Goodbye 2012!

2012 has been a good year for us.  That's not to say that we didn't experience sadness or heartache, but when we count our blessings...the good certainly overpowers the bad & we are grateful.  We look forward to continuing our journey into 2013.

Paul & I found ourselves alone on New Years Eve & we took advantage of a beautiful day to take one of our favorite hikes along the Monroe Ridge overlooking our Coloma Valley.  I love how it looks during the different seasons!  We've had a pretty wet winter & the hills are pretty green, but the bare trees allow us a pretty good view of our house...

That night we decided to attend a New Year's Eve party at my "cousin" Kim's.  I put on my sparkly shirt & we took a moment to celebrate before we left...Paul is really a good sport to put up with my camera.

I had heard that Kim's house looked a lot like the Griswold's (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)...but I had to chuckle when we pulled up...every inch of their roof was lighted in true Griswold fashion!

Griswald's - Google Image

We thought we had a great house for kids to "hang out" at on Hyde Park Dr, but Kim's house is amazing!  In addition to a full size theater room upstairs & a pool table in one room, the arcade room certainly is something to see & experience!  About 20 full sized arcade games to keep the kids occupied for hours!!!

This is Kimmy.  She's a Harwell, like me.  We really are cousins...distant cousins.  My great grandfather & her great grandfather were first cousins...so we share a great great great grandfather - therefore; WE are cousins!  She is also a great friend & I love her.

The next day, New Years Day, the first day of 2013, we drove into San Jose to spend it with Paul's parents.     Paul remembers (growing up) that his mom would make all of their favorite snacks & set out a spread as they visited & ate all day.  Evidently, Mom still does this for Dad & we invited ourselves over to relive some New Year's pasts.  I didn't get my camera out until we were ready to leave...sometimes it's just nice to visit without being behind the lens.  We had a great visit with them.  I enjoy hearing the things Paul remembers about his childhood & family experiences.

Here's our annual Christmas letter...only sent a few out this year...
   
2012 has been a year of celebrations!

We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a tripto New Zealand & Australia then came home to a surprise party with ourchildren!  Paul celebrated his 35th yearas a State Farm Agent.  We celebratedChristi's college graduation.  Wecelebrated with our extended family at our Middleton Family Reunion.  Wecelebrated the birth of 3 new grandchildren; Cassandra Raine Deceuster, JackCarter Holyoak, & Cooper Lyman Bassett, bringing the count to 26 (12 girls& 14 boys). 

  

For the record...

* Cruised New Zealand & Australia with friends (Mike& Vicky Macias) for our much anticipated M&M adventure Down Under.  Paul bungy-jumped off the Auckland Bridge, wevisited Waitomo Caves & saw the glow worms, cruised to Napier, Wellington,took the scenic Transalpine Train through Southern New Zealand, on to Dunedin,through the Milford Sound & over to Hobart, Geelong, Melbourne, &Sydney (where we sailed an American Cup Sailboat!) before heading to theOutback - Uluru was fabulous!  Paul &Mikey also dove for two days on the Great Barrier Reef (a dream come true forPaul).

*  When we gothome, All 10 kids (& spouses) were at the Riverhouse to celebrate the daywe became a family 20 years ago!  Wecouldn't believe they were ALL there!  Itwas quite a surprise & our favorite moment of the year! 

* Spent Easter at home with Rochelle's & Kyle'sfamilies - holidays are so much more fun with kids!

*  Christigraduated from BYU-Idaho (WOO HOO!), then she & Ty came to stay with us forone last summer. 

*  Jenny enjoyedBYU Women's Conference with Leah & Terri & got to play with the Utahgrandkids at the Gateway Discovery Museum, the City Creek Mall, & Jump OnIt.

* Jenny took a road trip with the Horners to visitfamily in So Cal, Venice Beach, & Mickey Mouse!  Paul met them at Disneyland for all themagic.

*  Paul celebratedhis 35th anniversary with State Farm - it is pretty remarkable that someonecould do the same thing for that long & still love it!

* Celebrated Christi's graduation with a trip to Monterey& Santa Cruz with her & Ty.

* Celebrated the local girls birthdays (Rochelle, Amy,Nicole, & Christi) at WICKED inSacramento.

