First Backpacking Hike

 

Nathan earned Scout Rank and survived his first backpack trip.  That was 2011.  A year later he has achieved Star Rank and plans to get his Eagle by his 14th birthday.

First Annual Haunted House Contest

We had lots of fun growing these 2011 pumpkins.  It was Nathan's final year of trick or treating!  Click on the collages to enlarge.

 

In 2011 we also enjoyed the first annual extended family graham cracker haunted house contest. So fun! Many thanks to Jaclyn for her festive creativity and to Randy and Tonia for hosting everyone.  Andy and I took first place which must have been a sympathy award since I was recovering from surgery and not feeling well! The next night I was in the emergency room with a 105 temperature.  (Read the "Chain of Events" post for more on that saga!)  Perhaps all the excitement of winning was just too much for me!  ha ha! 

 

Chain of Events

Okay, there's a story here.  First let me just say that this posting does not include very flattering pictures of me, but it's reality.  Sometimes life just isn't pretty!  But I digress...Once upon a time, I went in for a simple foot surgery.  It was October 2011.  The surgery went fine but it set into motion a cascade of unexpected and unrelated medical complications.  I spent much of the next three months in this chair or in Andy's arms as he carried me from room to room. I got pretty good at crawling and hopping, too! 

 

Several doctor appointments and procedures later, it became obvious that the job change I had long been considering was now mandatory for my health.  We're quite certain that the Lord was in charge.  Not so coincidentally, an ideal opening was posted at the time I was well enough to pull together my resume. I applied and was contacted for an interview.  There I sat before a panel of 6 people and the whole time I was thinking how surreal it all was.  With Andy's encouragement and much-needed reassurance, I have somehow found 20 seconds of courage many times over the past year! 

 

So, I said goodbye to some dear friends in the NICU, goodbye to 12 hours night shifts, and hello to my first non-hospital nursing job. My new role is RN Care Manager for a family practice group. I'd been up in the tornado for so long and going to a new job felt rather like I'd been suddenly plopped down into Oz.  Yet, unlike Dorothy, I'm not trying to find my way back.  It's been a wonderful change for me and our family. Unchartered waters never felt so right.  

 

 

Near the end of my recovery, we traveled south for Ryan's basketball tournament.  I was determined to climb the dunes and hike the trails with the family.  Boy was I slow and apparently put on quite a show.  People would pass us on the trails and tell me I was almost there.  One man commented, "That's gotta be worth double difficulty points!"  I'm guessing that's a gaming reference??  At any rate, it helped strengthen my will to keep going.

 

 

And! After many months, my limp and the other medical issues have essentially resolved.  I guess the Lord knew I needed to get really sick in order to nudge me in the right direction at the right time. 

 

The end?

September Brothers

Ryan turned 18...we decorated "Boomer" the Corolla, ate a Wallaby's, then Ryan went to a football game with a friend.  The big highlight was meeting Jimmer!

Nathan turned 12, cool bike, cool basketball and first Priesthood Session

Collages Tell a Story

Inspired by Curious George

The 2011 Harvest

Random 2011-2012 family moments.  Top Row: Anna's "Cousin It" impersonation; Ryan and Nate glued to a WWII documentary; Anna's snowman; Ryan and Matt head off to Teton High Adventure Camp; Matthew as stage crew "Thing 4" in "Seussical";  Anna and her hamster, Gideon.  Middle Row:  Anna and Nathan congratulate Thing 4; Oct 2011 Conference, Anna's 4th grade 1st place Arbor Day poster, Disney Monopoly and the Viking hat Grandma made;  Bottom Row:  Nathan learns to dance, Chewie; A drive to the mountains; Ryan with his old friend, the guitar; Pruning the apricot tree.

Life looks a little different from up here.
Click on the collages to enlarge

Paradise

Nathan named this blog.  His other suggestion was, "Jesus' Backyard"  His sentiment certainly captures the beauty of the spot.  This stop was a great conclusion to a nice vacation with Grandma and Papa in Park City. 

Click on collage to enlarge

For Laughs

 

So these are just some of my favorite 2011 snapshots that make me laugh.  Yes, Nathan really did use Roundup to burn a smiley face into our lawn.  The memory of his little experiment kept us smiling all through 2012 as well!  Hey, it was a smile...how could we get mad at that? 

As for the signs...I came upon those posted on Anna's bedroom door.  Read them and if you don't laugh right away, keep thinking.  It was so funny I had to capture them in photo.

(If you click on the collage, it will enlarge.  Less blurry that way.)