Merry Christmas!

Well, it's that time of year again! Time to recap our year and update everyone on what we've been up to! So, here we go. We'll start with Bryan. He is really doing well this year with work. As a result we are headed to a very nice resort in San Diego at the end of April. For the second year in a row he is in the group that earned the company's highest sales award. We will be heading back to Kansas City for the awards ceremony in February. We are so proud of him and are so grateful for all of his hard work! Besides working, Bryan enjoys playing Mario Kart on the Wii with Parker as well as Tiger Woods golf. He is currently serving as an instructor in the Elders Quorum. We joined the gym this year and Bryan is making good use of his membership. He and his brother and brothers-in-law decided to have a Biggest Loser contest. So far Bryan is winning. He has lost about 15 lbs. We'll see how everyone fares through the holidays and come January 17th we'll know who is the Biggest Loser!
I have been busy trying to keep up with Parker, serving as the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society as well as laundry, cleaning etc. I was released as a Stake Assistant Camp Director after 2 years of attending Girls' Camp. I really enjoyed that calling and will be sad come next summer when I'm not getting ready for camp! Another big change this year came in August when, after 7 years of being Reuben's nanny, it was decided that he didn't really need a nanny anymore. We were a little worried about how we would make it financially, but Bryan really stepped up and we've been very blessed since deciding that I shouldn't try to get another job. I am looking forward to the new year and hopefully adding a baby to our family. We are very close to getting our adoption application finished. We are going to create a separate blog where potential birth parents can go to learn about us. We'll let you know when it is up and running! So everyone keep your ears open and keep us in mind if you hear of a possible adoption situation. Parker's birth parents found us through a family friend. You never know! You might be the one to help us find our next child!
Parker has grown so much in the last year. He is saying funny things on an almost daily basis. Some of his newest sayings are, "Whatev!" "Are you kidding me?" and "I am done with sleep!" He loves anything to do with the movie Cars, trains, going to the aquarium and zoo, playing with his cousins and friends and has recently gotten into playing games and putting puzzles together. He recognizes several letters, especially the ones in his name. Whenever Bryan is watching Fox News, he watches the ticker at the bottom of the screen and gets so excited when he sees the letter 'P'.
We enjoyed a few camping trips this year as well as a grown ups only vacation to San Diego with my brother Dustin and his wife Lindsey. Bryan and I enjoyed our annual trip to Kansas City as well as a trip to Las Vegas that Bryan earned. We were able to see 'O' at the Bellagio and 'Phantom' at the Venetian. We also enjoyed some shopping on the strip and relaxing at the Loews Lake Las Vegas resort.
We are sad to say that we lost Bryan's Grandpa Smart in May this year. We miss going to visit him and Grandma at their home. Grandma is currently recovering from hip surgery and living in a care facility. We also welcomed three additions to our extended family this year! In Feb, Bryan's sister Vicki and her husband Matt welcomed their little boy Matson. In April, my brother Jack and his wife Alison had their fourth baby, Aubrey and in July Bryan's brother Gary and his wife Bliss welcomed their baby boy Riley.
I think that about covers what we've been up to this year. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and enjoys celebrating the miracle of our Savior's birth.

Christmas Spirit

I am hoping by changing my blog background it will get me in the mood to put up the Christmas decorations! I love Christmas! I love decorating for Christmas, I love the music, the smells and giving gifts. I love looking at all the lights and spending time with family. I don't know why this year I'm having a hard time getting into the spirit! Here's hoping my Christmas background will do the trick!