Christmas Card 2012

With the coming of fall it brought some calmness to our challenges that we have faced this past year, which we are truly grateful for. No family is without trials and ours was no exception this year.
 

In the spring Nathan was rock climbing (bouldering) so he was without a harness and fell 13 feet and landed between the mats and broke his ankle. We will spare you the awful pictures of his compound fracture. They did emergency surgery that night, coming out with new permanent hardware…two plates and twelve screws. He was on crutches for the next three months and finally out of the boot in July. With all that happened, he still managed to finish his Associates Degree, work, date, and start up to the University of Utah. He is finally back on his two feet and going strong.

At the same time Landon was in his senior year of High School, deciding where to go for college, playing baseball and trying to enjoy all the senior fun. He graduated from Cottonwood High School, Seminary, and the Academy of Finance and is going to Salt Lake Community College and working as a runner for Jeff’s work. With the missionary age change he is working on putting his papers in January and hoping to leave the middle of May, right after school gets out in the spring.

Jeff was released as Stake Young Men’s President in August and is a little lost after being involved with the Young Men for the last six years.  Not too lost though…they have asked us to be a Ma and Pa for the Trek to Martin’s Cove in July. He continues to enjoy hunting & fishing with his Dad, brother and boys when he can sneak away from his busy job.

I faced my own health challenges. In April I ended up in the hospital with Pericarditis which was fluid and inflammation between my heart and the lining of my heart caused by a virus. It has taken until fall to fully heal. I still managed to drive Nathan to school and work during his recovery and go to Landon’s games and all of his senior events. 

Landon’s much awaited graduation trip came in July and we headed to Boston to see his favorite baseball team the Red Sox play against the Tigers, Twins, & the Rangers. Boston is an amazing place and so rich with the history of our countries beginning. It was a memorable experience for our family. Through all of what life has given us this year, we are grateful for the peace we have of just being a family.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” -Robert Brault

Enjoy the Seasons of Life,

Jeff, Joan, Nathan & Landon

Christmas 2012

Return to Bethlehem

Halloween 2012

Halloween is Nathan's favorite holiday. He loves to think up a costume and then tells me to work my magic. When I got his picture text of what he wanted to dress up like this year I was a little taken back. First of all, I had no clue who it was...with a little shopping and some great resources we put it together.

His costume was Macklemore  a white rapper from the music video And We Danced. I still don't have a clue who he is but, he took 1st Place at work and at his other parties he went too.

 Now there is Landon, who hates dressing up...his Halloween fun consisted of buying TONS of Trick or Treat candy for work. Every year VBFA invites the employees kids to come Trick or Treating. As part of his job he purchased two and half carts of candy. This is just one of the carts. He had to make two trips to fit it all in the Jimmy and then the other runner went to Costco for more. That is a LOT of Candy.

Cogent Softball Champions 2012

Nathan on the Cogent Softball Team
The team finished with a perfect record of 8 and 0...and scored over 200 runs!

Sooner than we thought...

I don't tweet or do Facebook but, I am pretty sure they are all a buzz about what was announced in General Conference today. In the morning session President Thomas S. Monson changed the age of the missionaries to serve for young men to the age of 18 years old and young women from 21 years of age to 19 years old.

As a mother of an 18 year old it will totally impact us. Landon now has the opportunity to go sooner. As President Monson was speaking; I'm thinking...am I really hearing this right? I texted Jeff knowing that they were hunting up in the mountains and cell phone cover is spotty. I was anxious to hear what Landon would think. The response came back..."Wow, Landon said, he will get his papers started and go as soon as school is out in the spring." He was going to put his available date as the middle of June hoping they would let him go before he was nineteen so he could get back before school would start in the fall. With this change it will make this all possible. So the missionary thing will be happening a little sooner than we thought...I am excited for him and us...sure hope I am ready to do this again. The sooner he goes the sooner he comes home, right???

No more Apples for the Teacher...

