2010 In A Nutshell (Kinda)

I know "in a nutshell" means brief but this is as condensed as I can get it. This year has been HUGE for our family and it seems like I have barely found the time or energy to blog about any of it so here's the quick-ish rundown of 2010.

Before Corey left for his mission, he was able to squeeze in a quick snowboarding trip with friends.


Dropping him off at the MTC was the hardest right thing we've ever done!


There are some great photos of Corey and Rob but I still can't look at them without bawling like a baby so I didn't post them.




In the hotel room just before we left to drop him off, we all snuck notes midway into his journal for Corey, er, Elder Harris, to find later.


Right after Corey left I finally went to the doctor to figure out once and for all why I was in so much pain. I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in May. It's been a rough year being on prednisone but it's also been a full year. I've learned a lot, grown a lot (hmmmm, I meant that emotionally and spiritually but I guess that would apply physically as well, lol), and recognized that my blessings FAR outweigh my burdens!

Tyler graduated high school with honors. And after 5 1/2 months of searching he was finally able to get a job. I think he really loves the independence that comes with working. He's currently in the process of submitting his mission papers. (Just waiting for a physical...)



This summer we had Stake Girls Camp. Since I am a counselor in our Stake Young Womens program I got to volunteer Rob to come up to Deerhaven, UT and help out.


I think he was having too much fun...here he is with friends in tu-tu's!!!


Ryan suddenly grew up...and up...and up. He's within an inch of catching Corey (who is about 6' 3.5"). This is Ryan's senior year of high school.


Rob and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary by going to see The Phantom of the Opera! It was amazing!


Riley started middle school and also turned 12 and advanced from the Primary to the Young Women's group at church. (Confidence is not an issue for her. She just proofed this and said since I had included her a couple of times, this post was perfect! Ha ha ha!)


To celebrate Gabby's 8th birthday, we went to one of her favorite places, The Adventuredome!




We talked her into going on a few big roller coasters, she wasn't very happy about it though.



Great shot of Riley on the merry-go-round.


Gabby was baptized on my mom's 60th birthday, that's just the way it turned out, so we got to have a joint celebration. Gabby fasted for the first time the day after her baptism. Before church she said, "When the sacrament bread comes around I'm taking TWO pieces!" Ha, I had to tell her it wasn't a buffet, but that was soooo cute! She also got up and bore her testimony. (Every first Sunday of the month in our church we go without breakfast and lunch, called fasting, and donate the money we would have spent for people in need.)


I know, my mom looks AMAZING for 60! Didn't my sister do a fabulous job on the cake?!


Rob turned the big 4-0 a couple of days later.


And all of his boys are taller than him so for his birthday he jumped at the chance when his mom offered to get him some BOOTS! (AKA man-heels.) HA HA HA HA! Plus, I'm pretty sure he is pushing down on Ryan's and Tyler's shoulders here. ;)


Riley had her first band concert and plays the saxophone just like her big brother Corey.


Ryan, Riley and Tyler participated in our stake's Youth Choir. It was a BEAUTIFUL Christmas performance! And Riley, who has always really really hated singing and who we forced to participate, really enjoyed herself and even said she wishes the youth choir was all year long and not just at Christmastime. Wow.


Corey is TALL. So tall that when he lays out on the couch, even though we have a ginormous sectional, there is rarely room for anyone else. Guess we were feeling nostalgic Christmas morning, the kids put his cardboard cut-out across the couch.


We all agree, missionary phone calls are really THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!!


(Playing "Just Dance 2" with cardboard Corey.)


That's our BIG year in a BIG nutshell. Hope yours has been just as wonderful!