08 was Oh So Great.

Earliest family picture in 08: Dole Pineapple Plantation, HI

January: S was working in Orange County, M was rather sick with Campbell in utero, and C1 was just turning 18 months and had a ton of energy. We lived in a hotel. S's project was terminated and we were suddenly hotel-less (since we were already homeless). Back to Walnut Creek.
February: Lived with the Carlson's: two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a hallway. At least we had our beloved TV. C1's molars finally finished coming in--night-screaming finally fades. Mignon came home from her mission. Mel introduced us to Jake. Spencer started a project in Tacoma, WA, Cadence and I came along and stayed with S's grandparents Clive.
March: Awesome family trip to Hawaii with Matt and Mimi Snow. Pregnancy issues (very mild) made us realize we needed to be in CA, not WA, so we found an apartment and moved our stuff in in one Saturday. A couple of weeks later we learned we would be moving to Chicago in August for U of C MBA. Learned we were having a girl. Totally shocked us.
April: S travelled every week to Tacoma to a project that was very draining and demanding. Our phone conversations suffered. I spent a lot of time with Edda, who's husband was on the same project as Spencer. She helped me get moved in, helped me make a dress, helped me survive without a husband.
May: Our anniversary! 4 years. Went to visit Spencer's fam, left C1 alone for the first time over night (two nights!) and spent some quality time in Venice Beach, CA. Was great, missed my little girl. C1 had tons of fun, didn't really miss us. I was getting uncomfortably large, and we were still very unsure of baby names.
June: Traveled almost the entire month. By now, C1 didn't know what it was like to be in one place for more than 2-3 weeks. Visited Clive grandparents in Tacoma while Spencer worked, also visited Utah, where S ran the Ragnar Relay (Wasatch Front), and then the O Fam Reunion was held. Tons of fun, considerably more drama than usual. We're glad things are working out :). S and M still argue about baby names.
July: C1's birthday, which lasted forever (two or three parties, for one thing). I spent most of the month trying to put my huge body into labor (long walks and stairs). Gained 40 lbs. by end of pregnancy, S started working from home. Campbell was born with under 2 minutes of pushing.
August: Drove to Utah, flew to Chicago, waited a week for our stuff to come. Got ripped off by movers. C2 proves to be colicky. I was scared to death to be in Chicago. S was excited, C1 was confused. C2 was fussy. Met many new friends.
September: S in school, loving it. M and kids at home just trying to get our footing. Learn to use public transportation since we didn't have our car. C1 refuses to adjust well and is violent. M has colicky child, violent child, and hormonal heck: cries often. S loves life.
October: We are all feeling a little more settled, esp. since M's parents brought the car to us. Feeling really close to the friends we are making out here. Great Halloween. Campbell grows out of colic. Cadence's hair fits in a hairband?!?
November: Gets cold! We go shopping and stock up on winter clothes. Thanksgiving with a few friends here. S's internship networking/information sessions already starting!
December: Finals, Florida, Christmas in Utah, C2 really blossoms into a sort-of self-governing organism. Here comes personality! C1 is finally adjusting to Chicago, so is M. The whole fam is happy.

In hindsight, I can see that the Lord was trying to teach me a new word: ADAPT. We have had a lot of fun along the way, but this was definitely a year of refinement for us. I feel that we are so much the better for it. How grateful I am for all the opportunities I've had to learn and grow this year. How evermore grateful I am for Spencer, who so patiently helps me through every mess, or trial, or whatever it is. He is so good to me. And I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father, who not only provided me with opportunities to learn and grow, but provided me also with the ability to survive it all. I wasn't on my own, for sure.

Thank you, also, to all of you who have provided support and service to us during this year when we couldn't do it all on our own. We've been blessed and lifted by so many of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel compelled to name a few names... certainly I can't thank everybody that I feel lifted by, it would take me a year just to do that. But I would like to make special mention of a few:
--Wes and Linda Carlson, Merica and Damian, The Elders Quorum of WC 2nd (multiple moves!), Edda, Matt and Mimi, Kathryn Hawks, Susannah and Ben Nelson, Kelli and Steve Palmer, Mom and Dad O, Mignon, Mel, Mikee, Mom and Dad C, Cliff and Gina, Heidi McMillan, Matt and Robyn Hutchison, Catherine Bailey, Grandfather and Grandmother Clive (and that nice girl in their ward who came to help me with Cadence when I couldn't move), Jim and Sarah Suva, and Emron Pratt.

We are changed people because of the small and immense sacrifices you have shown us. We aspire to pass it forward and make the world a little better for somebody, as each of you have done for us. We love you. I mean it.

Thanks again, everybody! Here's hoping for another great year!

-Spencer, Mardee, Cadence, and Campbell Clive.