons.

August

Elliott & Ginger and my mom & dad came to visit; Neal dropped a knife on his toe and got a new car; Miles turned five; we toured Rangers Ballpark; went ice skating and started school.

September
ENGLAND!; Parker went to scouts, and the boys started Fall Baseball.

October
The Rangers played in the postseason, so we stayed up late a lot; Miles and I visited Audrey at school; Primary Program; JJ and Emily came to see us; Halloween.

November

More Rangers games, Parker's Third Grade Musical, Miles worked on reading, I started going to Institute, Audrey and I went to the museum, Cousin Mark sent great baseball surprises, Neal and I celebrated thirteen years, Thanksgiving in Canyon.

December

I celebrate 34 years, we went to Louisiana, Parker was on TV, Audrey placed third in the Spelling Bee, Christmas in Utah.

Christmas Trip, Part III

After Christmas, Stephanie and Elliott's families arrived. We had fun doing some things in Provo and spending more time together in Sundance.

One day, we went to the Chelsea Condominiums on 700 East, where I lived when Neal and I met. We lived there for a few months after we were married, too. Lots of fun memories in that little place!

Neal went back to Texas on the 26th, and the kids and I stayed for a few more days. We went to a BYU basketball game with the cousins, and had fun cheering on the Cougars. Parker and I ran into some Texas friends!

The rest of the time was spent looking at cute little people playing on the floor, and in the triangle room, out in the snow and down in the basement.

Triangle Conference (thanks for the photo, Steph!)

 Elliot and Henry

 Audrey, Mabel, Ethan and Parker

Miles, Emma, Oliver and Sophie

Christmas Trip, Part II

On the 23rd, we headed up to Salt Lake City to spend time with Neal's family. We met up at his cousin, Tricia's house, where we had a yummy dinner. (Thanks, Tricia!)

That night, the kids slept at Charlotte's and Neal and I at Georgia's. We went to Temple Square on Christmas Eve. Our kids had never been!

 Audrey, Savannah, Oliver, Emmaline, Miles, Parker and Tucker.

 We went back to Charlotte and Tyler's house for some traditional Clam Chowder, games and gift opening. Emmaline made everyone a gift; it was so sweet. We loved these "Dinosaur Feet" she made for Johnny.

 Some of my pictures downloaded funny. This is one of them. Audrey and Emmaline.

Late that night, we drove back to Sundance, just in time for Santa to come! The next morning was so fun.

 Miles, opening his Josh Hamilton autographed ball.

Santa brought Audrey a Kindle and this wolf case to put it in. She has not put it down, but to sleep, since this moment. Way to go, Santa!

 Christmas aftermath, from the loft. My dad helped Miles put together his huge Lego Star Wars ship, and Parker was working on his circuit kit.

Mom and I took a peaceful walk before dinner. All in all, a very peaceful Christmas Day.