2012

This might be a long one, but for my sake I wanted to write down what has been going on with our family since June 1st.....because a lot has happened.

June
We packed up the rest of our things to prepare for our move to Idaho.  That last week or two of being in Iowa was hard.  It kinda seemed surreal.  Moving there was surreal and then moving away was....I guess that is just what happens when change happens.  We went to Nauvoo and spent the day wandering the sites for the last time in awhile.  We toured the other Church of Christ sites and that was super interesting.  We also saw the entire crew and cast of the "Sister Wives" show unfortunately in front of the Temple....made me a little frustrated but oh well.  It was a little heartbreaking driving away from that special little city.  I remember pulling into Nauvoo for the very first time in 2008, my heart was beating so fast and when I saw the Temple for the first time I was overcome with the Spirit and it was such a special experience for me.  I am so grateful we were able to be in that Temple District and experience Nauvoo for over 4 years.  I can't wait to visit!

We said many goodbyes to friends and our "Iowa family" and it was a bit hard.  I can't even describe how amazing the friendships I had there were.  I had friendships that started from the beginning of our move there to ones that were new and fresh and made me sad that I had just started those and then I had to move.....but that is what is amazing about friendship now, there are so many ways to keep in touch!  I know all of my friends I made will never be replaceable.  I am thankful for the people that Heavenly Father puts in our lives during each time of our lives.  He knows me too well.

J graduated June 15th.  I am not going to lie.  I bawled like a baby at his graduation.  Mostly at the end when all of the graduates stood up and faced the audience and threw their cards into the air.  I remember thinking, it is over.  All of the studying, the frustration, the hard moments when it seemed like this wasn't going to work, they were done.  I was married to a Doctor, who worked his butt off for our family.  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, and neither could he.  His Dad was able to walk on stage with him (since he is a Palmer Alum) and present his diploma.  It was pretty awesome.  My parents and my brother came as well.  We celebrated with yummy Machine Shed, Whitey's Ice Cream, and the last of packing up the trailers.  The next day we left our little home of Davenport, Iowa.  It was hard.  I walked through that empty house probably 10 times that morning, remembering all of the little details.  Remembering when I first walked through that empty house over 4 years before thinking, "We are going to have amazing memories here.  I am so excited."  Each step I took around that house, making sure we didn't leave anything, there was a memory.  Our anniversaries, our first tornado warning, when we found out we were pregnant with Lila, bringing both Lila and Sterling home from the hospital, first steps, first birthdays, parties in the backyard, parties inside, Christmases, falling down the stairs, girl's nights, basically every event that had taken place there...little or big, were amazing.  It was like I was leaving a part of myself there and it was very, very hard to lock those doors and drive away.  After a last picture (which is quite ugly of myself) in front of the house we headed out.  To be honest, that was the hardest thing leaving....our home.  Yes, it was hard to say goodbye to friends and things, but I cried the most saying goodbye to the house.  Iowa was a life changing experience for me and the relationship between J and I.  We relied on each other to get through everything.  It also strengthened my testimony immensely about the Church, members of the Church, and also about people.  We had our Ward family there, but there were so many others who we knew outside of the Church that we were friends with and knew that we could always receive help from them.  I am definitely grateful for those friends.  There were moments there where I thought, this is never going to work.....we are never going to get through this.  Those moments taught me to believe that things will always work out.  Just to work harder.  I also learned that people change, no matter how much you or I think we will be the same person always, things will change.  Life changes which makes people change, and priorities.  We learned that most definitely.  Having kids changed our lives completely, it changed the way we lived and changed our schedules and priorities.  They have changed us to the better and we are so thankful for that.  We are just so lucky to have had the opportunity to live there; to live away from family; to meet amazing people who will have that little connection with us forever; and to have all the experiences we did.

When we finally arrived to Idaho Falls, J had a wonderful job working with a very knowledgeable Doctor who has taught him SO much in these past 6 months.  It has been a great so far, definitely hard at times, but we are making it work.  J has also started a new health program at the clinic and has lost over 40 pounds since the beginning of November!  He looks and feels great.

July
It was so much fun living with my parents throughout the summer and fall, we were able to spend a lot of time with them and my siblings and their families.  We also visited J's Mom and siblings in Utah during the summer and it is so great to be close to them so our kids can have actual friendships and relationships now where they actually remember each other!  The 4th of July was fantastic.  It is the best.  I love going to the parade, Westmoreland BBQ, and the fireworks.  The kids had a blast.

