2014 year in review

What a year! All but a few weeks of it were spent living in Dominica which made it all the more interesting and a year that we will never forget. Stephen and I celebrated quite a bit this year. We celebrated our first year being married, survived the first two years of Medical School, are expecting our first baby, and were able to have a white Christmas home with family! Overall we had a great year full of fun, hard work, and very long days.
The last week of the year we spent in Logan with my family. We had our own mini Carman Christmas one night with a delicious lasagna dinner and then opened some presents. Stephen and I's favorite and really only gift we gave this year was surprising our families with the gender our little one that is coming in May. Everyone was so surprised and it was a lot of fun surprising them.
On New Years Eve Stephen and I were able to attend a very special sealing in the Salt Lake Temple. One of his best friends and his wife and baby girl were sealed together for all time and eternity. It was such a special sealing, one that I will never forget. Afterwards we headed back home and spent the evening by going to a movie and then visiting with friends. We made it home right at midnight, had a new years kiss, and then went to bed. It was a perfect way for us ring in the new year. It's hard to believe that this year has come and gone but I am so excited for all of the many adventures awaiting us next year!

We all got fun finger lights for Christmas

New Years Eve!

A Peirce Christmas

After a long two days of traveling Stephen and I made it home from Dominica. Our final time leaving the island that we called home for 16 months. Our first flight was only delayed by an hour but that was just enough to miss the rest of our connections home. So we spent the night in Charlotte and then made it home the next day. We are so happy to be home. We were welcomed our first night home with a wonderful dinner that Karyn made for us with Stephen's family and my parents. The next day my mom drove up to Kaysville and came shopping with us, Stephen's mom and Natalie. We had a delicious soup and salad for lunch and then did a little maternity shopping. It was so much fun shopping again and being with family. We spent the rest of Christmas week at the Peirce's. We went to the Hobbit, played lots of games, enjoyed the fireplace every day and night, and loved having a relaxing week away from school and studying.
Christmas morning was very special because we woke up to a white snowy wonderland. We opened presents and got some very special gifts. It was a perfect Christmas morning. After having a wonderful breakfast Stephen and I went for a drive to enjoy all of the beautiful snow. Then Aloha and I relaxed while everyone else played one of the new games that Karyn got for Christmas. It was a pretty intense game so we were glad to sit out. Marilee and Colby surprised us all Christmas night by coming a day early to visit. They were a bit delayed by all the snow but made it safe.
After Christmas the relaxing and fun continued. The boys and kids went sledding, then decided to build a snow crocodile. Stephen and Colby made it quite the project and it turned out pretty awesome. One of my favorite things we did during the week was go to Temple Square to see the lights. They were of course beautiful like always. It was such a wonderful first week being back home. We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends for the next few months before our next adventure begins.

Christmas Eve in Kaysville

Waking up to a white Christmas!

Baby Peirce

Just a few days from 20 weeks, my half way point!

My contribution to Christmas Eve dinner.

My hot Bacon Man!

Loving our White Christmas!

Our last day in Dominica

Today is our last day in Dominica. The apartment is all cleaned out, our bags are packed, and we are all ready to leave bright and early tomorrow! Stephen and I woke up today around 7:00 and he got ready for his final comprehensive exam. I had to take a picture of him before he left for it because he wore that same outfit for every exam here. That shirt must be his good luck charm. That or his headband. After he headed off to his exam I headed to one last breakfast at the beach with some of the girls. We had a good time like always. I am going to miss them so much. None of us want to say a sad goodbye because we all hope that we will see each other again someday. Hopefully we will. After breakfast I headed home one last time walking on our muddy moo cow trail in the rain. It wouldn't be a true Dominican last day without having to wash the mud off my legs after getting home.
Once Stephen got home from his hardest exam so far we finished things up around the house and then headed to the beach one last time. Stephen swam a little in the ocean, we watched our last sunset here, and then had dinner at La Flambeau with two of the families that we started this adventure with. It is hard to believe that today has actually come. It has been a long but fun journey here. One that we don't want to do again but glad we experienced. We are excited to start our next adventure and are definitely ready to go home tomorrow!

So proud of my wonderful Husband!

Saying goodbye to sweet Amaia. Oh how we will miss her and her amazing family.

She sits with us most Sundays at church and when asked who she likes 

more it is always Stephen. But she says she likes me too. We just love her!

Taken a few days ago but couldn't resist posting sweet Amaia as a Tiger.