End of 2011 Review

Well here we are nearing Christmas and the New Year and I am finding that I haven't written this year like I want to. While this year is very eventful there are only a few very big events and that is about it. This last year has been wonderful! With the new addition of Cort to our family in 2010 I can honestly say that I enjoyed Cort's first year much more than I imagined. I guess there is something to say for having been there before. While having a baby in November wasn't the best timing with a toy business I have to admit I loved every minute of being home during the holidays with a new baby. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was just a nice time of year to be slowed down.

After a few months of having my boys crowded in their bedroom I realized it was time for our family to move on. After prayer and inspiration I knew it was time for us to look at buying our first home. It was a long process that started in February in Utah County and happily ended in West Jordan in July. It has been a wonderful experience working with my cousin (our Realtor) and having that confirmation that the Lord is aware of us and our needs and He can make even the smallest details work out for us. The only thing the Lord didn't give me was the extra

50 sq. feet I asked for. I think that was just His
sense of humor. When I struggle to adjust to this new area I take comfort in knowing that this really is where the Lord wanted us to be.

Just before the move Braxton graduated preschool. He had his 5th birthday. He also learned to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels and started T-ball for the first time. He has had a great summer!

It's amazing how quickly kids grow up. This fall was the start of his first year in grade school and he has loved Kindergarten. He has the best teacher. I have enjoyed being his room mom and getting to go help in his classroom for the holidays.

The next big highlight of 2011 was in July I took my first trip to the Discovery Toys convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a blast and I learned so much about how to better my business and myself. I love being a mom, but it really was nice to take a weekend to be called by my first name...it's Marlies, by the way. It even helped Kent and I to have a better understanding of each others roles. It was nice for him to understand the frustrations of sitting at home waiting for someone to get home while dealing with two kids and for me to understand how hard it is to hurry to get home when someone is waiting. 

In August Braxton, Cort, and I ended up on an
impromptu trip to see my friend Becca in Mesa, Arizona. Her friend, Amy from Riverton, was headed there and she allowed me to go with her on the trip. While I enjoyed seeing a new place I think I would like it SO much more when the temperature isn't above 100 degrees. That trip has since helped me stop begging Kent to move to Arizona when the snow flies. Now I just think I'd like to start vacationing there in the winter. :)

In November we celebrated Cort's first birthday. I still can't believe he's one year old. It's amazing to me still that he was climbing stairs at 8 months and just before his birthday he felt it was time to get up and start walking. He's even getting really good at walking now. He is so much fun. He loves to growl with us for fun and he's even starting to try to talk. He says, Da Da Da all day long. He'll now say yeah and he loved to make a Ba ba ba sound. He gives Braxton the best hugs. It's fun to see their friendship grow and develop. He LOVES pushing anything he can around on the floor. That includes cars, bottles, cookware, hot pads, etc. He is one happy baby. I swear that he thinks we go to church or the store so other people can see him. I don't ever remember Braxton being this social. I love it.

All in all we are well and enjoying life in the new house. I hope for Kent to find a Saturday at some point in his life to help me with some home improvement projects, but for now I may have to make do or do it myself. I'm still debating which way to go. With managing a household, taking care of children and running a business I am finding myself pretty busy. I'm secretly looking forward to winter coming because maybe we'll all slow down just a little for a month or two...maybe. I look forward to starting the new year and hope to share a little more of my life in my blog next year than I have this year. For now I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,   Marlies

I just love this look on his face. ha ha ha