Schaffer Christmas Card 2011

This year has been so busy for our family.  In February we had a house full for Rachel’s 2^nd birthday party.  It was so fun to see all our family here to celebrate.  May brought Scott and my 7^th anniversary so off to McCall we took Rachel to our timeshares.  That was definitely new to Rachel.  We got to go on a scavenger hunt, swim in the pool (which she totally loved), and watch the snow fall from our balcony.  On June 16^th we finalized the adoption of Rachel.   It was definitely an experience that we learned lots from.   She wasn’t afraid of the courtroom and actually took to the judge.  We tried to keep her seated in a chair but she was running all over the place including up on the stand by the judge.  The judge said some really awesome things to us and commended Rachel’s foster parent which was so nice for us to hear.  We love them so much and are truly grateful to be able to call them family.  After that we were off to Scott’s friend reunion at Lake Walcott.  This would be the first overnight camping trip that Rachel would go on in her short little life.  It was so much fun to watch her explore.  She loves the outdoors so camping is right up her alley.  She really loved getting wet and dirty during this trip.  On July 9^th we were able to go to the Boise Idaho temple and be sealed together as a family.  We were so excited and could hardly wait to get it done.  Rachel was an angel the whole time.  She loved to be in her pretty white dress and talks about it to this day that she got to go into the temple and have animal crackers.

July was a whirlwind for us.  Scott and I went to Girls Camp, my father had kidney surgery in SLC and then we had Scott’s brother’s wedding.  August didn’t slow us down either because we went to the Schaffer family reunion, Bear Lake to our timeshares, and my grandma Hobbs’ 90^th birthday party.  Finally in September we slowed down and got back into a routine of school and work.

Scott had decided he was ready to go back to school and applied to ISU’s Nurse Practitioner program.  When his letter came back it said he was 13^th on the waiting list.  We were pretty bummed out about that.  Scott’s still working in the ER at St. Al’s Nampa and took a Supervisor position this year.  His Manager talked to him about going to MBA School to become a manager.  So thinking he would never get into ISU he started to look elsewhere to get his MBA.  On July 26^th Scott got a call from ISU telling him that they had a full time seat available in the nurse practitioner program if he wanted it.  After much deliberation (because he was now headed towards MBA school) Scott made the decision to take the seat at ISU and become a Nurse Practitioner.  So Scott is back in school, working full time for St. Al’s Nampa, and doing clinical.  Needless to say he is very busy and we don’t see him very much.  Scott is also the Ward Music Chairman which works out great for him with his busy schedule.

I have been extremely busy this year also.  I was called as the Stake Volleyball Specialist, which I loved, and our ward Girls Camp Director.  Girls Camp was a challenge but it turned out awesome.  I was really happy when I finished up this calling though.  It was a lot of work all by myself.  I worked full time for ISU – Meridian College of Pharmacy as an Administrative Assistant.  It’s been a really busy year having all four levels in Meridian for the first time. I have finally taken the plunge and put in my notice to become a stay at home mom.  I’m extremely excited but nervous at the same time.  I figured it up and I have worked for ISU for 15 years so being a stay at home mom is sure going to be a change.

Rachel is excelling at everything she does.  She has changed our lives forever.  She has such a sweet spirit and is a blessed addition to our family.  She is loved by everyone who meets her.  She will have you wrapped around her little finger in no time.  She has graduated from all therapies she was in during the year.  She has exceled beyond ours or the therapist’s imaginations.  She has a memory like no one else I know at age 2 1/2.  She has memorized words to lots of songs and she knows all the words to 3 Book of Mormon stories.  She can pick out the alphabet, can count to 15 when she wants to and loves singing and dancing.  She loves water and will play in it all day if we would let her.  She loves to be outside and can’t get enough of it.  She loves to watch Elmo and Finding Nemo.  It has truly been amazing to watch her flourish and grow.  We love being her parents.

As you can see lots of things are happening in Boise but we wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Make this next year, 2012, one to remember.