2015 in Review

Often times we tend to write down our good memories that we want to remember and pretend like the bad ones don't happen. Maybe that is the reason for my lack of posts this year. It has been a toughie but also lots of tender mercies that I am so grateful for. 

Being married is fun and exciting and a lot of hard work and compromise. Being married helps you become the best version of yourself with a great partner.

I echo the words in the quote above. There have been times where one person is tempted and mislead and the other person is strong, forgiving, understanding and counseling works miracles. There have been times when one wants to throw in the towel and not continue fighting the journey of life filled with sickness, pain and disappointment but together we hold each other up and make it through. Again counseling works miracles. There have been times where one person quits their job and the other person says it'll all work out, it'll all be okay. We are proud of each other and willing to fight through anything. I know that our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, provides strength, love, softens hearts and knows us each individually. I am so thankful for Him. I am thankful for prayer and the spirit of the Holy Ghost.  I am most thankful for my amazing, wonderful husband, Matt. I love him and know that he loves me.

Life is our school and lessons are learned from everyday experiences. One thing I learned is that balance is so important. We have to prioritize because a perfect balance is actually not possible and that is okay. I learned that we need to have boundaries and say no sometimes in order to get what we really want and need. I learned that family comes first. I am learning to listen to others and understanding that we have different needs and wants. I have also thought a lot about and tried to enjoy life in this moment. Enjoy each stage.

Some of our 2015 highlights! 

Best vacations of 2015:
I loved going to Florida with the Romero family and going to Disney World. My favorite part was Harry Potter World and getting an express pass one of the days at Universal Studios to go on all the big rides with Matt. I also loved seeing Juliette and Lincoln get so excited to see the dragons and Minnie and Mickey in the parade. It was fun singing along to Barney and swimming at the hotel and Katie's grandparents house. I loved spending time with family.

Cody, Wyoming with the Dicksons. We had a blast staying up all night playing mafia and scum with cousins! Even the drive was fun talking with my parents and stopping for a few visits.

Biggest change in 2015:
Matt left Okland at the end of October after working there over 5 years and started a new job at Sera Prognostics mid November. He is their IT Systems Administrator and loves it! He is so much happier and less stressed....and gets paid more- win win! Sera Prognostics is an amazing research company testing for premature birth risk to help save lives of pregnant mothers and babies. Sera Prognostics developed a blood test to predict premature babies and aim to improve health by earlier interventions that make a difference.

Best book I read/listened to in 2015:
Off Balance by Matthew Kelly

New Adventures in 2015:
Zip Lining with my mom and sisters
Cave spelunking in Wyoming

Goals accomplished in 2015:
Had more family home evenings- almost every Monday

Milestones in 2015:
Juliette can spell and write her name

Goal not accomplished in 2015:
Read Whole 30 and do it for 30 days... I need baby steps. I did do a 5 day clean eating challenge and 21 days no cheats- which meant no carbonation or candy, 1 fruit, 1 veggie and 6 cups of water. I really liked doing that and should do it again.

Home improvements of 2015:
SOLAR PANELS installed and working
All of our upstairs is automated with wink lights, amazon Alexa, nest thermostat, remotes from our iPhones
New closet in master bedroom
Hardwood floor in kitchen
Stained Deck

Celebrated in 2015:
Matt and Sharlene's 5 Year anniversary
Lincoln's 2nd birthday with a Cars party
Juliette's 4th birthday with a Minnie Mouse party
Caitlyn and Kyle's wedding
Taylor and Katie's little Cohen's birth
Chad and Melinda's little Keaton's birth
Sabrina and Tim's pregnancy- its a girl
David getting home from his mission

What we learned we're grateful for in 2015:
Modern medicine and how it improves our quality of life
FMLA
Insurance
Priesthood Blessings
Family

Favorite TV Series watched in 2015:
Matt- Mr. Robot
Sharlene- Hart of Dixie

Best movies in 2015:
Inside Out- family night at the Drive In Movie
Jurassic World
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Matt saw it, I havent yet)
Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 2
Pitch Perfect 2


I love Matt, Juliette and Lincoln so much and we are excited to ring in 2016!

mOst WonDerfuL tiMe of the yeAr

I have been really bad at blogging this year..maybe 2016 will be better. With insta gram and Facebook taking over social media I dont even know if anyone reads blogs anymore, but I like blogging as a journal for myself. So you are warned.....this is a long post...mainly just narrated pictures from the past month or two.

