A recap of a whole YEAR =)

I realize that I have abandoned my blog for a YEAR, pretty much.
Life has been insanely busy but we're always 'too blessed to be stressed'.
Let's see if I can at least recap a bit from the past year:
July 2011- Hawaii vacation! Husband surprised me with a family vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, where I was born and raised. We went the 'tourist route' this time, staying at a hotel on the beach (he remembered the name of the beach that my stepdad and Mom were married in and booked us there!), and we even spent a whole day riding on a tour bus, enjoying the more famous landmarks of the islands. It was the best decision ever, because neither of us had to drive and we all enjoyed the day. We made friends on the bus who traveled from San Francisco, and we still keep in touch with that family via Facebook. My Dad was there at the same time as us and was gracious and generous enough to have oldest son and daughter stay in Hawaii with him for a longer period of time. Oldest son and daughter came back dark brown, and excitedly raving about spending time with many of their cousins.
August 2011- after looking for another house for a few months without any luck, we couldn't find anything we liked in our price range. If we did find one, someone quickly outbid us. We had decided to stay in our current home and make the renovations that we had originally planned on doing. Of course, once we got the ball rolling and we had accepted we were going to stay in our home, we get a phone call from our realtor that the very first home I had fallen in love with had a deal fall through and that the price was dropped by 30k! We quickly swooped on the deal and moved in late August 2011. There were a few cosmetic things to be done such as paint and the cleaning up of the backyard, but the transition was easy being that we had no deadline to be out of the old house. Once we had completely moved in to the new house, we put our old house up for rent. Our race team took a trip to Hurricane, Utah, for a Demolition Derby. It was at the county fair so there was so much to see and do. Husband B and his team mate Gary had a blast getting smooshed in the derby.
Aside from spending many many hours fixing up both the new house for us to move into, and the old house to prepare it for renters, I was going through a move at work as well. The charter school that I worked for had moved into their amazingly beautiful brand new buildings! It was refreshing to be able to start a new school year in a brand new school with such beautiful facilities, and ipads! Each student received an ipad to use at school for supplemental learning during school hours. August was pretty busy and it flew by!
September 2011- oldest son and daughter start their new schools-oldest son was in middle school, entering the 6th grade, and daughter was starting the 4th grade at the school that I was working at. Both adjusted quickly and had old and new friends to help them. B & I celebrated our wedding anniversary on September 22nd by having a dinner with family at our home. Attended a Gary Allen concert with my SIL and MIL and we had an absolute BLAST.
October 2011- baseball for oldest son was in full swing, daughter was still in dance classes as well as cross country. Youngest son used the Fall season to decide if he wanted to stick with t ball, try another sport, or just be a 4 year old kid =) Halloween was a blast! I threw a kid Halloween party with games, dance contests, food, and lots of kids in cute costumes. Took a trip to Staheli Farm in Washington, Utah. This is one of my most absolute favorite places to go in the Fall. During the month of October, they have a haunted corn maze and fall themed games along with all the other farm attractions. We go every year with friends and family.
November 2011- husband threw me a surprise party for my 33rd birthday. I don't know HOW him and a few of my best friends pulled it off! It was a fun time and I was genuinely surprised and grateful. Thanksgiving was here at our home, per tradition, and it's always a good time.
December 2011- one of my best friends Hope and her daughter Kaitlyn came to visit us from Texas. It's always a pleasure to see her but this time it was so nice that Kaitlyn was able to come and hang out with my kids. Hope also got to see some of her other friends that live here. Christmas was fun as always. We've kicked up the games that we play at our house (its tradition) so it was even more of a blast. Also took a trip at the beginning of the month to Lake Havasu, Arizona, for a baseball tournament for oldest son. Really like all of the parents and players on this team-hoping they become friends for a long time.
January 2012- Youngest son turned 5! He chose a bowling party at Sunset Station here in Henderson, NV. Winter vacation to Duck Creek, Utah. We had a blast staying in an amazing cabin in the middle of a snow filled little town. We spent all day at Brianhead, UT on an inner tube race course down the side of a mountain.
