2013 in Review

I can never believe it when another year flies by.  It usually takes me half a year to get used to writing the date correctly, and by the time I finally get the hang of it, it switches on me!
 I made a list...

MY TOP 10 FAVORITE MEMORIES OF 2013

10. WALKING THE PUPS

Mitch and I loved visiting the animal shelter and walking all the dogs along the river trail.  I can't wait to get one someday, but until we have a fenced in backyard, these guys are keeping us entertained for now.

9. TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

In November I went to Portland to an LDS conference for women.  It was so fun spending the weekend being uplifted and surrounded with my great friends and women that I care for.

8. WORKING AT COUSINS

I have made some AMAZING friends this year with my coworkers!  I feel so fortunate to have a job that I look forward to going to everyday.  When I think of jobs I've had in the past and how much I hated it, I feel so blessed knowing I work somewhere fun, where we can hide creepy pictures of Nicolas Cage all over the restaurant and shove salad dressing in each other's faces when no one's looking.

7.  EXPLORING THE GORGE

Have I mentioned how much I missed Oregon when we moved away?  The northwest will ALWAYS be my home!  I love, love, LOVE living here again!

6. RUNNING THE EPIC RELAY

This year I had the chance to train and participate in the Epic Relay with my bro/sis-in-law.  It was such a great experience!  It was hard work pushing myself and staying up late into the night in a van full of sweaty runners, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

5.  PARAGLIDING

I can't say thank you enough to Claude and Annie for making this possible for us!  Mitch and I had the opportunity to go paragliding over the summer.  It was so crazy running off the side of a steep hillside and soaring over the treetops.  We were FLYING!  I can't wait to do it again someday.

4. MY YWs CALLING

Teaching the Sunday lessons for the youth is the BEST church calling in the entire world of church callings!  I love these girls so much and have so much fun watching them grow and be shining examples to those around them.  They have taught me more over the past year than I could have ever possibly taught them!  So, so grateful!

3. OUR TRIP TO HAWAII

Do I really need to explain this one?  I'm so glad we were able to spend the time seeing family and hanging out with Ben, Lydia, and baby Brodie.  We love them so much!  It was a perfect paradise and I seriously can't wait to go back!

Here's a video from our Hawaii adventure….

2. KENNY CAME HOME
My little brother came home from serving his church mission in Brazil for two years!  TWO YEARS where all we could do was email once a week and Skype with him every Christmas and Mother's Day.  There was such a huge hole in our lives while he was gone, and since he's been home, that gap has been filled again and the Hutchings family has a feeling of completeness once more.  I love being able to call him anytime I want and he'll be there to answer the phone in his goofy "Kenny" voice.
 "BEESHKEELDEEL!"

1. BEING WITH MY FAMILY
I love my family!  I'm so grateful to spend the year so close to Mitch's parents and for all that they have done for us.  I'm glad my parents are only two hours away and I can spontaneously plan a weekend trip to be with them anytime I want.  I'm so glad we had so many family members come visit us this year and were able to go visit other family as well.  Family!  Family!  Family!  I can't say it enough!  It is my reason for living!

This year was awesome!  And as much as I loved all our trips and adventures, I'm such a homebody!  Above everything else, I love more than anything sitting on the couch and cuddling Mitch while we watch TV or play candy crush together on our tablet.  I'm so grateful for my sweet husband and every second I get to spend with him!  I am crazy obsessed with that guy!  

Happy New Year, everyone!