Happy New Year!!! Here is our family's update for 2012 (and the highlights of 2011, since I missed last year).
Mike is still working at Young Living. He’s not happy there, but we’re grateful he’s able to provide for the family. He is creating a business that helps musicians market themselves on the web. Several months ago, he was called as the ward clerk for our Church. It keeps him very busy. In February 2011, he began training like crazy for the Tough Mudder – a 12 mile, 23+ obstacles. He faced crazy challenges like swimming through ice water, dashing up a 15 foot greased quarter pipe, and charging through 10,000 volt electric wires. The weather was around 45 degrees that day so he suffered a moderate case of hypothermia. Other than that, he returned safely and loved the experience. He also ran over 26 miles at the Las Vegas Ragnar – a 190ish mile relay race. This was his second year running in that race.
Jolene stays busy watching the kids. I help teach preschool, volunteer for the PTA, and volunteer for Orem Youth Soccer. I run kids here and there, try to garden, can food, and all those other household duties that keep moms so busy. I try, though unsuccessfully, to keep the house clean (a seemingly impossible task with so many little ones messing up what I just cleaned). I am still the choir director, ward music chair and on the extra activities committee for Relief Society for the church. I ran my first 10k (6 mile) race this year and am looking forward to having time after the holidays to train again for more races.
Caleb (9) is enjoying the 3rd grade. He was baptized a member of our church last year and started cub scouts. He really enjoys scouts and earning awards there. He played his 3rd year of soccer and is trying to convince me to let him play competition next year. We will see what I can handle with 3 boys in soccer.
Isaac (7) is in the 2nd grade and doing very well. He played his second year of soccer and is doing much better than last year. He loves to draw and read (if it is a book he is interested in...if not, forget it). :)
Noah (5) is in his 2nd year of preschool. He is more than ready for kindergarten, but with his later in the year birthday, will have to start next year. He loves to read and play with his friends at school. He had his first birthday party this year and enjoyed being able to host that.
Seth (3) is in his 1st year of preschool. With an August birthday, he just barely made the cutoff for school. I was a little worried about his maturity level (and listening skill), but he has surprised me. He is pretty well behaved and is learning quickly. He loves seeing his “preschool friends” at church.
Ashlynn was born in March and is such a joy to have. We are still very much a boy household, but having a girl in the family has changed the dynamics some. The boys just adore her and are very helpful with her. Isaac is a natural babysitter, always the first to help her if she is fussing. She is such a happy, smiley baby. She has been teething like crazy lately. She is up to 8 teeth now. She endures it well though, not really fussing much. She is starting to interact more and loves to watch and laugh at her brothers.
Well, that is our family's year in a nutshell. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for all the blessings that he has given us. We are happy and healthy (relativity speaking). We hope you are all doing well. Let us be even better in 2013 than we were last year. Our prayers are with you all.
