Time To Be Thankful!!!

Lately in my life I have been feeling some stress, with Christmas and trying to visit as many people as possible while in Utah and now looking for a house in which we can get settled and truly realize that we have moved. along with this I also am meant to be taking care of two kids that also feel very unsettled and clingy. During all of this time I have had a lot to be thankful for but haven't taken the time to sit and think of the many blessings that I have especially, at this time of uncertainty. The kids are sleeping and it is a great time for me to take a few minutes and make a list of some (hopefully most but I don't think I could ever name them all) of the things I am most grateful for at this time, in no particular order.

• My Family - I missed them so much this year when I didn't get to see them but knew that I would be visiting them for December. It was so good to see them. I love how we all have such a good time when we get together!!!


• Brian's Family - I am so grateful to have married into such a wonderful family that I can feel comfortable around and have a good time with. Especially his parents right now who are letting us stay with them and helping out with the kids when they can.


• My Amazing Husband - I am amazed at what a wonderful man that I get to be married to. I can't even put into words how much Brian amazes me and how thankful I am for all that he does for me!!!! I love him!!!
  
• Of course My Kids also - I have some real terrific kids, even if they do drive me nuts sometimes. I really did luck out with such generally mild mannered and happy kids.

• Good Friends - Even if I don't get to see you often or even keep in touch very well I am very thankful to all of the people who have helped me become who I am today and that when I do get to see you the friendship is still there and it doesn't change through years of being apart, my family is that same way. It is great to know so many wonderful people who have made me into a better person.


• Brian's Employer - I am grateful that Brian works for such a stable company, that cares about its employees and wants them to have an enjoyable life.

• That we can be in a position to buy a house when the prices are a little lower, hopefully it will start to rise again. Along with a warm place to stay while we are looking for a place of our own.

• The Gospel and the Words of Prophets Old and Modern - I love the knowledge about who we are and where we are going and that families can be together forever. I love the peace that I have when I read my scriptures, follow the promptings that I get when listening to the prophets and do the other day to day things that I should be doing. I also love the help that it gives me in raising my kids and not getting grumpy with them.

• Miracles - Whether small ones that happen within my own life or great ones that affect many more then me, like the plane landing on the Hudson river this week, with no fatalities. Such good feeling come with these stories.

• Love, People who are friends just waiting to be made, Peace, Happiness, Joy, Faith, Believe that things will always get better and so many other things that brighten my day every day that I will let them in.

• Sunrises, Sunsets, Trees, Open land, Rivers, Lakes, Canyons, Nature in general (even snow), wild animals and anytime that I get to spend enjoying these things.

I am sure that there are many more things that should be included on this list but when I feel so grateful for everything that I have, it is hard to list all of them. I realize that I have listed mostly just the basic things that anyone would list, but I needed this time to reflect on my blessings much more I'm sure then you all needed to read it. It really has help to lift my spirit by remembering many of the great things that I have in this life. Thank you for bearing with me. I love you all!!!

Our time in Utah

Well we have been back in New York for 10 days now, so I guess that it is about time that I finish writing about my trip to Utah and put up a few of the pictures that I took. Most of the places that I went I forgot to take my camera, including Christmas, but I did get to take some pictures.

On the 17th I was able to visit a friend of mine from high school who I hadn't seen probably since high school. We had a nice visit and our kids enjoyed playing together. Brian came in that night, which was a day earlier then we thought that he would get to come for most of the trip. It was very nice to reunite the family again. The kids cried at first when they saw him, but soon remembered who he was and were very happy to have him around again. So was I!!!

One of the first days we decided to have the kids help us build a snowman. They liked the snow better than before but we didn't get much of a snowman built as the kids were not much help.

On the 20th, I had heard of a free ice skating sesson at one of the local rinks and invited any of my family that wanted to come. Here are some of the pictures that were taken there.

Here is an action shot of a few of us!!

This is the group that I covinced to come along and skate. There were a few others who didn't do much skating.

Even Santa Claus came to skate and pass around candy canes.

On the 22nd Brian surprised me with anniversery date. We went to PF Chang's, where we went on our first date, and would have walked around temple square, if it hadn't been so cold, which we also did on that first date, almost exactly five years earlier. We then went to the Bed and Breakfast that we had spent our wedding night, for the night. It was great to have the time with just the two of us and to return to some of the places that had played an important part in our relationship. Thanks Brian for planning the great evening!!!! Thanks Mom for taking such good care of our kids for the night!!!

