Merry Christmas, and if you've never been here, welcome to our blog! I started this blog when we got married as a way to stay in touch with family and friends, and to preserve our memories.
I've never sent out newsletters in the mail (not saying I never will). I chose to put it up on my blog a long time ago because #1 It saves on paper, time, money, and folding (call me green if you wish). #2 I feel like I can write way more and I can include lots of pictures. So enjoy!!
We have had a very big year jam packed with a move, school, traveling, exploring and many milestones. I can't believe this year is coming to an end, it has gone by so fast!!
Briant has been the busiest of all of us this year. He spent the beginning of the year preparing to sell our houses, but ultimately we decided to rend instead. He got accepted to three different schools and made the decision to go to
Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Briant got the big job of
driving all of our belongings across the country & was grateful his dad accepted the invitation to join him. In August he
started school, which begins with "The Core" & kept him very busy all fall.
He is very excited to be finishing up with his first semester soon. He is currently serving in our new ward as an Elder's Quorum instructor.
Melissa spent the beginning of the year packing up our house. She worked really hard and was able to earn her
Young Women's medallion as a leader in June.
She was able to help out at Camp Magical Moments again this year as their videographer and was delighted they let her go zip lining
again!
While Briant drove across the country, she stayed with her
parents and visited friends and family one last time before moving. Melissa loves to be a stay at home mom and she keeps herself plenty busy with blogging, crafting, cooking, biking and of course playing Andrew. She's been learning how to use Photoshop this year and has been trying her hand at Collages, Christmas Cards, Invitations and Announcements. She continues to keep up with Photography and is trying to find time to knit. Melissa is serving on the Relief Society Meeting Committee at church.
Andrew has sure grown this year, going clear from
crawling to
walking all before his first birthday.
He is still very tall, staying in the 90th percentile range for his height. He enjoyed his
first birthday
& some family time before getting all four molars. This just so happened to hit the same week daddy was driving everything Andrew is used to across the country and while staying with Grandma and Grandpa. That poor kid was miserable and had the temp to prove it. He adjusted great to Indiana and then got all of his K9 teeth a month after his molars! We are enjoying a break from all the teething! Andrew graduated from drinking out of a bottle (which shows Mama he isn't her baby anymore), got his first
haircut (and has had two more since) and is a great little eater.
Andrew will be a year and a half this Christmas & is such a sweet happy boy. He is learning so much these days and we are happy he is starting to communicate with words! He says No, Yes, drink, eat, bum, cracker, nap, binky, wagon, outside, out, close, down, read, truck, airplane, bunny, book, and so much more! He is always trying to say what I'm saying. He loves being outside, reading, being tickled, and he loves ice cream! He has hit a little defiant stage where he runs away from me and says ,"No!" whenever we need to do something, and has those beloved meltdowns. But we love our boy and his cute little personality!
We had to say lots of goodbyes this year. Mostly to our friends and family but also to a
bat,
Melissa's first car, and to Idaho. One of the hardest things Briant had to do was to say good bye to Melaleuca in June. They have been so good to him. It was was sad for both of us to leave our
callings in Idaho, Briant with the Young Men & Melissa with the Young Women in our ward.
Unlike 2011, we took lots of trips this year! Our first was to
Indiana for a quick visit. We didn't take Andrew with us, he got to play with his cousins in Utah. We enjoyed some time away to ourselves.
We moved in July, so we would have some time together and get better acquainted with our surroundings. We did alot together in July and early August.
Louisville, KY, a day at the lake, Chicago,
and plenty in our own neighborhood. We got a bike seat for Andrew and we loved all the bike trails to explore! We also took a long trip to PA for Thanksgiving to visit family.
Andrew and I (poor Briant is always too busy) have really enjoyed the fall here in Indiana! We've enjoyed the fall colors & spent so much time in the wonderful weather outside! GG and Pop pop drove out to visit us and we had a great week with them while Briant stressed with midterms. We picked out our pumpkins, and dressed up for Halloween.
It has been a great year! We are so excited for the Christmas season and all the fun & special feelings that come with it. We are especially thankful for our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who we know came to this world to be our friend, to atone for us, & be our example. We know his birth into this world was a miracle, he performed many miracles during his life & can still perform miracles for each of us today. It is him, the greatest gift of all, who makes this season so special and who we celebrate. Our King, our Prince of Peace, the Son of God. We wish you all the Merriest of Christmas' this year. Thanks for all your love and support!
Love,
Briant, Melissa, & Andrew
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