Family News Letter 2015 (a look back)

This is a bit late, but I love recapping each year (I couldn't resist). I wish the years didn’t go by so quickly. I can’t believe I have two teenagers now! I am so grateful to get to spend time with each and every one of my kids. They teach me so much every day. I know I could not be the person I am today without them. I am so thankful for my family!

Christian: Freshman year, age 15

Some accomplishments include: nominated King of the Royal Court for most likely to be on Comedy Central (still a work in progress, votes are in next week). He was also selected for flight commander for ROTC (he chose to do this as a second A hour class after 5:30 seminary). He is the teacher’s quorum president at church, I can’t believe how old he is getting!! Christian loved freshman marching band and made it into Jazz band with a great impromptu performance that won a position of only 20 in the entire school. He is also on the robotics team, Improv, he takes piano lessons and composes really creative and genius like music (according to himself), but you can listen here to decide what you think.

Quotes from this year I saved:

Christian has (since two years old) often created words that have meanings that are more all-encompassing than other words. An example is the word "honey" he used as a child that meant, affection, love, hi, bye, I want food and I love this. He said it with different emotional ques such as, "elated", "oh, well," "yeah," and "give me it now." That is how he talked. I am not really trying to say Christian has not evolved since he was two, but he still has a word every year or so that seems to take on the same value signs. Hopefully, he doesn't read this until later in life and hate me for exposing his childhood. Going forward a decade hi new word this year is, "whewlad." All one sentence. Very strikingly similar to honey in the context of versatility. It is used for what? I don't get it? I try to ask? I really want to know? He has convinced his fellow school mates that it is the next "awesome," "cool," and "dude." How does Christian pull this off? It's Christian, how else would you convince your fellow mates to use the word "whewlad" as an improvisation to anything and everything he chooses. Will I ever truly get this? I am not sure, but if my son can pull this off, I can for sure say he is "whewlad." Maybe one of his words will make the dictionary someday?

In the car on the way to school, “Mom, I love you so much it makes me want to cry. I am just amazed at how self-sacrificing you are. You are also mean and I wish you were nicer. I guess that is why you are a good Mom.” Thanks Christian, for your honesty!

Isabelle: Age 13, seventh grade.

Accomplishments: Isabelle is so musically talented. She has taught herself to play guitar, ukulele, piano (also takes lessons with Christian) and she is in choir at school. She has amazing friends at school and church that take up a lot of her time. She is also the Beehive president at church (young women’s group). She is totally a social butterfly and cannot stand staying home without a friend date for more than two days. Isabelle was also in a wonderful play called, Abigail Stands Fast put on by my Aunt's theater group. Isabelle was Abigail for a week. So funny!!

Here are some fun quotes from Isabelle:

Isabelle and her friends played stuffed animals for an entire day (yes, they are teenagers, who would think?). She came home and told me, “I was the mother of Paisley today. She needed a lot of attention.”

Isabelle helped put together 4,000 packaged meals for Feed My Starving Children in a day.

Abigail said, “I could hug myself, I am so wonderful.” Then she hugged herself. Isabelle said, “I could hug you because you are so wonderful too.” And squeezed her tight. Katie walked over and added two stretched out arms with a big smile.

Isabelle after reading Little Women with me (we are doing this at night sometimes) said, “I wish things were like the old days. Everyone was so nice.” I said, “I know, I wish people were nicer and more polite.” Isabelle said, “You are like that though Mama.” I said, “So are you Isabelle.” If only we could live up to these statements everyday!

Catherine: Age 10, fourth grade.

Accomplishments: Katie was selected for the student body council. She has done an amazing job collaborating with other students and organizing events. She is normally shy, but when she found out she could help out with the yearbook committee, she overcame all shyness and put on a presentation about how crafty she is and how she would really do a great job. Go Kate!! Katie chose to do horse lessons this year. She loves animals!! She is also taking violin and is a Pokémon’ expert.

Some quotes from this year:

Katie informed me that she is a Pokémon’ champion. She is also (according to her) a 3DS champion and an awesome person.

Katie wrote a note on a piece of paper and stapled it to my arm, “I would like to celebrate Pokémon’s 30^th anniversary so please buy Pokémon’ decorations and sugar so I can make a cake for them.” Then she told me, “I stapled it so you won’t forget. You always forget to buy milk, so I figured this would work.” After we celebrated Pokémon’ and played Pokémon’ cards.

Can you tell Katie likes Pokémon’? She also wears a “fennekin” hat to school every day, to church every Sunday and to bed. I do wash the hat occasionally. We love you Katie!! She would also like to be a video game designer when she grows up and would like to be like Christian (if you can’t tell, they are buddies).

Abigail: Age 7, second grade.

Accomplishments: Abigail chose to do ballet and tap dancing this year. She did an amazing job and worked really hard at it. She was also in my primary class at church. She loves to go to primary now (an accomplishment, for the first two years she didn’t like to leave me for the two hours). She is also getting baptized into our church in February! She is so excited and has learned to say her prayers in her head (she is very private about prayers) every night. We are so proud of this little one!!

Some fun quotes from this year:

“My favorite words are, this, that and the.” “Why Abigail?” “Because you can make so many sentences with them.”

I noticed chocolate smudges all over her favorite stuffed animal after Easter time so I asked her if I could wash her bear. She exclaimed, “No!! You will wash all the memories off!!”

A lovely book called, Have You Ever Seen a Sneep? inspired Abigail. In the book a monster eats underwear. She decided to try to catch a “sneep” while I was gone. I walked in the front door with groceries and found carefully placed underwear every few feet from the front door and all the way upstairs to her bed where a huge pile sat waiting. This is the mischief of a seven year old! She was quite concerned when I told her she could not catch a “sneep” with her underwear anymore.

After praying together I asked Abigail, “What do you feel like the Holy Ghost told you?” She looked at me and smiled, “The holy ghost told me the word Christ.” It was Christmas time.

Me: 29 and holding and last year in college.

I really feel like my accomplishments are above. I have enjoyed going to school for art, writing and literature. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family to support and help me each and every day. My kids are amazing, as you can see, and I feel like my life is nearly full to overflowing most of the time.

Some quotes by me, “I love my life. I love my family. I love my friends. Happy 2016!!” The end.