the end and the beginning

well here are 8 things about 2008 to sum up our year and then 9 things about 2009 that we are looking forward to

1. i got to become an aunt twice - mel and mitch had addy in sept and then brian and ely had kyan in december - i love being an aunt and playing with babies and then not having to be responsible - it is great :)

2. i finally graduated yah for us- i bet gracie was the second most excited after me - because now she has her mom to play with all the time - which i love :)

3. reunions - i had the fun chance of getting together with most of my roomates and playing with them and there kids and then also my friend megan got married to her husband - finally :)- they had know each other ten years - which also spurred on hanging out with high school friends that i love and never get to see - and also due to those reunions i now have a blog which allows for me to feel like i keep in contact with others- even though i never talk to them - so i am not sure if it should count as keeping in contact or stalking hahaha

4. babies - this one is kind of sad - after numerous infertility treatments my body just said no to having more kids - which was a sad so we tried to adopt and that fell through at the last moment - which also was sad - however with all the sadness came some very personal moments with my Savior and my Heavenly Father who lifted and carried and comforted our family through some very difficult times - and because of those moments i wouldn't trade our sad experience for anything - which i guess in the end makes this one not so sad after all :)

5. Scriptures - this year the scriptures- and mostly the book of mormon- became very dear to me and almost a lifeline for me to my Heavenly Father - i have had lots of moments this year where i have felt my Savior speaking to me through their words and i have come to love and rely on the scriptures - so now it is hard for me to go a day without needing the comfort and the strenght they give - which i love - i am happy that they have become more than just a book this year

6. Twilight - it is silly but it was a part of my year - ask my husband it came out over our anniversary and the book came first - i think though the reason it was so much this year and not other years - is not only because of the movie - but also because so many other people finally started to read it and love it like i did when the first one came out - so now i have people to talk about it with :)

7. gracie- she has grown up so much this year she started nursery in jan turned two in july and then finally started talking the last few months-i seriously was being to wonder about that department and if she ever would - and now it is just like everyone told me it would be - she talks fine and a bit too much hahahah - although luckily she usually sides with me instead of her dad- so she is always telling him to slow down in the car and i love it because he listens to her :)

8. - last one - i should make it important - so i am going to have to think for a second - hmmmmm. . . . . well bens grandpa died - and that was sad because he was the first person i really remember dieing and the funeral was very awkward for being and i did not like looking in the casket - maybe the next funeral i go to will be better - i guess i just need practice at them or something

2009:

1. gracie is going to turn three - and leave the terrible twos behind her and become my darling little sweethart who never talks back again hahahha - i know it isn't really going to happen but i can wish can't i hahaha - and she gets to start talking dance lessons in the fall - from the same lady i did - weird - is all i can say

2. disneyworld - thank you mel and mitch and dad - i am very excited to talk gracie in may i think she is going to love it - and i intend to occassionally ditch her with grandma and grandpa and go on some large rollercoasters yahh

3. ben is going to school this year and it will be a new experience for our family and him :) - we will see how that goes hahah

4. tyler will be coming home from in mission in spain in december - so not for a while - but next year none the less

5. exercise - i intend to be skinny for disneyworld and tan - so i will need to hit the gym :)

6. potty training - i have been putting it off and putting it off - i mean i can tell gracie we need to change her diaper and she will go take her pants off and her diaper and get a wipe and wipe herself and then bring me the diaper to put on her -- - so i am thinking that my child is ready to be potty trained and that mommy is just to freaked out to try - so i think i better stop being a wuss and just do it - at least in the next year - i may just wait till next month hahah -

7. friends - i look forward to having fun with my friends - i am finally making some :) and so it will be fun to just laugh and have fun with them

8. family - my family is the best mine, extended, and in-laws - i really do have a great family support system who help me laugh and do crazy things and have band practice - i really like rock band :) - and occassionally beat me up - thank you alex - so i look forward to all the games of 3 to 14, the movies, the dinners, the talking back to each other , the bowling tournaments, the hikes and everything else that family includes

9. and last but not least - i look forward to seeing if our honda will make it one more year - it has been on its death bed for quite some time but it just keeps going so really if it makes it another year i think that will be the biggest suprise ever :)