February 2012- youngest son decided on tackle football, and we started football practice. Little league started for oldest son, as well as club ball practices and tournaments. Daughter raised $200 at school for Autism Speaks. Race season kicked off again for the husband, B. We went and watched Recycled Percussion at Tropicana Hotel, and all 5 of us became obsessed with the show, and with using drumsticks to hit EVERYTHING.
March 2012- my youngest brother left for Basic Training for the Air Force. He was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Took a trip to Temecula, CA, for oldest son's baseball tournament. The weather was beautiful and we had taken my inlaws camper and camped at a beautiful campsite all weekend. It was a pond in the middle of the property that the kids loved. I also got to see my cousin, his girlfriend and their new daughter while we were down there. B and I went to see 311 in concert at the MGM on one of our date nights. Found out that my brother's girlfriend is pregnant! I will finally have a nephew! His name will be Kelvin and he's due in late August.
April 2012- lots of baseball for oldest son, lots of football for youngest son. Oldest son joins a new club ball team while Little League season is just about to wrap up. Having a blast with youngest son's football team families. Its amazing how many people you're able to meet when your kidlets are in group activities. We spent spring break at Lake Mead. We camped in tents, watched big horn sheep 5 feet away from us at Hemenway Park, went on the new bridge at Hoover Dam. My Dad and inlaws came along, and my grandparents in law and SIL stopped by the campsite as well. It's always nice to have quality family time. Easter was at our home, and once again we kicked up the games that friends and family participate in, making it even more hilarious! Quick trip to St George, Utah, to watch oldest son guest play on a team. He hits yet another home run! Went to a Staind/Chevelle concert at Sunset Station with husband SIL. MIL got us AMAZING seats and once again it was so much (tipsy) fun
May 2012- bowling season wraps up for daughter, more baseball for oldest son, football season nears its end for youngest son. Husband buys us a cruise! We are going to Mexico and Catalina Island. Im excited about Mommy/Daddy time =) Oldest son's Spring band concert. We also find out that he will skip Intermediate Band and join Advanced Band when school resumes in September. I become obsessed with 50 Shades of Gray. Sister, future BIL , stepdad and I travel to San Antonio, Texas for my brother's graduation from Basic Training. We are SO proud of him. It's been a rough road for him since Mom died when he was only a teenager. The past few months have reminded me how supportive my family is when it really matters. We've had our ups and downs as a family but we are always there for each other in the end. Still so proud of my brother. While in San Antonio, I get to see my bestie Hope again, as well as her daughter Kaitlyn, and I also get to meet Kaitlyn's Dad Louie on this trip. Oldest son turned 12! We celebrated by going to the same place we've been going to for his birthday for 5 years-Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix.
June 2012- school wraps up! But we are still busier than ever! Lots of baseball, trips to Lake Mead on our boat, dinner with friends, watching the husband race every other weekend, and a trip to San Diego, CA for a week. The vacation was much needed. Once again we enjoyed California's perfect weather by going to the beach, touring Coronado Island, going to the San Diego fair at Del Mar Fairgrounds, and catching a Padres game at Petco Park. My brother is keeping up with his schooling to be an F16 crew chief. Daughter turned TEN!
July 2012- three days into this month and we have already had a full month. Had a birthday party for the daughter here at home. Little League All Starts tournament for oldest son is in full swing, and husband's racing is in full swing as well.
** ** As of June 8th, I am no longer employed. I've had a month to adjust, and so far, it's been great. We are such a busy family, I never have down time. I'm able to keep up with the wife and Mom duties as well as keeping the house in order, and providing my family with homemade meals for each meal. Health and healthy eating is important to me, as well as budgeting. It has been easier to prepare healthy meals AND to budget when I am not rushing around with the million things that we have to accomplish each day when work and school get out. As of today, husband has been told that the plant that he works at will be closing in a maximum of a few weeks. We've known about the closure for at least a year, so we are semi prepared. Of course, this will mean changes, with me being a stay home Mom, and him having to decide which job opportunity he is going to go with. I have faith that even during the really hard times, we will get through it.
It's nice to be back in the blogging world. I hope I get new readers, and old readers will return.