What a fun filled 2024! We had some fun amazing adventures and some new and exciting things happen this year! We thought it would be fun to share a more thorough update to our family happenings. (yes we know we haven't updated this blog in 10 years!)
As a family we went to Kauai, Hawaii in January (our kids asked for a trip last Christmas). We loved exploring the jungle areas of Kauai. We surfed and snorkeled, hiked and enjoyed some great food. Avery, Lily and Mason were able to stand up on a surf board, and Owen and Quincy enjoyed the boogie board.
Mountain Bike season takes up a big chunk of our year and we love it. Avery and Lily rode on the NDC team this year with Brian and Amanda helping out as ride leaders during practices. One race Avery and Lily both took 3rd together, with Lily and Avery also podiumed a few other times. As a high schooler, Avery got to go to state being placed 6th in our region (around the 36th spot in state and finished in 21st! We have every condition for our races, from rain to blistering heat to waking up to a few inches of snow at State. Mason is excited to ride this coming year.
Speaking of biking, Quincy (5) decided to have a brave year and learned how to ride her bike without training wheels! She was really timid at first, but once she learned she has loved to go riding! with a fall birthday, she has one more year at home before Kindergarten. Quincy misses having her brother Owen at home during the school day, but does go to dance, and does Upstart Preschool online and an at home once a week preschool Amanda teaches her and 2 other little girls. Her favorite thing to do is "arts and crafts," and can't let the day go by without creating something fabulous. She also learned to swim and is quite the little fish in the water.
Owen (7) is blasting through first grade and has become quite the reader. He is currently reading his first ever chapter book and is proud of his accomplishments. He loves math, and loves checking out books at the library on the math section. He is also a great bike rider and became quite the skier last winter (and is looking forward to another ski season!). He has a soft heart and also loves hanging with his little sister Quincy. He still has quite the imagination and loves playing pretend. He is convinced we should go to Kauai every year.
Mason (11) is excited to be ordained a Deacon and get the priesthood this coming January and go to the temple to do Baptisms for the Dead with his siblings. We loved watching him play soccer and basketball this year (Amanda even coached his soccer team). He is also fearless skier and loves solving Rubik's cubes. He played Tad the Butterfly Fish in the musical, Finding Nemo, Jr and is currently getting ready to play Bunsen in The Newsies, Jr. He followed in Lily's footsteps and started taking piano lessons and viola in his schools orchestra class. Avery also managed to break his arm for the first time this year (surprised it wasn't sooner!) He broke it while mountain biking but it only stopped him for about a week. When the doctor said he could still ride while wearing his cast, he took it to heart and went just as crazy. (It was even a little broken by the time we got it cut off).
Watch out folks, Avery (16) is an official driver and a high schooler! He is hoping to get a car soon and has been busy with mountain biking during the summer and snowmobiling and skiing in the winter. He can hit a 20 foot gap jump on his bike (mom doesn't watch) and enjoys making videos of his jumps. He also tried out track, running the 800m, 1600m, and the 4x200 relay. He took 5th a few times in the 1600m and 800m and came in 8th at districts in the 1600m.
Lily (14) is our social butterfly and seems to be going a million places at once, but she loves it. Besides MTB team and the Jr High Musical, she really enjoys playing the piano and the viola. She also participated in the Film Festival at the school and we can't wait to see her performance in the student films. This spring she tried out track and did really well, running 800m & 1600m. She took 5th at one of her races and went to districts, placing 11th in the 800m. She also got braces this year along with Avery and is almost at the halfway mark- woot, woot!
Amanda & Brian are kept busy running around with the kids, but love it all the same. Amanda did get to go on a backpacking trip with some other ladies and even did some cliff jumping. She serves in the Relief Society as the 2nd counselor as well as helps in the elementary school PTA over membership and the yearbook. Brian still works at Hill Air Force base and serves as a leader over the Priest age in the Young Mens organization. He also went to Girls Camp with Lily for the first time as well as young mens camp and Camp Helaman (Priest camp). He was ready for a break from camping this summer! He has been able to go on a few trips to Tucson, Las Vegas, Florida & Savanna, Georgia through work.
Our biggest news for the upcoming year is we are having a house built just down the street from us. We are sad to move wards but excited to stay in the stake and school boundaries. We've learned that picking out colors and making house decisions is stressful, but we are so excited to see it all finished!
As we reflect back on the year this coming Christmas season, we've had some amazing blessings, even with some hard things in between. We are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ and all He has done for us. We hope you family is doing well and may the Lord bless you this coming year.
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