Christmas 2009

The 3 grandkids: Mason n' Mamma:

Cheese:

Santa's Helper:

The in laws:

Mason n' Mamma:Come on and smile:

Mikey and me:

Our family of 3:

Wow, I can’t believe that Christmas has come and gone!! We had a wonderful holiday!! This year wasn’t much different from our Christmas’s in the past however it was a little different. It seems that this year we are closer as a family than we have ever been. This year has had its fair share of up’s and down’s. There were so many times that I just wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I just kept trucking along and trying to do the next right thing!! And we made it through all the up’s and down’s which has brought our little family of 3 closer together! I am so grateful for my family and really looking forward to a fresh new year!!

So on Christmas Eve we went to Mike’s aunts and uncle’s just like we do every year. It was the first year we didn’t stay until 1 in the morning. I guess we’re getting old because we had to retire early this year plus Mason is much of a night owl so we wanted to get him home and in bed so that Santa could come visit our house. Which indeed he did and Mason was spoiled. He was so excited to wake up to all his presents!! He was really excited opening about the first 2 and after that he was already tired of unwrapping things. He’d open one present and want the toy out of the box immediately instead of wanting to open another gift!! After we opened presents at our house we went to Mike’s mom’s where Mason was spoiled again. After Mike’s mom’s and some yummy breakfast we headed down to my mom’s. Again, Mason was spoiled. It was so nice to see my family! We only live 45 minutes away from each other, yet we barely get down there to see them anymore. After my mom’s it’s been a tradition to go to my brother’s for dinner, but this year we skipped his house and went to my adopted parents as I call them. By the time we got there, Mason didn’t even want to open his present from them! What child gets tired of opening presents?

Now it's off to the new year! YIPPEE!!

Christmas Parade

So we watched the Ogden Christmas Parade! It was nothing too exciting and it was absolutely freezing, so you can see that I was trying to dress like an eskimo!! Mason enjoyed about the first 5 minutes of it, then he has pretty much had enough, but it was fun to spend time as a family celebrating the Christmas season!!

Summit Lodge Christmas

Lori, Me and MY WONDERFUL SPONSOR:

So this isn’t something that I go around announcing however at this point in my life I am very proud of my accomplishment…so as some of you know I went into rehab on June 24, 2008 for alcohol. Yes, Brittany became an alcoholic. What a surprise?? However this last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the rehab I went through called Summit Lodge in Fairview, UT. We had our alumni Christmas Party that I had to plan, which was a total disaster to plan however it turned out rather nice! It was bitter sweet to visit Summit again. I was extremely nervous going up there because I was worried about the memories that it might bring back to me. Going into rehab was the hardest decision in my life up to this point however it was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Summit truly saved my life!! We got to sit with the residents and share our stories about our own recovery. It was also so sad to see the residents there, knowing what they are going to go through when they leave Summit. While you are there you are so safe and as soon as you leave you are back into reality without anyone to babysit you to keep you sober. After you leave, it’s up to you to keep yourself sober. I never thought I had the strength and courage to get sober and here I am 17 months down the road and still going strong! Recovery has made me a whole new person. I finally appreciate the small things in life. I have learned to not worry about the future and to try and just live the present moment. I have gained amazing relationships with people that I never had before, including my relationship with God and my inner self. I finally know who I am and what I want in life. I have learned not to settle for anything less than the best!! I have had a wonderful sponsor who has walked through the last 17 months holding my hand each step of the way teaching me how to live a sober life. I consider her a gift from God!! If only I had known years ago the rewards I would be given when I got sober. But I just wasn’t ready and you have to want sobriety for yourself and nobody else. If you do it for someone else then eventually you will fail and go right back to your old routine. I am so thankful for my life in sobriety, for my family and friends who have supported 100% of the way. And most of all, I am thankful for God and for the greatest gift God has ever given me which is my little man Mason. I am so glad I got sober while he was young so that he can grow up with a good mother in his life, which is exactly what he will have! He will have all of me for the rest of his life!! He deserves more than even I could ever give him, but as long as I’m sober I can give him everything that he needs! Life is wonderful, thank you for all my blessings!

Halloween 2009

My little SKELETON!!