2014 has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. We've had lots of unexpected's mixed with lots of blessings. We know one thing for certain, God is aware of each one of us and for that we are very grateful. We are blessed with a beautiful family, a home, a good job, health, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed we are "rich".
As a family we have enjoyed some great outings and trips including camping, stays up at Sundance, trips to St. George to visit my (Heidi) mom, a Hall and a Wilkey family reunion, floating down the Provo river, hiking to Timp cave and other hikes, seeing 5 different plays, and our annual trip to San Diego for Fall Break with family and friends!
Blain and I keep ourselves busy with 5 kids, church callings, neighborhood activities, and family responsibilities. Blain is still working at Sundance Mouentain Resort, serving in the bishopric, and is always working on something around the house or helping with the kids, dinner, or cleaning. I just do what moms do :) and lots of it.
I am blessed to be married to my best friend!!
Christian (18)
This has been a big year for Christian! He turned 18, has submitted his application to BYU, is getting ready to submit papers for his LDS mission, he'll graduate the end of May, he got to go to Disneyland with a cappella (I joined him as a chaperone :), he is blessed with 2 jobs - working at Marley's and teaching piano lessons, and keeping up with his ever busy social life!
But the highlight of his year was the opportunity he had to travel with an organization called Trekking For Kids to Morocco to work in an orphanage and make a difference in someone else's life, followed by a trek up Mt. Toubkal, the highest point in N. Africa. On the way home they had a 14hr layover in London so it's like he got 2 trips for the price of one. Thanks again to everyone who help with all the fundraising!!!
Addy (11)
She is growing up so fast! She is in 6th grade this year and enjoys life as a "big kid". What she lacks in size though she makes up for in spunk and personality. Addy loves to help others and can often be found spending her recess cleaning and organizing the teacher's rooms. She is really good with kids and has started babysitting for others besides me. She also cleans house for a friend once a week as a little part time job. She has tried some new things this year including playing on a soccer team with some of her friends and to her surprise (and ours) she really enjoys it. Addy also spent a week away from home this summer at Camp Big Springs and she told us she didn't even miss us :) Addy is still taking piano and singing in her school's choir. She loves to do girly things and in so many ways she is a mini me.
Jack (9)
Is all boy! He loves playing sports, any sports, but he especially loves soccer, football, and skiing. This year he and some of his friends formed a slightly more competitive soccer team, with Blain as coach and they won every game so we're ready for a little more of a challenge. He loves to play with friends, play board games and video games. He is the one that sets the alarm for all the kids to get up every morning at 6am so they can get their jobs done so he can play right after school and homework are done. This year he also started taking piano lessons and we think he even likes it. As the middle child he is the "fairness police" making sure everyone is equal :) He is enjoying 4th grade and has recently discovered that reading can be lots of fun!
Lauren (6)
Is probably our least adventurous, but maybe our most thoughtful and kind. Don't ask her to go skiing or down a water slide, but if you need your back rubbed or a special note or drawing she's your gal. She was on a competition dance team at the beginning of this year, but it was just taking up too much of her time so she ended it on a high note with winning a big diamond award. She is finishing up her 4th year of music lessons and loves playing the piano. You will find her every night sleeping in her big sister's bed even though hers is only 5 feet away and she is "best friends" with all her siblings. She is in first grade and she loves her teacher and her teacher loves her.
Lia (2)
Is potty trained!! She is our miss talkative-pants. Every week when we pick her up from nursery her leaders say she has told them all kinds of good stuff about our family. She makes us laugh everyday with the funny things she says and does. Example, before prayers we each say one thing we are thankful for and when it was her turn she said "Coney Island" Blahhhh!! She also says some really sweet, tender things like when she saw a picture of Jesus she asked "Is that Jesus? He's so cute." and after sitting on Santa's lap she told us that she sat on Santa's lap and got some cookies and she is going to sit on Jesus' lap someday. Lia is a joy to have in our family even at the age of 2, with all that that includes, the good and the bad :)
