2010 Year in Review

Merry Christmas Friends and Family! Here is our 2010 Year in Review...

As a family, we managed to take one vacation this year, to Indiana in May for my friend Becky's wedding. It was difficult, as usual, to feel like we got enough time with everyone. Our kids were champs traveling and we had a lot of fun catching up with friends and family. Adam and I also slowly got our basement back together after three flood occurrences in an 8 day span and during the summer, we (meaning, Adam, my dad, brothers, and uncles) regraded the side yard so our basement wouldn't flood ever again! So far so good! Our other major adjustment was in our budget, but we've happily survived.

Adam: What a roller coaster of a year for Adam. Lost his very cushy sleep in 'til 10 am, work at home 30 hrs a week job in early March. Unemployed until he got a part time job at the beginning of June. Luckily the crappy part time job ended when he got hired at the end of July at Associated Food Stores as a production worker on their grocery ads. $30,000 pay cut and a 40 minute commute, but he LOVES it. If you would've asked him a couple years ago if he would even design grocery ads, NO WAY! And he now leaves the house by 6:15 AM! Crazy drastic difference. He enjoys it though and gets home at the perfect time 4:15 PM to play with the kids and have dinner with the family. He also taught evening classes 2 terms at Provo College and is taking a break from that during the busy retail season to work overtime at AFS. At church, in May, he switched from Elders Quorum Secretary to 1st Counselor and he enjoys serving. He is amazing at fulfilling all his roles in life and keeps us happy :)

Nisha: What a fun year! I coordinated my first Shrink-a-Thon, launched Healthy Mom's Kitchen, and although with a bit of hesitancy, moved into the position of leader on my USANAteam and rank advanced to Silver Director. I was also released from my calling as second counselor in the Primary Presidency and called to teach Relief Society - scariest calling ever! The Lord keeps giving me opportunities to lead women when I'd rather be the workhorse, led by others older and wiser than I. I ran my second 5K race and beat my time and had a blast doing it. It's incredible how much my mind has changed over the last year. I'm must be getting so wise I'm getting gray hair :) Seriously. You can expect lots of coloring happening on this head now. I'm continually amazed at the opportunity I have to work at home with my cute kids and get to be here with them. It's a fun learning, growing experience of balancing work and motherhood.

Sophie: This year was full of growth for our Sophie, physically and intellectually. She attended the Ranches Preschool from January through May and loved every second of it! This Fall, she started Let's Play Music with Nana Jules and does a GREAT job singing on key. She recently has decided she should wear a dress every day and tells me almost nightly, "Mom, I wish I were a REAL princess!" And I remind her she is - A daughter of a King, our Father in Heaven. She wishes she were a fairy tale princess. She loves to watch movies and play games on the computer. She's really good at the computer, can pull up the browser, get to pbskids or nickJr and can find what she wants. It's crazy! She's quite popular in the neighborhood and has lots of friends to play with. She fights naptime, but needs it once or twice a week or she becomes majorly whiney! Lately she's thinking and reasoning out loud and it's sometimes hilarious. Our favorites from the week: I told her our friend Natalie Steed is having a baby girl and she replied with, "I don't know why she's having a baby! Is she pregnant or something?!" Then on the way to Adam's grandma's today, she said, "It looks like the builders are building a new road. I don't know why they are building a new road, builders build houses and buildings and offices and ballet dance recitals."

Landon: Oh man, what a CUTIE! He dances every time he hears music, loves Let's Play Music just as much as Sophie and is an expert at walking backwards and spinning in circles. He's a very coordinated climber and loves to pull everything out of cupboards and drawers. He and Sophie both are very helpful unloading the dishwasher and helping with laundry. Today, we experienced a miracle and he actually played with his new toys for quite a while. He got the dog that you pull along, as well as a phone that he can also pull along that has the different animals to call. He also got a Biscuit book, some gloves, a Strider bike, and a sled to share with the family. I'm really hoping he spends a lot of time playing with his new toys and out of my cupboard. Yesterday, he could be seen dragging my crockpot behind him :) He provides lots of entertainment and messes for my enjoyment.

We're so incredibly grateful for all that the Lord has blessed us with this year, especially our friends, new and old, and good health. We couldn't ask for anything more in life.

We wish you the best for 2011!

Love,

The Riggs