Heres to a New Year! A recap of 2010 :)

First off this is a post for me so I can put this little journal/photo keeper into my blog book to be printed so don't be annoyed it's so long :) Just don't read it or don't look at the million pictures if you don't want to We have had a LOT of first to say the least this year but we have grown from all of them and enjoyed a lot of them. We had the best gift we could ask for at the beginning of this year, little miss Sami joined us January 28, 2010! We have loved every min of her, she is the best baby and such a true joy in our lives (cheesy I know, but it's true). We had our first experience of our child having to stay in the hospital. Sami gave us a little scare and she spent 5 days in the hospital at the beginning of March till she got well enough to go home. She was a blessing to watch in the hospital, you could truly see her fighting the virus everyday and she never cried even though the whole time she was feeling the pain or couldn't get enough oxygen. She is such a STRONG little girl and we knew from that first day we held her. We made the HUGE decision to make the move to Upstate NY this year and moved at the end of March. It was a life changing decision and we knew it, it was a hard hard decision with lots of discussions and thinking it out but we made the choice for our family. I truly feel I made the choice with my little ones in mind and for our family as a whole. And honestly I do like NY and if my family and friends lived here I would be the luckiest girl alive but I knew.. and my family and friends know that it isn't possible since we'll be staying in NY so I guess we will have to go with the second choice and love each other from a far :) I enjoy many things about NY and really have appreciated the things here that are different than Utah. I also appreciate the things in Utah that many of us take for granted. I miss the food more than I thought haha I could use some Cafe Rio right about now! On a serious note. I will always miss my friends and family but this was a decision we made as a family and I know that this is where we are supposed to be. I have been lucky enough to be in a GREAT ward with a good size group of young families with young kids which was one of my biggest worries. Not Utah young, but young enough to have little ones and young enough to want to be my friend :) I have already made friends and learned so much from them already. The ladies in my ward have made me feel more welcome than I could of imagined, always willing to tend, always calling me about playgroup, asking me out side of playgroup to do something. I truly am grateful for them. They have watched my kids more than any of my friends in both states. You learn to rely on others whether you like it or not, especially when you can't drive 2 hours for family to babysit just for an hour or two when you need...that would be insane. We are lucky enough to have some family close, even if they are an hour 1/2- 2 hours away.. I would have that any day than have no family near by at all. This year we have learned a new meaning to our little family. We have met some great new people. And had great memories through the ups and downs of normal life!

We celebrated Kaidens 3rd birthday and also Kaiden started Preschool for the first time this year. I love his teacher and we are lucky to have such a great place close by to take him. Kaiden became a big brother. Kaiden started to wear under wear for the first time and was potty trained by July (Yahoo!). Sami had her first everything this year, including first smile, first laugh, first crawl (not first steps yet), first time staying in a hospital, first 2 teeth including a 3rd that popped through before the end of the year, first word: Mama, The word she says all the time now: Dada...why did I teach her Dada, now she can't say Mama anymore she can only say Nana for my name haha. She points and Nate and gets excited saying Dada louder and louder every time she says it, so cute! This year was a big one and I'm ready for 2011, I hope there aren't so many big decisions to make :) I'm ready for a relaxing fun year! I think going to Mexico this month with friends is the right way to start this year!

First Born, Sami Paige Drake

First time meeting his new baby sister, and Sami meeting her big brother!

First time they held hands, wasn't planned..it was on the ride home from the hospital..he already loved her SO much!

First time meeting her Great Grandpa on his birthday!

Kaidens best buddies in Utah, his cousins!

First time to the ER, poor baby.. we were worried!

First time having to stay at the hospital, she was there for 5 nights and 6 days. She was the toughest little girl, we are so thankful for her!

First time moving across the country, goodbye Farmington..good bye Utah!

Sami's blessing day in NY

I just threw this in cause I love this picture, this was her first Easter..in the morning!

First Easter for Sami and Kaidens 3rd Easter..love our kiddos!

First time at the park in NY

First time Kaiden and Sami went to Niagara Falls!

Bought our first actual House (not town home).

First time in a swim suit (thanks lightbox for the suit!).

First offical hair cut, I always TRY to cut it for him until this day.

First camping trip for both Kaiden and Sami.

First time to Darien Lake (Ny's Lagoon)

First 4th of July for Sami!

First trip back to Utah, hanging out with old friends at the Kangaroo Zoo jump house.

First time meeting Jett when we came back to Utah, this is Jetts blessing day!

Good by Utah friends, I always miss you guys!

First day of Preschool

First Best Friend in NY, they are best buds!

First Fall in NY and sadly his first time jumping in a pile of leaves!

First Halloween

Can't figure out how to flip the picture, it uploaded wrong. First Halloween costume, and for me it was a first making my kids Halloween costumes!

First Thanksgiving, this was Thanksgiving day.

First time Sami has an actual bed now! She has been in a pack in play since she was born cause we have been in 3 homes, I had this bedding since right after I found out what I was having..I finally got to use it!

First Christmas living in NY, everyone got footy pajamas from me for Christmas (including Nate)!

Sami's first Christmas, thanks Bri for her present!

Onto a new year! We hope you all have a fabulous 2011!

This post was mainly for me, so I can print this out in my blog book! It's my own personal family journal and picture keeper!