1 Year

December 22 marked the 1 year anniversary of Atticus death. 

I wasn't sure what to expect emotionally that day so i didn't schedule ANYTHING for that day.

I had a couple hard days during the month of December so I didn't know what would happen on the day.

Scott, Stella, Steve and I headed over to the cemetery with Happy 1st Birthday balloons and flowers.

It was a little emotional but it was good to be there and remember a year ago and then think about where we are now.

It is amazing how much our lives have changed for the positive in the last year.

I wasn't sure at the end of last year if I would ever make it to the 1 year mark.

But here I (we) are and I couldn't be happier. I know that there is a reason I went through what I went through even if I don't know every reason now.

I am so grateful for the plan of salvation and for the gospel.

I would never of been able to survive without it.

I was so happy that we had beautiful St. George weather!

It couldn't of gotten any better!

Stella likes going to Atticus grave but she is a horrible grave robber!

She takes items off of one headstone and puts it on another.

We have tried to explain it to her but I don't think she cares, so we spend most of our time putting things back.

But she knows that Atticus is her brother and that he is in heaven with Jesus.

Thank you for everyone who prayed for us!

Thank you to whoever put the beautiful white flowers at Atticus grave.

I loved them!

Christmas Tree Complete

{Dec. 5}

I had a little bit of a hard time getting the tree decorated this year.

I knew I wanted something different and bright. I needed a change, I couldn't have the same thing as last year. I wanted to "start over" in a way.

But getting up the energy and emotional energy to decorate the tree took me a couple of days and I finally said okay after Stella begged me.

Anything for my little girl.

Stella helped for about 15 minutes and then gave up because she HATES touching the tree, it is to prickly.

It is good for me because she doesn't take off any ornaments and doesn't touch the presents under the tree!

 It wasn't my best tree but it works!

 Yes that is chocolate on her face.

We were enjoying raspberry sticks while decorating the tree and watching Christmas movies.

 

Christmas Tree Cutting

{Nov. 24}

This year we decided at the last minute to go and get a Christmas Tree

We headed out onto the Arizona Strip for about an 45 minutes.

We were able to get 2 trees, one for my parents and one for us.

(lots of pictures sorry)

 My Dad decided it needed to teach Dan how to properly cut down a tree.

So they found a LARGE dead tree and started cutting.

After about 15 minutes the tree came crashing down.

 This year was probably the fastest we have ever gotten our trees.

Afterwards we sat and ate some leftover Thanksgiving treats and drank some Diet Coke.

Then headed back home!

Thanks Dad for helping get a tree every year, one of my favorite traditions!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we first headed over to the Dalton's for a little lunch/dinner.

My Mom did a beautiful  job decorating, as usual!

Delicious appetizers

The table for Stella and Elijah

The amazing turkey carver

We left before swimming and dessert and heading over to the Madsen's for Thanksgiving part 2

We were so happy that Tony and Jessica could make it down from Idaho, it is always so much fun to see them.

And to join us on Black Friday!

Becky decorated a beautiful table and Lindsey made two beautiful centerpieces.

The only good picture I got of Becky and Alan they kept moving!

It was a great Thanksgiving and we definitely had A LOT to be thankful for this year.

Even though we lost Atticus it was probably one of the best years we have had in 4 years.

We got through the lost and got closer as a family and as husband and wife.

Scott's company Homestead Seasoning was accepted by Associated Grocers and should be on the shelf sometime in the first quarter of 2013.

I was able to go to make up school.

We were able to get pregnant again and couldn't be more excited!!