Happy 2012!

Happy New Year! (Late) I can't believe another year has come and gone! Whit and I were very busy the last couple months of 2011. In December we felt like we were being pulled in a million directions with work, parties, church callings, and family. The month started out busy with Whit working late every weeknight at UPS and just got busier as the many parties started creeping up on our schedule. Even though it is such a busy time for us, I love Christmas time! I love getting together with friends and family for parties! This year I was most grateful Whit was home with me during the Christmas season. And even though I didn’t get to see him very much, I’m so grateful he is on at UPS. All we have to do is hold out till Whit is full time and our busy schedules won’t be so busy.

We started Christmas Day out exchanging gifts with each other. I always start getting Whit’s Christmas gifts in August, so by the time Christmas roles around I’m always more excited for him to open his gifts then I am to open mine. Instead of getting Whit one big gift like I usually do, I got him a bunch of smaller gifts that he wanted. Some of the gifts included a new wedding ring, a watch, a duffel bag, PS3 Games, and pants. I got 3 gifts this year. My big gift was a laptop and my little gifts were a pair of Uggs (which are the best shoes in the world) and a new dinnerware set. I LOVED my presents!

Our first stop of the day was at Whit’s Grandmas to visit Jerold and Wendy. We ate breakfast and exchanged presents. We got Wendy a Mini Muffin Pan from the Pampered Chef and Jerold a new pair of slippers. Our present from them was Season Passes to Lagoon. We’re very excited for the passes. It will be fun to go a few times this year! Even though we live so far away from Lagoon, I really think we will put the passes to good use. After that we were off to John and Julies to exchange gifts and eat some more. We got Julie a Food Chopper from the Pampered Chef and we got John a pair of Black Crocs. They got us reclining chairs for camping. Whit and I are avid campers! We live for it! So the chairs were the perfect gift for us! Just talking about it makes me so excited for summer! Our last stop of the day was at my parents’ house. We had already done a gift exchange on the 23rd so we just went to say hi and eat some more. My parents got Whit a chainsaw sharpener. We are so excited to finally have one! I think my dad is excited for Whit to have one too because he won’t have to sharpen Whit’s chains anymore. My parents got me a folding table to use for my Pampered Chef Parties and crafts. I love my table! Every year they give us food storage as well, this year was no different. I LOVE that we get food storage! It’s always a gift we know we’ll use! We got a bunch of other gifts from family and friends too. It was such a fun day!

We spent New Year’s Eve with our friends. Kile and Jeanessa, Dust and Tash, Josh and Bree’l, and Zack and Abby. It was such a fun night! We all met at South China in Richfield for dinner and the plan was to go to a movie after. When we were finished eating we decided to go to Kile and Jeanessa’s instead to play games. For the next few hours we played the game “Quelf”, one of the funnest games I’ve ever played! At midnight we watched the ball drop and I got my New Year’s Kiss from Whit. Our night ended with the game “What If”.

2011 brought many changes for Whit and I. Job changes, involuntary separation, more job changes, Grandpa Delmar’s passing, and more job changes. It was a very stressful year and honestly I’m glad its over. But we have also grown leaps and bounds individually and as a couple. It was hard not having Whit home those 6 months, but it taught me to appreciate him and all he does for us. It’s crazy how life changes so fast, but everything seems to be working out for us. UPS will be a great thing for our family.

Here are 5 big things 2011 made me grateful for:

1. Whitney. I love that man! He is my rock and best friend. I don’t know what I did to deserve him but I’m so grateful I have him in my life.

2. The Gospel. There were many times this year I felt I “couldn’t do it”. I don’t know what I would have done without prayer and the temple.

3. Family. They mean everything to us! We wouldn’t have made it through the year without them.

4. Friends. Their love and support helped us through the bad times this year.

5. Trials. The trials we had brought us closer together and put a lot of things into perspective.

So long 2011! Here’s to a good 2012! :)