A Look Back...and Forward

Another year has come and gone. I always get excited when a new year begins because I get to reflect on everything that happened the year before and look forward to what is to come. I took a moment and looked over my picture files and made a list of some of the most significant memories from 2012. Oddly enough, there just happened to be 12. Here they are in chronological order: 

Spent a long weekend in St. George with all of Erik's family

 

 

Khloe's surgery on her patella's

(she seems to have recovered wonderfully)

 

 

A week in Arizona visiting my sister's family

(Claire loved playing with her cousins, especially Brooklyn

who is only six weeks younger than her)

 

 

Our first "real" family vacation to California

(although it only lasted three days)

 

 

Got pregnant

 

 

Claire's 2nd birthday

(she is growing up so fast)

 

 

My parents left on their 3rd mission

(this time to Norway)

 

 

Found out we are having a boy

(Claire LOVES babies so I'm sure she'll be an excellent helper)

 

Claire and her friend Sienna Hertz

Various photography opportunities

(weddings, political events, and others)

Started potty training Claire

(This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. After a week (we started the first week of November) of working on it with Claire, we realized she would hold it in until nap/bedtime. Clever little girl! To this day, she holds it in until that time and refuses to go in the potty (both big and small). I honestly don't think she is going to get it until I cave and take away the "night night undies". With this baby coming about 22 days from now, I am definitely not ready to take on that project.)

 

 

 

Khloe's 5th birthday

(we love her like a daughter)

 

 

Sold one of our businesses

 

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There were also a few random moments that I don't want to forget:

 

Claire discovered Chapstick and quickly became obsessed

 

 

Claire started copying things I did, said, and wore

She also realized she loves to be chased, especially by Daddy

 

 

Many trips to Hogle Zoo

(Claire became enthralled with polar bears, grizzly bears, and other animals)

 

It all added up to a wonderful and memorable year. However, I think 2013 will have it beat. There are quite a few milestones coming up this year that I am very excited about, such as:

1. The birth of our son
2. New business opportunities
3. Our 10 year anniversary (wow, time flies by)
4. Hopefully an awesome summer vacation (without kids of course)
5. My 30th birthday
6. Claire starts preschool
7. Possibly moving (we'll see how long having a baby in our room lasts)
8. My parents come home from their mission
9. Buying a new car (most likely, but not definitive)
10. The birth of 3 new babies (1 niece, 2 nephews)

I CAN'T WAIT!