Please forgive me for taking the year off. It may appear that I only blog when I have something amazing to blog about but, the truth is, I really just didn't have a lot of happy feelings towards this past year. I can look back on it now and see that there were happy moments but, it was a super hard year for me. I had lots of responsibilities, which is not my strong suit... After leaving Moscow, we came home to a house that we had built while we were in Russia. We frantically painted the entire house, put in a sprinkling system and landscaped the yard before Chris left for Baghdad. After Chris left, the boys all started school and I started working. On the first day of school, a sprinkler part broke and flooded our entire basement. We had to rip up flooring and replace sheet rock. Due to crazy weather, our house flooded 4 more times in the next 3 months. Only once more did we have to rip up flooring etc... The other 3 times the boys and I were able to keep the water from ruining our flooring. They were amazing through it all! Ethan even had to move his bedroom to the garage for a few weeks. I'm sure I have pictures of it all somewhere but, I don't care to find them.
Ethan
Ethan finished his high school career at Mtn. Crest in Hyrum, Ut. He was able to graduate with all his friends that he had grown up with. It was pretty cool. He participated in the school plays, Improv group, worked part time and played a lot of guitar and drums.
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| Toledo Surprise in The Drowsy Chaperone. |
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| "What is it about Caucasians that fascinates the Asians?" Also Toledo Surprise |
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| Improv |
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| The Banana Men at The Battle of the Bands. |
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| Ethan and Emma at Senior Ball. One and only dance Ethan ever went to in high school. |
Ethan got his wisdom teeth out. We got a kick out of it. the only time I have ever seen Ethan dab!
Dalton
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| Dalton joined the track team this year. |
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| Got his driver's license! |
Dalton had the opportunity to go on a humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic. It was through our church youth program. He raised $2000.00 by working his guts out and got to go with a group of 15 kids to help build a school for 2 weeks. He loved every minute of it and was heartbroken to come home.
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| Dalton also earned his Eagle Scout Award this year. He collected money and donations to make homeless kits. He was able to make 100 kits and donated lots of extras to the homeless shelter. |
Seth
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| Seth took guitar at school and had to perform in a couple of concerts. |
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Thanks to his dad, Seth has realized he loves to ride on the roof of cars. I see a career path
in the making. |
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| We went to Bear Lake for a couple of days with our friend Sam Morgan |
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| Dalton and Seth got a job working in a haunted corn maze. |
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we got to go pick our own pumpkins at a pumpkin patch in Preston, ID with your friends the Jeppsens.
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We had a beautiful BIG dog for about 6 months before I
couldn't take it anymore and I sold her. This was a sad
day for the boys. This is when we found that Maggie
had eaten all the cheese balls. No denying it. She was
caught AND trapped. |
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We celebrated Christmas in November because that was when
Chris was home on leave. |
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| Grandma Sybil passed away this year. So glad we were home for this. |
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| These girls saved me this year! SO grateful for good friends who have your back even when you are a crazy lady! |
We spent a weekend in St. George for Bracken
and Kristen's wedding and got to spend some
time just goofing off. It was much needed
family time!
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| We were also able to go see Neal and Lori before leaving again. We sure love these guys! |