* The Horners brought their Utah friends (the Dunns)for a mini vacation, they rafted & enjoyed a day in San Francisco while weplayed with the kids.

* Business trip to NYC & Bermuda - a power outagein NYC stranded us in Chicago for a night then Jenny got sick in Bermuda &spent a few days stuck in a hotel room.

* Paul went to Valencia to help Gina after Cassandra'sbirth (Jenny stayed home because she was still sick.)

* Went to Washington to help Jill after Jack's birth& came home just in time to attend an honors dinner for Paul in Sausalito.

* Our extended Middleton Family Reunion was tons offun - was great to see so many nieces/nephews that we hadn't seen inyears!  Tons of water activities &games, a talent show, great food, & time to visit.

* Celebrated more of Paul's accomplishments with anhonors trip to Newport Beach.

* Ben & Dara joined us at the Cowell Reunion inTempleton, CA celebrating my mom's side of the family.

* Celebrated Paul's mom's birthday seeing Les Miserable in San Francisco.

*Attended Cassandra's blessing in Valencia & Amber'swedding (niece) in Bakersfield all on the same day.

* Paul hiked Mount Saint Helens with Kiff while Jennyplayed with Jill & the kids in Washington.

* Celebrated Cori's baptism in Mesa - then flew toCooper's blessing in Utah where we also enjoyed Halloween with Leah's &Terri's families.

* Nicole inspired us to do a 5K with her onThanksgiving Day - Run to Feed The Hungry- a local fundraiser for the Sacramento Food Bank.  Then we celebrated our gratitude with Nicole,Rochelle's family, G'ma & G'pa Middleton, Aunt Linda & Uncle Rex, &nephew Troy's family.

Paul, paulmiddleton10@gmail.com, 35 years as a State Farm Agent is monumental,but this happens to be his BEST YEAR EVER! While most agents of his tenure are slowing down, he is still goingstrong.  However, Paul has had his "travelingwings" clipped recently as he was just called to be the Bishop of theRescue Ward!  This will put a damper onsome of our trips, but we are excited for this season of service he has enteredinto.

Jenny, jennymiddleton@email.com, has also received a new calling - after 3 yearsin the Relief Society Presidency, she will be the 1st Counselor in the YoungWomen's Presidency.  She is excited to work with the Youth again &help them with their Personal Progress & other activities.  She is still trying to organize &prioritize her projects & it looks like she'll have a little more time todo so while Paul is busy with his Bishop duties.

Where are they now?

Rochelle & Brent Petersen live nearby in Folsom, CA with their 4 boys;Trevor-12, Ethan-10, Cade-7, & Carson-4.

Gina& Christian Deceuster live down south in Valencia, CA with their family;Luke-10, Alana-7, Donovan-3, & their new baby girl, Cassandra RaineDeceuster (June 23, 2012).

Ben& Dara Carter live near our office in San Jose, CA.

Kyle& Amy Middleton live nearby in El Dorado Hills, CA with their 5 children;Adia-about to be 14, Avery-9, Kenyon-about to be 8, Adison-6, Kaden-4.

Jill& Kiff Holyoak live in beautiful Port Orchard, WA with their four children;Macy-6, Penelope-4, Roman-2, & new baby boy, Jack Carter Holyoak (July 4,2012).

Cindi McGrathlives  in Mesa, AZ with her 4 children;Cori-8, Jake-6, Jason-5, Lucie-4.

Leah& Rick Basset live in Lehi, UT with their 3 children; Keira-4, Lexi-3,& their new baby boy, Cooper Lyman Bassett (October 8, 2012).

NicoleMiddleton lives nearby in Sacramento, CA.

Terri &Ben Horner live in Saratoga Springs, UT with their 2 children; Olivia-4, Jude-18months.

Ty &Christi are in Boise, ID for the basketball season.  Ty just started an internship with the IdahoStampede.  (Christi is counting the daysuntil he graduates...just one more semester after his internship.)

We celebrate our Savior this sacred season& the great gift of love He offered us through His atonement...

Best wishes for a great 2013!

My favorite moment in 2012 - Celebrating the day we became a family 20 years ago!