All though the sky was blue and it was still warm as I went on my walk this morning it will no longer be the typical summer morning walk as the kids in the neighborhood headed back to school today. It was a very quiet walk as I passed two people cleaning cobwebs from the eaves of their houses and waved to the crossing guard as she waited for the kids to come. I smiled as I watched our neighbors come out and cheer their son and some of the other kids as they came home from their first day of Junior High School. Our boys both started college last week. Nathan started at the University of Utah and Landon at Salt Lake Community College. So there will be no apples for the teacher or parent teacher conferences this year for us. Yes, it was quiet around the house this morning but, Landon came home and then Nathan. They both headed off to work and it will be quiet again until they come home for dinner. For me...I love them at home; in and out at all times of the day. I know it won't be long before they are gone so, I will just enjoy it while I can. I am truly grateful for this time with them.

Boston Trip-The Freedom Trail

Boston's Freedom Trail is a two and a half mile walk through the historic district that transports you back to the city's Revolutionary period.

Home of Paul Revere built in 1680

"The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere"

The actual site of where the Boston Tea Party crowd of people originated

The Old State House is an Historic landmark built in 1713

 

Following the clearly marked trail

The view of Boston as we ferry across to the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill

USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. The sad part was that it is closed on Monday's...bummer.

We were able to tour this ship though...who's the funny guy sleeping in the bunk!

Two-day engagement between British forces and American forces.The Americans had occupied Breed's Hill in Charlestown on June 16, 1775, in order to protect the shipyard of nearby Boston. The next day, the British attacked. They took the hill but suffered heavy losses. The Americans fired until they were out of ammunition, then quickly retreated. To conserve ammunition, Prescott told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Even though the battle was fought on Breed's Hill, it has been remembered as the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Boston Trip-Lexington and Concord

The Battle Green...The American Revolution took place here at dawn on April 19, 1775

 

 

Buckman Tavern where the Lexington miltia gathered

Battle Road Trail, Minute Man Historical Park

The North Bridge is the site of the first effective forcible resistance to the British Parliament's rule in America.

Boston 2012

On the Green Monster

Red Sox Fans

Fenway Park - 100 Years

We stayed at the Omni Parker House Hotel the oldest hotel in Boston and where Parkerhouse rolls were first made.

Chillin' on the steps at Harvard during our tour.

We took the Boston Duck Tours to get a good feel for Boston

Eating a Cannoli from Mike's Pastry

Museum of Science

Ernesto's...The Best Pizza

Happy 18th Birthday!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Landon when he was 8 years old. Some times I would love to stop time and just enjoy certain times of my boys lives...but instead they just keep getting older on me. Today is his 18th Birthday...where did the last 10 years go. I started this blog the fall of 2009 so I would be ready to journal Nathan's mission. Here I am again with Landon a year away from going on his mission. A lot has happened in our families lives since then and although this next year will be a year of mixed emotions I want to enjoy every minute of it with him. Happy Birthday...Landon!

Activity Day at Hogle Zoo

Today for Activity Day we went to the Hogle Zoo...our cute girls on the Polar Bear Statue. Kaylee, Aurie, Chelsie, Lauryn, Rachel, Remi, and Jasmine.

We were first in line to get into the Bird Show and had the best seats in the house. Shady and right in the path of swooping birds...the girls were ducking and squealing! So Fun!

The Bald Eagle was awesome and put on a great show for us.

Jasmine was the only one that wanted her picture taken in the Eagles Nest.

Rizzo the new polar bear at the new Rocky Shores Exhibit...he did not disappoint the huge crowd.

He keep swimming right up to the window and then would push off from the glass.

Just chillin' in the water...

I could have watched him for hours...polar bears are my favorite!

The Grizzlie cub just getting out of the water

A great morning at the Zoo. Thanks to Kathy for getting us all in! It has changed so much since I last went. We forget how many neat things we have right here in are own backyards. If you haven't been in awhile...you need to go. I want to go back for more!