I've had the Christmas card envelopes stuffed and ready to go for weeks. Here's the thing; I had the phrase "year in review update on the blog" printed on the back - thinking that somehow that would this Christmas miracle would happen even though I haven't updated the blog in going on 2 years! Well here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, you have fallen victim to my need for a kick in the pants getting this blog up to speed!
Every year when I sit down to write this little "brag and gag" I think, "Wow, we've had a crazy year! Surely next year will be a lot less interesting." Though I'll let you be the judge, after writing this I can see that our normal could easily be another person's crazy!
Our family has made several discoveries this year. Last December I discovered that after a 13 year break to bare and nurse babies, I can still ski! Not only that, but Charlie is a ski demon and none of us could keep up with him!
Dillon discovered that his first Sunday after turning 12 he would not only PASS the sacrament in church, but he would also PASS out in church... not a fun discovery at all. We also discovered that our cat, Sugar, did not like James. He was never anything but sweet to her, yet ever since his return from Navy service, she would pee on his things, bite him, scratch him, and basically, she hated his guts. We found her a new family where she seems to be quite happy, but we all miss her- even James (a little bit).
In January, we discovered that it was very very very cold as we traipsed from basketball game to basketball game. James' favorite discovery was that it only took ONE time shoveling the entire driveway myself for me to agree to buying a snow blower. My least favorite discovery was that Obama care was a bit fat joke.
February 1st Charlie boy discovered he was exactly one year older than the February before. When I was a teenager, I participated in what was then a new thing up at the USU Youth Conservatory music program called the "Monster Concert." Each piece is played by 2-3 kids on each of like 20 pianos all at once. Quite a thing and LOTS of fun for all. We discovered its still happening and our boys had the opportunity to participate. They loved it and are currently learning this next year's pieces.
As a matter of fact, music has been a huge part of this last year for these boys. Witnessing their progression has been thrilling! Also in February my neighbor told me of her plans to start Cache Valley Family Magazine. After my mind stopped reeling from all the ideas that immediately began bombarding my thoughts, I began to realize that I wanted to be a part of it. I asked her if I could help her and have been ever since. This magazine, I discovered, was an answer to prayer and every single day I thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity that has brought me out of my creative funk and into a whole new and exciting adventure.
After celebrating 15 years married, James and I discovered that we were definitely planning on celebrating many more. March is more basketball and skiing, Tavaci and dance for Annabelle, scouts, piano, sadly two more ear infections for Leo. We discovered he would have surgery on April 1st and that the result of this surgery would be a happier boy that could now talk and sing much better. Besides eating noodles and play with cars and trucks, singing is Leo's very favorite thing to do. Especially alone in his room during "nap time."
April was exciting. We visited family in Southern Utah for my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary celebration and discovered that we couldn't be prouder of our red-neck heritage. The best of the good people, they are. The kids LOVED Goblin Valley and Capitol Reef, and we all enjoyed dancing and being silly. We visited Grandma Joy's grave and spent some time telling the kids a little bit about their pioneer heritage.
Later that month Charlie took his very first cello lesson and the request of his cello-obsessed mother and discovered that he loves it! Both of his instructors have said he's a natural. He skipped the first year of orchestra in school and is performing in his first orchestra concert this week.
My first article in the Cache Valley Family Magazine was printed in the inaugural issue. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement! Leo got his first little balance bike this month and he is fearless on that thing (see a few paragraphs down)!
My sweet mom and step-dad celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss in May so those of us that could, made the trip to So Cal to spend a week at the beach and Disneyland. What a super fun trip! We discovered that no amount of "we can't afford this," or "the kids are still in school and how will I take off that much work?" talk would keep us from two of our favorite places in the world when we can find a good reason to be there. We're probably on some list of registered Disneyland addicts. It's ridiculous......ly wonderful.
After visiting our old "hood" we made another interesting discovery. We don't miss living there as much as we thought we did. We miss our friends and the altogether NOT overrated weather and attractions, but our hearts are in heaven being home here in Cache Valley. As soon as we returned from California I got down to the business of growing my first vegetable garden. Though I had suspected it would be the case, I discovered that gardening is a passion of mine. The whole family helped start seedlings, prepare soil, shovel, dig, transplant, weed, and harvest. #happyplace.
