{2014: A Year In Review}

Time for the traditional yearly recap!  So grateful for the challenges, experiences & memories that 2014 brought.

{January}

At the beginning of the year it started to sink in that our time on the isles of Hawaii was coming to an end.  This was bittersweet for me  - I really loved all our friends and the ward we lived in, but was also excited to be closer to family on the mainland again.  

To start off the year, Mike took me to our restaurant in Waikiki - Kobe.  We had delicious ahi poke and strolled around the beach - such a romantic way to turn a quarter of a century! 

The very next day we discovered we were EXPECTING!  We were so excited...  Couldn't have been better news for us! 

January also brought a fun date at Discovery Sea Life Park in Waimanalo!

I loved spending time with Rachel and Zan - whether it was playing games, doing crafts or going on adventures like our Kaena Point Hike... These two ladies are so fabulous and forever friends! 

We decided to adventure to Kauai at this time and it was such a fantastic getaway. 

Here are the "best of" pictures from the trip.

We took a hike to a place called "Queen's Bath" - the swells were so huge we couldn't see where the bath was.  But we stood on these rocks and watched giant waves crash on the shore & it was so amazing. 

This picture was taken from a Kalalau Lookout.  The mountains are part of the Napali coastline.

Mike getting some R&R time on the beach that was part of the Hanalei resort where we stayed.

The famous "Wailua Falls"

Driving through Waimea Canyon.  Mark Twain nicknamed this the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  

On our boat tour of the Napali Coast we saw lots of whales!

The 'window to heaven' 

{February}

February was a great month!  We had originally been planning a trip to Japan, but due to some unanticipated pregnancy complications we decided to play it safe and went to explore Big Island instead.  

Here is our little cottage we stayed in on Kileuea Volcano.

As you can see Mike is very scientific in his explanations about volcanic activity!  I'll never forget him relating the old lava flow to brownies and every time I saw it all I could think about was baking brownies - he started the worst pregnancy craving EVER!

Overlooking the volcano at night.

Ho'lei Arch - where the lava meets the sea.  So beautiful.

Akaka Waterfall

Waipio Lookout

Original Kamehameha statue

Kona Temple Trip - let it be known we ate some terrible Denny's prior to our temple trip. Our stomachs were churning the entire time we were in there.  Yuck.

Green Sands Beach

Mike's co-worker had a farm on Kona side we were able to go explore! He mostly grew coffee but there were others fruits & plants as well.  We tasted the avocados... BEST ever.

Mama M & Papa Jim stayed at our house for us and took care of our fish.  We enjoyed having them stay with us for part of this month!

{March}

The beginning of March we had the Hadley family come visit!  We had fun with them and spent some time visiting Bellow's Beach!  Here is there cute foot family photo.

Mike received the 'Joint Service Commendation Award' because JPAC has all branches of the military.  It was fun to see him get this award! 

We announced that our family was growing by two feet! 

Lisa came for a visit that corresponded with Grant, Marie & Carter's vacation.  What a fun week exploring with them! 

{April}

This month was a rough one.  I started having back pains that we eventually figured out were kidney stones.  Because of the pregnancy, it was super tricky to treat and I ended up having to have surgery to get them out and spent entirely long in this ugly pink building.  I will never forget how loving and supportive Mike was even though he was so stressed out with out processing from work, selling our car, and making arrangements for the move back to the mainland!

Silver lining:  We learned we were having a BOY!  Yay! 

Our last day in the Moanalua Ward.  I loved this ward SOOOO much.  Everyone in it was so kind and loving.  I will never forget our M1 friends - who were more like family. 

Mike headed to Recruiting school for the Air Force in Texas & I spent the time in Utah with family!  I arrived just in time to celebrate Easter with the family.

{May}

In May my choir teacher from high school, Mishy Kirby, reached the milestone of 20 years of teaching.  The students at Bonneville arranged for a reunion of everyone who had sang in Tapestry to come join in singing a song for her.  It was so much fun to see all these folks from high school!

Our Memorial Day celebration with the family was record fun!  I was a little too awkward and pregnant to participate in the fun ping-pong tournaments though... I guess it was nice to give everyone else a chance to win ;)

{June}

Baby boy kept growing and I absolutely loved seeing him in the U/S I got at Dr. Beire's office!  He was a great doctor and I so wished I could have had him deliver Cal!

Lots of quality family time with some wonderful cousins!  Had a fun lunch at Texas with Margie, as well as my Mom, Aunt Bonnie & Aunt Carole! 

Picked up this sweet ride!  We bought our car for the mainland, a 2014 Nissan Altima.  We LOVE it!

Mike graduated from Recruiting School!  I really missed him those six weeks and was so proud when he sent me this picture! :D Shortly after his graduation we found out he put on Tech Sergeant this year so that was great news as well!  

