2010 in Retrospect

Bethany: Help me write my blog post about 2010.

Brandon: 2010 was good. Say, "a lot of good things happened. One of them was not having a baby. Bethany screamed a lot. The end."

We did discover a few things about having babies back in August. Of course it was one of the good things that happened this year, if not the best.

Here's a list of a few things we discovered this year....

• The flamingos will eat out of your hand
• Morning sickness can last more than 12 weeks
• Sometimes missionaries aren't so weird when they come home, and we like California weather in February
• More people read and/or comment on your blog when you're expecting a baby
• Sometimes in Portland, OR it rains until July
• This was just my favorite post this year
• Summers are jam packed with excitement, and we like it that way
• Second babies come quickly.. too quickly for epidurals if you're not careful
• We like pigs in a blanket on a stick over a fire
• Chandler has a crush on Teacher Debbie
• Starting in October, life gets very busy
• Christmas is more and more fun as our kids get older

I cannot believe tomorrow is 2011. In 2006 we started telling people we would be done with school in 2011. It was so far away then, and now well tomorrow it's here. 2011, the year our five year plan ends, the year Brandon finishes school, and gets a real job, the year we move to our forever home. These are our hopes for this year, at least.

In yoga, this morning, our teacher told us to open our arms and embrace the new year with optimism.. so here we go.. let's embrace it. Honestly, I was just trying not to fall over.

OH! Please tell me what you think of the penny floor! See below

Do you love this?

Do you love it? Hate it?

I kind of love it.

source: http://www.studiogblog.com/garden-construction-materials/materials/a-path-paved-with-copper/

Merry Christmas!

We were lucky enough to spend Christmas eve with Brandon's family, and Christmas day all by ourselves. It was the first family Christmas on our own.

I love this.. Chandler surrounded in presents

"Mom, help me!"

These next two are my favorite..

Chandler made this cute little gingerbread man for me at preschool..

I hope you all had a merry Christmas!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

falalala, la, la, la, la...

Muahahaha...

Merry Christmas


Also, see below for party pictures!

Party People..

"I want to go to there"

The candy witch brought Chandler Toy Story 3 for Halloween. Inside the box there's that little booklet that comes in movie boxes. Inside the booklet there's an advertisement for Disney Cruise Lines. With a picture of a pool and water slide.

Twice Chandler has told me he wants to go there. Today our conversation went like this...

"Mommy, I want to go on there."

"Not now honey."

"Later?"

"I don't know."

"But look, there's lots of friends on there. And it's fun mommy."

Tell me, I'm not the only one who has the "when we're rich" conversations with their husband, and maybe their three-year-olds.

Best calling EVER..

Our ward clerk asked us,"During the next two weeks could everyone please take a few minutes to think about and then write down several important events which I can use to complete the Annual Historical Report?" This is what I wrote...

We started the year with just twenty active members of our primary. During the summer we swelled to reach as many as 30 in sharing time, while in November we had as few as six. We were a small, but unified, Primary here in the Hartley Park ward. And, oh man, did we have a good time!

We started the year with "Breakfast with Bishop." We all gathered in our pajamas to get to know Bishop Lyman better. The kids sat at a large table and asked questions: "How did you meet your wife?" "Who do you like better, Brother Gneighting or Brother Holwege?" The kids thought this was hysterical. They took pictures with the bishop, and I felt the experience was uplifting for both the children and Bishop.

We were blessed to be part of the baptism of Spencer Ellsworth. Family, friends,ward leaders, and missionaries gathered to partake in the spirit of baptism. Spencer was welcomed as the newest member of our ward family, and we all rejoiced.

We also participated in a pioneer day activity, went trunk or treating and sang our hearts out during singing time. Ferralyn Chezic always exceeds everyone's expectations, with her over the top, way too exciting, singing time lessons. It is so fun, and yet the truth she teaches through song speaks to our spirits.

Ferralyn's efforts made our primary sacrament program a hit. "Best one I've ever seen," someone remarked. "I can't remember seeing a better one," another said. "The music was amazing," we heard over and over. Ferralyn told me before we got up on the podium, "Angels sing with them." I believe that. Brennah Warner's solo was angelic, and the Tuitavake boys singing "Called to Serve" seemed foretelling. The parts were memorized, the sunbeams (as always) were adorable, and the children recited talks that were general authority quality.

Our primary staff served faithfully, each relying on one another. We taught and learned about Jesus; His Life and His teachings. We memorized articles of faith and scriptures, did service, played games, and learned to love our neighbors. I think we all, leaders and children together, came to know our Savior a little better.

Children and leaders joined us, and children and leaders left us to be part of many other wonderful things. Anyone and everyone who sat in our primary room, felt the spirit of our Savior. It's true, if Jesus was to visit us, Primary is where he would go first.

What a blessed organization that I have to be part of!

I so much look forward to my final year as primary president. I cannot think of a calling that I would rather have. Seriously. Sometimes I feel sad that I don't get to be a member of this ward and watch the kids grown, go on missions, and get married. They may not remember me, but Hartley Park children will always hold a special place in my heart.

I hope everyone someday gets a chance to participate in a calling that means so much to them.