August
Lila turned 3 years old.  Can't believe it. She has sure turned into a little girl instead of my baby girl.  We had a triple party with Darcy and Uncle Jeff.  We traveled down to Utah a day or two after her day and had another little party with J's family.  It was a blast!  Uncle Jeff and Aunt Angela spoiled Lila rotten at the Disney Store and that was such a fun experience to see her there.  During August we also had our Hammond Family Reunion at my Grandpa's house.  It was so fun.  My parents were in charge and had a Birthday theme....there was a huge inflatable water slide, a photo booth, yard games, yummy food, gift exchange, a trip down memory lane for Grandpa, cards, and an outside movie with homemade cars for the kids.  Sterling also started nursery this month and loves it.

September
This month started off with one of my favorite things of the year.  The entire Ritchie family headed north to Seeley Lake, Montana for our reunion.  One of the most beautiful places ever.  Each family had our own cabin and for 4 days we just enjoyed hanging out, canoeing, kayaking, playing in the sand, row boating, playing games, relaxing, and taking in the beauty,  It was amazing.  We celebrated my Mom's birthday and we are headed back there again in 2013.  One of the things we are looking forward to all year.  In September Lila also started school at Miss Kris' house.  She is like part of the family and Lila has learned so much and has changed a lot since she went her very first day.  She also has 9 new friends in her class and I believe has a crush on one named Cooper.  She talks about him everyday. :)  Because her school is next to my Grandpa's house, it has given me and the kids the opportunity to be able to spend a lot of time with him.  He is such a special person in my life and I am so so thankful I can live near him and have my kids see him and my Grandpa Ritchie anytime we want.  I also was able to do the flowers for a good friend.  It was so fun and they turned out amazing.  I fell in love all over again with floral design and my confidence level burst through the roof after doing them.  I am hoping to do more events in 2013 and maybe I will even open my own little business.

October
October was a big month for us.  We moved out of my parents basement and moved into a house!  We loved living with them, but I think they knew and we knew it was time for our own space.  We found a cute brick home in a neighborhood where a lot of my friends grew up.  It was covered head to toe with wallpaper, so much of October and November were spent peeling and painting.  Our upstairs in done and we love how it has turned out!  We are hoping to paint the cabinets in our kitchen this year and work on a few more exterior updates.  We have been very blessed with amazing neighbors and Ward.  Halloween was a lot of fun for our little Cinderella and her Gus-Gus mouse.  There was definitely a sugar overload in this house for everyone!

November
We continued to work on the house and got ready for the holidays.  We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, which is insane.  Thanksgiving was so much fun at my parent's house.  J's sister that goes to BYU-I came with one of her roommates, it was so good to see her and we are happy we can see her more often.  We did the tradition of going to a movie, Skyfall, which was fantastic.  I also went Black Friday shopping at midnight....by myself.  It was actually quite fun, Target by myself?  Yes please.

December
We started off with J's birthday and a trip to Boise for a special baptism.  Hard to believe my niece Mylie is 8, but it was a lot of fun getting together and celebrating that special day.  I totally decked out my house with Christmas and we had a beautiful tree.  We were able to do a Progressive dinner with us, my parents, my brother and his family, and my Grandpa.  We spent the weekend before Christmas with J's family in Utah.  Even though his Mom was sick during the time we were there, we were all able to spend lots of time together and it was the first time since 2008 we were together for Christmas.  His younger brother is preparing for his mission as well, so it was the last time to be all together at Christmas for at least 2 years.  We were able to go to Temple Square and have dinner, it was so busy, but so beautiful.  The cousins did a gift exchange and that was a lot of fun.  We drove back to Idaho on Christmas Eve in some crazy weather, but made it safely to spend Christmas Eve night with my parents, B, and my sister and her family.  We decided to sleep at my parent's house that night so cousins could do Christmas morning together....I will never regret that decision.  It was so awesome to see my parents enjoying their grandchildren on Christmas morning.  My brother came over later and the kids did their gift exchange.  Instead of doing a sibling exchange, and for my parents for their present, all of us "adopted" a family through the Salvation Army.  It was for a single woman and her daughters.  We were able to provide them with their needs and wants and also Christmas dinner.  It was so fun and special for us to do something like that.  My parents were so touched.  We have definitely learned from their examples of love and service and we owe all of our doings and who we are  to them.  They have been the best parents we could ask for.  We spent the rest of December sick....all of us had some type of sickness, which was horrible.  But, we all got through it and the kids and I were able to spend New Year's Eve with B in Utah at her house.  I saw our good friends the Haslams from Iowa and then my parents picked us up on their way back from their trip to Vegas.

2012 was a very exciting year for our family.  Lots of change and lots of new things.  We are excited to start this new year with new attitudes, new goals, and lots of optimism....also, lots of blog writing!  I plan on putting some pictures up soon.....