Call Christmas Letter

Well everyone, this is our Christmas letter...unless by some miracle I get time to send out Christmas cards...but I doubt it. If I ever do get any time to do anything, I usually choose to take a book and go soak in the bath while I read...so Christmas cards aren't at the top of my to do list...maybe next year!

This year was a crazy one. Full of lots of surprises. In March Ashton came home from Iraq a week before Aspen's 1 year birthday. I had previously been living with Veda and Floyd Salisbury. My wonderful friend Charlotte's parents; for about 8 months. Veda was there for me when I had Aspen since My parents were on a mission in Guatemala, and Ashton was in Iraq. Boy was I happy to have someone there for me, especially when I had to have an emergency C-Section, and Aspen ended up having to stay in the NICU for a week. They are the most generous people I know, and took me into there home and treated me like I was family. I felt so blessed! It would have been a very hard year if I hadn't had them helping me out and giving Aspen and I a place to stay and feel at home.

When Aspen was about 6 mths old or so, my parents got home from there mission and I moved with them into there new home in Providence, UT. I was sad to move out of Salisbury's, because if you know me, I hate change. I don't adjust to it well, so the only way I know about going about change, is to do it as fast as possible, and not look back. (which sometimes gets me in trouble and I move too fast and hit a brick wall) It's an uncomfortable thing for me. But it was also good to be back with my parents and spend some time with them. Aspen and "Bampa" Peck became fast friends and went on walks every night, and played on the floor together everyday. They enjoyed having her living with them, and every morning, the first place Aspen wanted to go was to "bampa". I was glad they were such good friends, since I loved taking her to him, and bowing out gracefully...(so I could go back to bed - ha!)

Ashton came home in March, and my dad asked him if he wouldn't mind staying here in the home and watching over it while they (my mom and dad) went on another mission. And so the paperwork began. And off they went to Peru! Changes were happening so rapidly, and like I mentioned earlier, I hate change! But it was nice to finally have Ashton back after a year and a half, and start being a family.

Ashton went right back to school upon returning, he's going into engineering, and I have just been working on building my Virtual Assisting Business. Both things keep us so busy, we rarely see one another. When Ashton is home, Aspen loves to occupy his time. She loves her dad.

5 months after my parents left, we got a call saying my dad was hospitalized for heart problems on a Monday, on Wednesday, we got a call saying all was fine, they were going to put a pacemaker in him, and he'd be good to go, then by Friday morning, we got a call saying he had passed away. It was a very sad time for the family. Made sadder by the week we had to wait to hold his funeral, and wondering if Shalee would be able to get back from Iraq for it (we were so happy he made it one day before the funeral). We had to wait for his body to be released from Peru. The funeral was a beautiful one, and each of us had our turn to say goodbye for "now". It was hard, and still is some days. Thank goodness for the gospel, I dont know what I would do without it! I can't imagine how others feel when they lose a loved one if they do not have the gospel. Aspen has missed him so much, and it is sad to listen to her cry about "Bampa" being gone.

We are still living in the Providence home with my mom, but will probably be moving out in the next few months. In about 3 years of marriage, we have spent less than a year of that together, and less than that living alone. It's been an adventure to say the least. And Ashton is ready for some family time in our own place. I think mom will like not having Aspen into all her stuff too...

Aspen is almost 2, and boy have we hit the "terrible" she is a handful, and oh so cute! (even if she still doesn't have much hair!) She signs almost all her words, and she is smart as a whip. She loves to make messes, cawer (color), dance, sing, (weed a boot)read books, and help lead the music at church. She keeps everyone laughing with her energy. She gives wonderful kisses, deadly scowls, and great squeezes. Her favorite things to say lately are "bye, see ya," and blow you a kiss. The cutest thing ever! We are sure happy she is part of our family.

Sorry for the LONG letter, but this was a funny long year! Happy Holidays Everyone and much love to you all! Thanks for the part you play in our lives! And maybe you'll get an actual Christmas letter next year...but then again...

Love the Calls