On the 23rd Brian and I drove through a blizzard to Park City to have a Christmas dinner with his family. The blizzard started just as we got on I-80 so we were in it all of the way and then it died down about a half hour after we got there and after shopping at the outlets we were able to drive safely up the hill to his sister's house. We enjoyed the evening with most of Brian's family that live in Utah and had a wonderful dinner. When we returned back to my parents house my brother, Brad, from California was there with his family to celebrate Christmas with us. The cousins all seemed to love my kids, Jamie often had girls surrounding him.

On Christmas Eve Brian went with Brad, Jersha, and their oldest daughter to go skiing. I chickened out and enjoyed the day at home playing with kids and getting ready for Christmas. There was some snow outside so I decided to try and build a snowman with my neices as my kids didn't seem to be to interested this time.

That night we went to my brother Steve's house to enjoy Christmas Eve dinner with them and then spent the night. When I was single I started spending Christmas morning with them so that I could spend it with children around and now they think it is tradition and that when ever I am in Utah I have to spend Christmas morning with them. It is fun though and we had a great time, but forgot my camera as mentioned earlier so I don't have any pictures of the kids opening their presents, but here are some pictures of them playing with them.

Jamie got mostly cars. A set of these little ones and a Little People car wash set.

Lizzie's big present was a doll with a stroller.

Which Jamie has started to enjoy as well.

Jamie is starting to walk some. Here is one of the first videos that we have of him in action. (In the background they are watching one of my favorite British shows, Top Gear.)



Here are some more pictures of the kids enjoying Grandma and Grandpa Neff's house.

This is what they played with most of there time awake. Who knew such a simple toy could entertain kids for so long each day. Luckily, none of the marbles even ended up in Jamie.

The kids enjoyed their Grandparents very much. Here is Jamie helping Grandpa on the computer and taking very big drinks.

Grandma let Lizzie sit on the table which she really enjoyed!!!

Well we had a very busy trip, even though I only mentioned a few days we did fill our other days visiting family and friends from my past. It was so wonderful to see all of those that we did get to see and were sad that we didn't get to see all of the wonderful people that we know in Utah, trips just aren't long enough for that. It all went by so quickly. We did somehow find the time to watch some videos on my family past Christmases. It was fun to see us as kids and remember the great presents that we had received and given over the years.

In Utah Without Brian

Well I have been in Utah now for a week and a half and I feel bad that I haven't taken very many pictures or put up a post for Brian to see pictures of his kids. So I figured I would take some pictures and send them off to him and let everyone else see them as well.

Saturday we got some snow so I decided to dress the kids up warm and let them see how they like snow. This is more snow then they have ever seen at once. Lizzie wasn't very fond of it however today she was much happier to walk in it.

Jamie on the other hand didn't seem to mind the snow much at all, even if his gloves don't stay on. He even complained when I picked him up or tried to convince him not to touch it.

The kids have gotten really good at climbing the stairs in the few weeks that we have been in the states and they have had stairs in the house to climb on. So I wanted to take a video for Brian to see just how good they are getting at it, sadly the lighting isn't very good so it isn't the best video, but it is still a cute one.

While we have been here we have gotten to help my mom decorate for Christmas. Much of the decorating of the tree I have missed out on as I have busied myself with going through some things that I have been storing here at my parents. Lizzie however has gotten to help quite a bit. Today I actually got to watch her help and it was so cute that I had to take some pictures of here puting on some ornaments.

I even took a video of it because she was being so cute.

After dinner I got a few other cute pictures of the kids that I thought I would throw in, just because they are smiling and cute.

Well we are enjoying being here in Utah, even though we do greatly miss Brian and are happy that he will be coming a day earlier then we thought he would be, Yea!!!! I have been through all 20 or so boxes that I have been in storage at my parents house and have thrown out about 6 boxes of paper and other unusable stuff as well as I have four overflowing boxes to take to DI of thinks that people may actually want or that could be used by others. Who knew i was storing so much junk. The good news is that it wasn't all junk and I do still have about 10 or so boxes of books and other memories/photos that I felt it was important to keep.

I have also been to able see all of my family that lives here, and I hope to be able to see much more of my family and many friends before we leave on the 1st of January.

Thanksgiving at Topsail Island

This year we were able to join the Hunters on their Thanksgiving Week Get Away. We went to a little island off of the coast of North Carolina called Topsail Island. It was great to spend the week with family, very limited internet access, and overlooking the ocean. The first day there(Monday the 24th) Lizzie wanted very little to do with the water or the sand and when we took her out to the beach she insisted on being carried. The second day (Tuesday) we got her involved in building a sand castle with everybody and she remembered that she likes playing in the sand and got use to the sound of the water. Jamie liked the beach but had a bit of a cold so I had to dress him up warm to take him outside.

