Twas a week before Christmas and the blog was not updated...
(Nothing rhymes with updated so how about we just start with the youngest and work up from there?)
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| Class of 2016 |
Wesley turned 16 in May. He's driving, and dating, and loving his Junior year at Provo High. He plays guard for the varsity basketball team and centerfielder for the varsity baseball team. He is battling an injury of his own (stress reactions in the seismoid bones in his left foot) while making up for his brothers absence on the court (see next paragraph). Anytime Provo High plays basketball, you can see him on Sfan.tv. Wesley is a straight A student who will earn an IB certificate when he graduates in 2014. He's preparing to leave for his mission in 18 months.
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| class of 2014 |
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| first dance |
Dallin (class of 2013) is 18 and his life is not at all like he thought it would be. Just 5 months ago he was finishing a great club basketball season with his Pump N Run team. He was looking forward to making a run at a State Championship for Provo High after finishing third last year and earning second team all-state honors. Then in October he blew out his ACL and his high school basketball career was over. Sadly, there will be no senior year playing with his brothers. Since he was out until June after his October ACL replacement, he decided to also get the plates and screws (compliments of a tackle soccer game his last day of 8th grade PE) removed from his left forearm. So he had another surgery in December and he will be all ready to submit his papers in February and will leave on his mission in 6 months! (which is when he will also have an official blogspot.....) Dallin is an A student who will be more than ready to resume his collegiate basketball career fall of 2015.We are so proud of how he is handling everything and what a great young man he is!
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| Class of 2013 |
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| Pump N Run (forgive the red) |
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| homecoming royalty |
Alexis is 19 and a sophomore at BYU. She is majoring in Family and Consumer Science Education. She loves living away from home (though she does feel a bit guilty about leaving her mom home alone with all of the boys). She is really missed at home! Thank goodness she is still close enough to call when we need her help. Alexis ran a half marathon this year! She is anxiously awaiting her sister's return and her niece's debut. She is a favorite babysitter for many families in the neighborhood because she is so responsible and good with children. She is also a great blogger- check out Third Time's the Charm.
Karissa( Hermana Bosco) celebrated her 22nd birthday in Argentina. She gets home from her mission in 55 days, (but who's counting????!!!!). We have been posting all of her letters on her blog Enjoy the Little Things. We are so grateful for her missionary experiences, but we have missed having her in our home and are anxiously awaiting her return.
The Smiths (Amber and Andrew) have figured out how to become evereyone's favorite couple: live the gospel, work hard, make good decisions, and HAVE A CHILD! They are expecting their little pink bundle of joy the same week that Karissa returns from her mission. Could it get any better than that??? Amber is a much adored sixth grade teacher at Westridge Elementary and Andrew will be graduating from BYU with his Masters in Accounting in the spring and then starting his job with Deloitte in Salt Lake this fall. I often worry that this new baby will be too spoiled and then I happily realize...NOT MY PROBLEM! We are so thankful that they are close by. Check out their blog Amber and Andrew Smith
Grandma Karen and Papa Rob. Yes we are looking forward to those titles! Rob turns 50 on January 11th but he doesn't even care because he's going to be a grandpa! He is still at BYU and enjoying his time working with the great people in the Athletic Development. Rob is still on the High Council. I am still working a few hours a week at Westridge as a Yearbook teacher and assistant librarian. I have the 8 and 9 year old girls for Activity Days twice a month. Seriously the best calling in the Church. My hobbies include basketball teams, baseball teams, Senior all night party planning, getting a senior ready to graduate, helping with mission papers and college applications, nursing and hospital administration (that's what it's felt like around here...), making lots of various doctor, physical therapist, orthodontist, and dentist appointments, figuring out cell phones and other technological devices and the plans that go with them..., and the ever present dilemma of what to feed the masses. We also manage to get away once in a while-it's getting easier as the kids get older. It is strange though having the house so quiet and empty a lot of the time.
This has truly been a period of paydays for us as we watch our children mature into such good people. We marvel at how strong their testimonies are and how they just really seem to get it! We are so grateful for each of them and especially the relationships they have with each other. The hardest part of the children growing up has been that we can no longer "fix" everything for them. We can no longer make everything all better with a hug and a kiss. But that is where the Savior takes over. More than ever we are grateful for the knowledge that we have a Savior who knows us and loves each one of us. And more than ever we are grateful for the knowledge that our family is eternal regardless of circumstances that might temporarily separate on earth.
We are so grateful for this time of year when we celebrate the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We look forward to receiving Christmas cards and catching up with old and new friends. We are surrounded by great people and wonderful examples. We are filled with gratitude for these blessings and many others. We wish you a wonderful Holiday Season and much happiness and success in 2013!
(I'm gonna be so mad if the world does end tomorrow because I finally got this blog done...)
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