We went on a fun date with Dan & Krystal to the Loveland Aquarium in Draper.  This is where they revealed they were having a GIRL in December!  We were so excited to learn the gender of Cal's cousin! Sidenote about this photo, we realized that Dan totally looks like he is photoshopped in.  :D 

{July}

We were in Utah for the beginning of July, and we had an awesome 4th of July celebration with the family.  I LOVE INDEPENDENCE DAY!  I just really enjoy all the festivities and appreciating the freedom we have to be with our families doing these fun activities!  We were able to spend time with all of my family, as well as the Reynolds family at a BBQ that evening.  

Dan brought this awesome game ... it was one for the books! 

We travelled to Arizona to visit several friends down there that we haven't seen in a few years.

Mike, Paige, Julie & John

Justin & Elissa

Pinedo Family

We came back up to Utah, I don't remember why ... the details are foggy here, I'll blame it on pregnancy brain.  But I had my baby shower- which was absolutely FANTASTIC.  Soooo much thanks to Mom, sisters & Emilie!  

{August}

We got to business in Vegas to find a house!!  We spent a week in our timeshare & had some fun downtown during the process also.  Henderson is absolutely fabulous and we love living here.  

We lived with our realtor Nate for awhile.  (Nate is Emilie's brother so I have known him forever.  He and Mike have man crushes on each other and sometimes they wear matching outfits).  At any rate, he helped us to find our house.

'

Our first home!  

Celebrating getting our house at a restaurant called Table 10.  

Mike also had to go up to Utah for some training (his squadron headquarters are at Hill- how awesome is that?!?!) so we were able to go through the Ogden Temple open house - that was really special! 

{September}

Whew, this month was a big one!  It started out with a visit from the in-laws.  I was pampered by my mother-in-law to help pass the last miserable weeks of pregnancy- I will never forget the foot rubs and relaxing pre-natal massage.  SOOOOO nice!  Dan and Krystal also came down and we had a fun stratosphere visit, which included Marianne and Dan doing the sky jumper! 

The four of us had a fun date night downtown riding the LINQ ferris wheel.

Ladies day - enjoying being pampered!

Emily took photos for Krystal and I - so now we have some super fun maternity pictures, Yay! 

Calvin was due September 19, but at my 39 week appt, the doctor said she didn't think he would come til at least a week after his due date.  So I felt comfortable going to my friends shower September 13th in California.  I love these two girls from Hawaii SOOOO MUCH!  I was so happy to see them.

As it turns out, the doctors were waaay off and Calvin made his grand entrance September 16th!  I started laboring the 15th.  I love this little baby boy so much and can't believe how much joy he brings into our lives! 

Here is the first photoshoot we had with him - you can tell he had jaundice pretty bad as his skin is quite yellow.  He had to sleep with a bili blankie for a few days, but luckily there were no major complications.

He had plenty of love from Grandma Marilyn when she came for her visit!  It was so nice because I was so scared those first few weeks - being a new Mom is not easy!  It was nice to have my Mom there to help! 

Dad came down also, as well as Dan and Krystal.  We really enjoyed having everyone here and Cal was sure spoiled.  What am I talking about, he still is.  

Our baby boy is no stranger to football! Much of the month was spent recovering from labor and cheering on the Cougs & Alabama Crimson Tide!  My brother kindly pointed out that when your team loses it is so nice to have your little one nearby to remind you of what really matters.  Handy advice for a BYU fan.  :) 

{October}

October brought Aunt Lisa & the Colvins for a visit!  It was so fun to see her, and Cal really loved being snuggled by his Aunt.  He also enjoyed meeting his cousins for the first time!  

Baby boy hit the one month mark, and I just love how expressive he is!

We went to a pumpkin patch with the Vidrines.  It was Cal's first Halloween outing! 

We also participated in the Acacia ward Trunk-or-Treat... We sure do love our ward.  

{November}

Morgan and Alex drove through Vegas - they were returning on a flight from Hawaii - so they stopped by to meet Cal and brought a delicious pineapple!  Calvin fell asleep instantly in Alex's arms, it was sooo cute. 

Two months old!

Mike's squadron had their annual at Hill Air Force Base, so we got to spend some time there with family! 

 Calvin was spoiled by both sets of grandparents! 

Thanksgiving was so neat to spend with all the family! 

This was the first time Calvin met Carter and Isaac.  We watched the Iron Bowl at Grant and Marie's... such a fun night! 

We ended our Utah trip by strolling around temple square with Dan & Krystal - and Krystal's Mom, Melody.  It was a peaceful way to start the Christmas season.

Calvin was blessed in Utah the Sunday before we went home in the Pheasant Meadows ward.  Mike gave an awesome blessing and the high council speaker was named Calvin!  So that was kind of fun.  

 {December}

Mike had to work a recruiter booth at the bowl game here in Vegas, so we got these all access passes to the game!  It was so fun to watch the Utes play Colorado State!

Woo hoo!  Three months old already!

Christmas was one of the most memorable yet, with the Reynolds clan all coming to Henderson.  Saffron Susie was born December 1st, so it was the cousin's first Christmas.  There was such a great spirit here as we celebrated for a few weeks and these two babies made it so special.

We grew so much as a family this year.  I can't believe we moved, had a baby, Mike started a new job... it has been an intensely joyful year!  

Happy New Years!