Here are the kids playing.

And here is the sand castle with all of it's helpers. (The house we stayed in is in the background.)

Here is a cute picture of Jamie and his cousin Mathew, playing with a cooler.

Brian got to get a little fishing in and even cought the first fish of the trip (and the biggest, of course).

Thanksgiving morning I woke up early (meaning before the kids woke me up) and noticed that the sun was just rising. I got up and went outside to watch the sun rise and had the opportunity, as it was Thanksgiving, to think of all the many things that I had to be thankful for. It was nice to have that quite time to remember how truely blessed I am. The picture below is from Friday when I was again awoken by the beautiful colors outside, there were clouds on Friday which made the sunrise more beautiful and Lizzie got up to join me in watching it. It had been a very long time since I have watched a sunrise. I saw Wednesday's to but that was because someone had woken me up. I love sunrises the beauty of them and the peace of the morning.

This Thanksgiving the Hunters again ran their traditional Turkey Trot. Lizzie was able to perticipate in her first ever race and finished.

Here are all kids who ran the race!!! Great job kids!!!

And here is Brian finishing the race. Good Job Brian!!!

As for me I didn't run!!!

Brian also got to play a little football which gave him more respect for the game (and some sore muscles).

By the end of our time there Lizzie had decided that she did like the beach, as long as her shoes were on, and she even got pretty close to the water. She still got scared when it came so close to her, I guess she didn't want to get her feet wet, just like her father.

On Friday I felt that Jamie was feeling well enough to see how he likes the water. I found he is a boy after my own heart and he loved playing in the waves and getting his feet wet.

Just look at this kids smile.

It was so cute watching him play in the water and him walking out there that I had Brian take a movie of him. Here is Jamie jumping waves, before he can even walk.

Well we had a great time in this beautiful location and with the wonderful people that we are so blessed to be related to.

Thanks for making Thanksgiving a time to be very thankful for this year!!

Promise Land Here We Come

Well we have done it!!!

We have left the Mother Land for the Promise Land!!!

Our journey was much easier then those in times past, planes are much nicer to travel in then boats!!

It also helped that we had some sleepy kids who slept much of the way.

It was a crazy last day of packing before heading for the plane, we didn't even have time to clean the place up besides getting all of our garbage out. After an eight hour plane ride we arrived in New York in the middle of the night our time and the kids were very happy to get more sleep, until 5 in the morning. After a week of waking up before 7 then have finally adjusted to the time zone and today they even slept in till 9. That goes to show how much we tired them out over Thanksgiving.

Up to our Necks

Well it has been a while since I have given an up date and well this picture might just help you know why.

It has been a crazy few weeks as we have been getting ready to move. We packed all of our own boxes, so it took a lot of time and work and here is the end result from last night.

All of our boxes ready to be picked up early this morning. Crazy. Then again it hasn't been the easiest living in a house full of boxes either. Here are some pictures of the main last push of Saturday when Brian was home to help and much of the work got done.

Behind Lizzie is all of the stuff from the bathroom that Brian pulled out to clean it. Now we just need to take a lot of trips to the charity shops near by and pack our suitcases. Then we will be boarding a plane tomorrow evening to come home for good!!!!

We have also had many good times. Last Saturday we went to dinner at our landlords which was very nice.

Then on Sunday the wonderful Stamp family had us over for some of the best food ever!!! I have always loved home cooked Italian food.

Then this Friday we had dinner with my dear Ruth and her dad. I will miss those good English roast dinners.


Sunday we had a munch and mingle after church, with a great spread. It was wonderful. A previous bishop and his family happened to be there that Sunday as well.

As were others who I love. many others, but just thought I would add this one more picture.


I will very much miss the people in this ward and the great friendship and sisterhood that is here.

Monday night we had some friends over for dinner who were unable to make it on Sunday. We were happy to get to see the Peels again one more time in England. Even Lizzie warmed up to them.

So that has been our craziness. Hopefully we can just make it a little bit longer and get everything finished up before we need to get on a plane tomorrow.

I just wanted to end with this cute video of Jamie. I have began to notice how cute he is when he eats and just had to take a video of it. This shows more of just how cute he is in general, but oh well at least you will be able to tell that he is still cute.

Jamie Update!!!

I just wanted to give an update on Jamie. We took him to the doctor today and the doctor said that he hadn't had measles, as his rash is already fading. The doctor also said that his breathing sounded good. So basically it was all good news and besides finishing the antibiotic he is off all other meds!!!! Great news for us here!!!!
I also should mention that I packed one box today, yea!!!