February - Mum was with us all month long and she was the greatest support when certain aspects of being a mother once again hit me hard and were a challenge. Gary crashed the van, was thankfully fine and neither one of us got much sleep.
March - Nathan turned 5. I went on a quest to catch one of Oliver's first smiles on camera and finally succeeded. Life was all about how to juggle the numerous and very different needs of 4 children. I was exhausted.
April - We decided to buy a house. It was an exciting time yet we were daunted by just how many neighborhoods and homes there are in Colorado Springs. We decided to narrow our search to 5 bedrooms and the task seemed less daunting. We found the "perfect" home for us but it wasn't in our current ward boundaries and the kids would have to change schools. But no matter how I tried to keep looking, I was scared to lose the house. So we offered and the decision was made. We terrorized a Macy's employee looking for a new sofa.
May - Leia turned 9 and added attitude to her list of talents. Spencer turned 7. We moved in to our new home.
It's 4 years old. 3100 square feet. 5 bedrooms. 3 bathrooms. Landscaped in front and back with a hot tub. Three car garage. Lots of hardwood floor (alleluia!) The street is a horseshoe shape so only the people who live on the street drive on it so the kids are safe. It's one block from school. There's a huge empty family room downstairs that is full of potential. I have a room to put all my books in affectionately named the library although it's far from deserving such a grand title. It took me all of a couple of weeks to go buy paint and get out the ladder to reach the top of our 10 ft ceilings. We spent a lot of time in Pier 1, World Market, and Lowes. We can see ourselves here for a very long time. Gary's Mom came out to visit. Gary started a new job.
June - I injured my foot from wobbling around on the top rung of the ladder. I hobbled around for a while and then it got better. I thought about my Dad a lot. Gary really enjoyed his new job. We felt very blessed.
July - The kids and I began to go a little stir crazy in the last few weeks of the summer holiday. I was trying to get Oliver on a nap schedule which proved to be difficult with everyone around all the time. Spencer split his head open for about the third time but since we've been around the block and back with this sort of thing, it wasn't very traumatic. I made some new friends.
August - School started again and the kids love their new school and teachers. Nathan had a few problems with what was expected of him behavior wise. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and Gary fixed the hot tub which had suffered when our house was on the market over the winter. Oliver went on a pacifier strike for a couple of weeks and somehow managed to become more adorable than ever.
September - Mum, Rachel, Max and Cate came to visit. We had a fabulous time and I really enjoyed driving up Pikes Peak, going to Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, and just spending time with my family. Hanging with the cousins was a big treat for the kids. Oliver had to have his first hair cut at 7 months old, probably a year before any of his siblings had to have their first hair cut.
October - I spent a lot of time planning when and how I could get to England since it has been 2 years since I was there last and not for the happiest of reasons. I began to concoct a plan. Gary's Dad and his stepmom Cinda came out to visit over Halloween.
November - I did a month of Thanksgiving again. It was good to do because I realized just how blessed I am. Gary bought me tickets to go to England to visit my family with Leia over Spring break. I ate way too much over Thanksgiving and re-dedicated myself to eating healthily. I braved Black Friday albeit at a much later start time than most people and Leia and I saw Tangled. I got the majority of our Christmas Shopping done. Everyone in the house but me got a horrible stomach virus.
December - I enjoyed a very relaxed and stress-free Christmas season. Leia and I got excited and started making plans for our upcoming trip. Gary and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. I started a little work out routine in the house as well as eating smaller portions of healthier foods. I feel great and my clothes are all looser. I think this is the first time I've ever felt thinner and more in control right after Christmas, as opposed to the other way around.
Looking ahead to 2011:
Our upcoming trip is much on Leia's and my mind.
Oliver turns 1 at the end of January and I can hardly believe it.
I plan to make sure that I continue to take care of myself. My body has been on loan to the children on and off for the last 10 years and it's time that I make taking good care of it a priority.
We would like to be able to do a few things around the house.
Spencer is going to be baptized in May.
We are going to travel to Illinois over next summer and as well as reuniting with family we hope to visit Nauvoo.