The Holidays start with Thanksgiving! We are so blessed and have a lot to be thankful for.

 
We had a nice lunch/dinner at my parents house.
 
I love spending time with family...especially these two little ones.

Juliette

and

Lincoln 

It is always fun to see my grandparents.  

After eating lots of food and playing games we zonked out. 

The next day we saw The Good Dinosaur and it is such a cute movie! 

We had fun with cousins! 

We also played games with these hooligans. 

We love all the snow we've had this winter!  

We got one of our Christmas presents early! I have been wanting our floor redone since before we moved in 3 years ago...here are some pictures of the process and final product. THANK YOU Matt, David and Marcus for your hard work.  I LOVE our new floor! 

YAY! 

I love my Alpha Phi sisters! We saw the final Hunger Games together 

and had our annual Ugly Sweater Christmas party where we also gathered donations for The Sharing Place. We always have a great time together! 

 I'm so thankful for these ladies and that we are still such good friends.

We went to Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo Center...I love my job and work. Melinda and her kids also came to visit and walk through to see the trees, gingerbread houses and dancers. 

 I think this was my favorite tree. 

I love this Harry Potter Tree too! 

Family with Santa

Juliette's favorite part was getting her face painted...definitely not seeing Santa haha.  

My work is awesome and we have focused on giving back to the community and donating items and time to good causes throughout the year. One of our five projects this year was collecting gifts for the Shriner's Hospital and helping with a carnival (we did a bean bag toss with prizes) for the children there. It was so awesome!

We also welcomed our newest nephew- Keaton Jay Gardner on December 3

Little Keaton

We set up our Christmas Tree and decorations- it was so fun having the kids help this year

Helped mom do a Santa puzzle! 

Watched Matt and Lincoln laugh, play and fall asleep playing video games- Destiny is the game of choice right now 

Elf on the Shelf is always a hit. We love him "watching" our kids and reporting to Santa all month. 

 

Christmas party #1 was the Witt Party

thanks Nana Karen for keeping traditions alive

Juliette loves babies! 

and dolls

Thanks Sab and Tim for our gifts. We got to facetime Jess and her family to see them open their gifts since they live in Oregon. 

Christmas party #2 Boam Party

Janalee was afraid she didnt have any kid toys since her boys are almost grown up but we found some snowballs and had the best snowball fight ever. 

I love doing the nativity every Christmas to remind us the true meaning of Christmas and reflect on Christs birth...even if baby Jesus is 11 year old Ethan hahaha 

 

 Christmas party #3 Christmas Eve at Grammee and Poppi's house

Juliette got the BEST white elephant gift....Balls for her (soap) hahah luckily it smelled good and she went around saying "Smell my Balls" hahaha she liked it way better than the socks (her first gift pick) 

Lincoln LOVED his remote control car 

Eleanor and Juliette loved offering a stick of gum just to ZAP them...those tricksters.

Addison brought another gift in Santas bag 

 Christmas Eve I also went snowboarding with my dad, David and Marcus...all dressed up like Santa to get 1/2 off skiing at Brighton (only the first 100 were free)



We had a blast! (and it was a workout...I'm getting old)


This year was our first Christmas staying home! I love seeing their faces on Christmas morning.

I love this family of mine!


Juliette picked out this gift herself for daddy and wrote him a note.

I got spoiled with an Apple watch, perfume, selfie stick, heart locket necklace and more!  

 The boys got a quad copter!!

The kids got even more spoiled 

This boy loves his cars, trucks and batman!

Dinotrucks!

I love Lincolns face

Juliette loves her gun, necklaces and little playhouse with bunnies and lots of tiny pieces. 

Another Christmas tradition is to go over to the Romero's house for breakfast or brunch and then exchange gifts with brothers and sisters. 

Saturday we used our new sleds that Santa brought us

 

  

Cafe Rio birthday dinner

Sunday I turned 28 and had a good day! We went to church, watched movies and had dinner and played games with both my family and matt's family at his parents house.

 

Marcus and I love having David home from his mission! 

We hung out with some friends from Brazil that Matt met on his mission and it was so great to see Cleo and talk to the kids on the phone! 

 I love Christmas season, my birthday and the new year and New years goals and fresh starts. I'm so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ. It is amazing that he started His life on earth so humbly just like many of us. I am thankful for His life and that through Him we can repent and live again. I'm thankful for His love to me and my family every single day.  Looking forward to 2016!