It's 2010!

2009 is over, whew, what a year! Never before have I felt a year fly by as fast as this one has.
Ian and I sat down to a tasty chocolate fondue last night and reflected on 2009. We started the year only having known for a month that we were going to take the job at KAUST.
January brought a trip to KSA for Ian, Marin's 3rd birthday, Corban learning to walk and us getting our house in Coquitlam ready to sell.
February contained many showings of our house, Corban's 1st birthday and us finding out that Jeriah was on the way.
March was a busy month with Ian and I's trip to KSA, while the kids hung out in Salmon Arm, the sale of our house and two trips for Ian, one to London and one to St. Louis.
April brought a trip to Egypt for Ian, while the kids and I hung out in Salmon Arm, all of you finding out that Jeriah was on the way, Ian and I's 9th anniversary, a trip to Washington DC for the two of us and the beginning of packing up the house.
May started with a trip to London for Ian and then moving time, we packed up all our stuff sending some to Salmon Arm and the rest coming with us to our rental up at SFU.
June was a trip to KSA for Ian and a trip to London as well as packing up our rental and moving at the very end of the month to my parents house in Salmon Arm.
July was spent in Salmon Arm sorting our stuff for shipping and preparing all the last minute things for our move to KSA.
August arrived and it was time for our big move, we flew out on the 6th and landed in Jeddah on August 7th. I don't think I'll ever for get standing at the top of the staircase beside the airplane wearing my abaya, 7 months pregnant, holding Corban with one arm and holding Marin's hand with the other looking down at the bus and watching for Ian to come off the plane with all our carry-ons. We also found out that we would be living in a hotel for a while. That lasted two and a half weeks, and we then moved to our KAUST house.
September brought the official start of Ian's job, and KAUST opening. As well as us getting to meet many new people, and getting used to life at KAUST.
October was the start of preschool for Marin and of course Jeriah's birth.
November contained adjusting to life as a family of 5 and the major (for KSA) rain storm.
December was of course Christmas, our first away from extended family, our first in our own home and our first as a family of 5.
2009 brought much fun, family trips to the zoo, and beaches and visiting with family and friends before we moved. It has brought much excitement, moving to the other side of the earth, and meeting Jeriah!
It has had tougher times to, moving 4 times and calling 4 different places "home" in one year is not easy. Having Jeriah arrive via c-section was not planned and was a little hard to take. Moving here has not been as "easy" as we were expecting, things were not really ready for us, and it is harder and taking longer for us to settle. But like with most things in life hind sight is 20/20 and we still believe that God is taking care of us and has a plan for us. We are learning, growing and being stretched. We are together, the 5 of us and we are happy.
Let me show you some happiness. :)
This morning we went for a walk. Marin and Corban chased butterflies at the park.

And Corban ran after Marin on her bike.

Jeriah and I watched from a shady spot.

Then in keeping with tradition of taking a family picture on New Years day we attempted to get all 5 of our faces into one picture. Corban didn't want to be contained for the picture, can you tell? There are also a few difference between this years picture and last years picture. Don't you think? Ha ha!

So now that it is 2010 we look forward to a new year and all that it will bring.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!