Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

Chris, Arabella and I enjoyed a quiet New Year's Eve here at home.  We watched the ball drop and celebrated the new year with those of you on the east coast.  A lot happened in 2010 for us.  We are excited to see what 2011 has to bring!  Santa dropped a few presents here for Carissa and Caitlyn too!  Chris is getting to go to Ohio soon to see the girls.  So, Carissa will end up with the ever so popular paper jamz and Caitlyn is getting a pretty new dress that she wanted.  Of course, they will be showered with other small gifts too.  Caitlyn did let us know that Cheetah, her stuffed animal, needs a winter coat and scarf.   Wouldn't you know it, Santa heard her and it's on its way here now!  Arabella is still surfing on her big box from Christmas.  She loves it!

To catch you up on Carissa during her 4th grade year: she has been serving her class on the student council.  She was so excited to have been chosen by her classmates for this honor.  They must think a lot of her!  I know we do!  She got to go to Kalahari Water Park in Sandusky, Ohio with a friend from her class.  She had so much fun!  Carissa loves the water.  This was perfect for her winter break from school.  Just so Caitlyn wasn't left out, her Grandma Ellen and Grandpa John took her to Cleveland to go tubing and ice skating.  Catilyn may have enjoyed staying in a hotel better than any of the activities.  She's too cute!  Carissa is starting her all-girls basketball season this weekend.  She is finally playing with just girls this year.  She really likes basketball and is getting much better than she was a couple of years ago.  Cailtyn is getting to take tap and ballet this year.  She's done dance classes before and loves them.  They are so fun to watch when they are little!

Arabella is almost 1 year old!  Time flies!  She now has 4 top teeth and 2 bottom.  She practically runs all over the house.  It didn't take her long to figure out how to move the chairs and climb her way up the stairs.  She's a sneaky little one!  She's starting to talking all kinds of gibberish too.  So fun!  She has been going to classes at the library and really enjoys playing with the other kids.  Lately her best friend is Sadie.  It's so funny to watch her chase Sadie around trying to give her toys.  Sadie doesn't want much to do with her.  Maybe one day she'll come around. 

Chris is still working like crazy with Carrington College.  He has settled into his position quite well.  He has also chosen to be my little handy man here at home.  I'm so impressed with him.  He spent his holiday break landscaping our backyard.  It took him a couple of days to shovel the 13 tons of gravel that we had delivered.  He also planted about 40 plants.  Poor guy was covered in scratches and cuts from the cacti. Thank goodness for the doTERRA lavender oil.  It immediately sucked out an burning from the plants' poison.  

As for me, not much has changed.  I'm still having so much fun everyday with Arabella.  She sure keeps me hopping!  I was introduced to doTERRA a few months ago.  It's been a wonderful way for me to take control of our family's health and wellness.  I am having fun learning more and more and starting to share it with those I meet.  I don't know anyone that isn't open to try something natural and made to help them.  It's been fun!  I have joined a Snap Happy Moms group for moms that like to take pictures like me.  I have met some really nice ladies there.  We also just joined a MOMS group of moms that live around us.  I've only met a few and look forward to meeting many more this year.  We are really starting to enjoy our home here in Arizona, especially with the more that we keep improving on it.  So, we have high hopes for 2011 for meeting new friends.   

Please stay tuned for the adventures.  Who knows where 2011 will take us, but I am sure excited to find out!