2012 in pictures

It's time for the traditional review of the past year - with a few visuals!

I'll try to keep it all brief because as I've gone back and reviewed all the things we did last year, I guess I'd forgotten what a jam-packed time we had in 2012. Anyway, let's get started! :)

January - Ok, I must have been a slacker in January because I don't have any pictures of it. It is Mom's b-day month, so I know we at least did that! :)

February- One of the highlights of February was getting to meet up with The Standards (who are actually called Spencer's Own now), the group of brothers we've been listening to since I was like 11 or 12. Always fun to go watch them perform then stop to say hi after the show. 

 March - Besides St. Patrick's Day being in March, which is definitely one of the biggest days to look forward to if you're into Irish dancing (and yes, it was another good year full of dancing), our friends, the Manwarings came and visited from Idaho Falls. We've been friends with them since they had their first little girl (who is now a teenager - freaky!) and we loved getting to see them again.

  April - Malia and I each graduated from institute. There are a few different "levels" to graduate on, so we still have a couple to go to have done the full thing. But we're well on our way.

 May- David graduated from seminary! All four of us were able to have the same seminary teacher for at least one year of seminary (Malia and I got him for 3 years, David for all 4, and Nani for 1). Thank goodness for seminary teachers, mine was one of my best friends!

 June- What a great month we had in June. It started off with our ward having a fun campout. There was lots of storytelling, a few skits, and some crazy songs going on that night. Dad even had to bust out in a skit or two. :)

  We also had a new cousin join the family when Ben and his new bride were sealed in the Provo temple by Grandpa Farns. I know I've posted about that before, but I still just love to think back about what a miraculous, awesome weekend that was. It was also the last sealing Grandpa did before he passed away a month later, which makes it even more special.

 While we were in Utah we got to stay with some other really awesome family friends, the Kays. They lived here in Boise for several years and we missed them a lot after they moved.

 It was also Grandpa's birthday so we all went back to the Farm after Ben and Kim's wedding and had a birthday dinner for him. He was such a trooper through all of his cancer and treatments. Even when he was in pain he always had a joke or something funny to say to make us laugh.

  AND - in June we got to do some really fun performances in our Irish dance group. We stayed the night in the City of Rocks and got to go exploring around there for a bit. Then we danced in Malad (one of our favorites) and went from that straight to a performance in Twin Falls. Good times!
  (Looking very epic, Heidi!)

 July- Oh July, what a month. David and I started it off in Jerome when we got to be at the Farm and help take care of Grandpa for the last week of his life. It was a hard week, but also one of the most continual spiritual experiences I've ever had.
  Even though it was so bittersweet, I was still able to enjoy summer in full swing at the Farm, which is one of my favorite times of the year - and especially there. This is just one of the many amazing sunsets that happen there in the summer.

  We had a 4th of July filled with fireworks and family, it was pretty great!

  Two days after David and I got home to Boise, Grandpa passed away and we were all back to Jerome for the funeral by the end of the week. Grandma was so great through all of it and I've learned a lot from her example.

  Right after we got home, it was time for the Boise Youth Spectacular, hosted by the institute. It's a long story, but anyway, I ended up being one of the staff members and stayed down at the dorms at BSU all week to help with BYS. I didn't know if I'd be up for it after everything we'd just been through with Grandpa, but it turned out really good and I'm glad I did it.

  And July also brought with it David's mission call!! He was like a kid in a candy shop (even if the picture of him trying to sound out the name of his mission makes him look otherwise :)!

 August- Girls Camp was at the beginning of August and I got to stay home and babysit for one of the ladies in our ward while she went to camp. These guys were hilarious and we had a pretty epic sleepover and pizza party (among other things) that week! I think I wore them out, check out Max in the middle of a huge yawn! Ever since I was little I've liked taking care of kids so I've been pretty lucky to get so many chances to help out when people need a babysitter.

 Don't forget the California trip..... Less than 24 hours into it and we were already just about "vacationed out".

  We did make it to the beach, though!! Mission accomplished!

  Ate some of the best Mexican food ever while we were there!

  Also in August our friend, Spencer, left for Africa on his mission. We've known Spencer since he was 11 or 12 so now with him and David on missions, it's just like having two brothers gone. But they're both doing great and I know the work is in good hands.

 September- The annual b-day party at Grandma Jack's house. My Mom's family is pretty much all here in the area, but everyone has so much going on that we usually only manage to get together a few big times a year. This is one of those times. Ever since I was little we've had birthday parties out in the back yard, which is such a pretty place. I love going to my grandparent's houses, they are the best!!

  Kelani turned 16, which meant she got a sibling "Home-made Date Kit". Malia and I were so awkward about dating (not that too much has changed :) that no one would have dared do that to us. But David and Kelani are another story! So when each of them turned 16, the rest of us made them "date kits". It has all the essentials: gum, toothbrush, mirror, emergency contact numbers, pick-up lines AND nice ways to decline an un-wanted date, panic button (you never know.....), etc.

  We also canned a bunch of apple pie filling, and I got to try my luck doing apple sauce and apple butter! Someday I'm want to really get good and make time to do more of that kind of stuff. I love how it feels to see the shelves full of things you've preserved, it's so fun!

 October- Cabin time!!! This is the 5th year in a row of going to the cabin with the Ingrams and watching General Conference up there. These guys are like family to us and we have so much fun when we get together!!

   Harry Potter party, definitely a highlight of the year!! That one will be hard to beat!

 Welcome to Hogwarts!

 November- The Youth Cultural Celebration was so awesome!! Pres.Monson brought such a great spirit and energy into the Taco Bell Arena - amazing!

  We made it!

  Then the actual dedication of the Temple. That was awesome, too, and so good to be at it as a family.

 Happy Thanksgiving!

  The morning of "the drop off".

  Those two years were actually upon us and I think we were all in a bit of a blur. I kept a brave face until David was inside the MTC, then we all kind of lost in back inside the car. But David is doing great and we get a kick out of his weekly emails.
  I got one from him a couple weeks ago and he told me to make sure that I keep him up-dated on all the cool stuff that Mom and Dad don't know about!! Haha! I've got him covered. :)

  Christmas was great, too. I know we all change from year to year, but it's so nice that we can still get together and enjoy our time as a family.



Well, if you made it to the end of this, you're a trooper!! 2012 was definitely a year of growth and learning for me. But it was filled with so many awesome moments; new friendships made; existing friendships were strengthened, and I gained such a deeper love for the gospel, my family, and all the people I've been so blessed to have in my life.

  Here's to 2013!!!