Two more May 2014 discoveries: Rocks and dirt are expensive and putting in a yard is a lot more complicated than we could have imagined. Kale grows like a weed in my garden but no one will eat it.
June was full of baseball games, dance and piano recitals, bike rides, gymnastics camp, scout camps, and all sorts of Summer-y type fun.
Re-discovering all of the fun things Cache Valley has to offer in the Summertime was most enjoyable.
We began harvesting more lettuces in June- arugula, spinach, bibb and lots more kale. We got a few strawberries as well. Our sweet Leo turned 3 on the 28th and decided he would get really sick and basically sleep through all the fun. He literally slept the day away while we unveiled his new backyard playground and took him over to Bear Lake for the day.
Sending Dillon to his first week-long scout camp was torture! I discovered that I'm going to be the worst missionary mom ever some day. He loved it though. Oh how we love it when Shiloh and Alissa come for the Summer! This was little Shiloh's first whole Summer with us and she was a champ! We discovered these girls are growing up too fast. We took everyone on a mini-vacay to Park City and SLC to stay at the grand hotel - swim, alpine coaster, poolside movies, etc. The highlight and "lowlight" was the alpine coaster. EVERYONE had a blast.... except Charlie and Alissa. Alissa went down with Annabelle. Alissa thought Annabelle had control of the brakes when in fact they were in Alissa's hands the whole time! She kept telling Annabelle to slow them down but Annabelle didn't know how. Long story short the two of them crashed into Charlie's sled at the end of the ride - scaring Goose half to death. Annabelle didn't seem to mind one bit and Charlie ended up ok too. The picture really shows who was most affected:
Here's a short list of our summer activities: hiking, swimming, gymnastics, zumba, dancing, tennis, lots and lots and lots of bike-riding, Bear Lake tripping, splash parking, swim lessoning, first-tooth losing (Annabelle) and make-overing! Oh I forgot a few- roller coaster, train, and horseback riding, ear-piercing, and quilt making.
James celebrated 37 years young by doing his first bike race - the Grand Fondo! He did amazing and we're so proud of him!
One of my personal favorite discoveries was the city of Chicago with my girlfriends for this year's girls weekend! I'd been once when I was 15 but in the winter and well, lets be honest I was mostly interested in the shopping and food back then.... maybe not too much has changed after all! haha
While I was gone the guys and grandma took the kids to Lagoon. Poor Leo had to get his first stitches in August. He was trying out brother's new bike ramp (grandma and grandpa were watching- wondering a bit too late if that was wise) and he went off the side onto his poor little chin. He was very very brave.
At the end of August, Annabelle had finally saved enough money to buy her first cabbage patch doll. It was quite an accomplishment that she had worked and saved all Summer for.
Goodbye to the darling cousins and lazy-ish summer days. Hello school year. This year it's 1st, 4th, and 7th grades for the older three.
Leo started "potty school" one week after school started. He earned very high marks to Mommy's great relief! Discovering that September is the month that my garden loves best was kind of a surprise. We canned 18 jars of pickles and ended up picking over 100 tomatoes from the two plants!
Annabelle turned SEVEN and is counting down to 8 and her baptism.
We are discovering that our boys are crazy Aggie football fans- complete with pre-game anxiety, sweating over close calls, tears for lost games and injuries and the losing of their voices after the famous Aggie- BYU victory! Their room has been transformed into an Aggie Fans Only den. They both insist that I let them try football next year. It scares me and James but they're convinced we'll cave in.
In October, James and Dillon went down to SLC to attend the priesthood session of general conference together. They both expressed what a special experience that was and plan on going as often as possible. We're so proud of Dillon and how seriously and reverently he takes his new priesthood duties.
Later that month, James finally got the truck he'd been dreaming of for a decade and a half. Looks good on him. For Halloween this year we had one juvenile delinquent, Davey Crockett, Elsa from Frozen, and an adorable dinosaur! Dad went as Willy Wonka at work and I think I'll be good if I never see him with a brown bob haircut and top hat ever again. Haha
November brought the first snows, sledding and shoveling, then it warmed up big time and has been warm ever since. Pray for snow everyone! Dillon discovered that an A in math IS possible and brought home his first "straight A" report card. YAY Dillon!! We gave thanks this year for all the many ways in which the Lord has blessed us - including all of our great friends and family. If you're one of them and you've read through this whole thing, you've earned a special place in our hearts and we LOVE YOU!
Posts
