2014 Update!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Family and Friends!

As you can tell, this family blog hasn't been updated in some time (understatement), so I'll catch you up really quick on our 2014 goings on.

First, our biggest piece of news is that we moved! Through a series of job and career changes, we moved from Springville, Utah to Port Angeles, WA. We never saw it coming either, but so far we love it here and have plans in motion to build or buy a home in the next few months. And for the record...no, we have not seen any vampires or werewolves....yet. ;)

For now we are living an old house built in the 1920's. It has beautiful details and loads of charm, but it also sports a serious lack of closets and we have to go outside to access our laundry room. Delia is feeling very motivated to get us into our own house (another understatement).

We love that are minutes away from the ocean AND mountains, depending on which direction you drive. There is an endless supply of outdoor fun and beauty here and we love it!

Owen is 9, going on 10 in January. He is growing up so quickly! Seriously...has it been a decade since we became parents? It feels like longer... ;) kidding, kidding! Owen is the best first child we could ask for. He is helpful and responsible. He still loves all things ocean, so moving to the coast has been really exciting for him. He started playing the cello in the fourth grade orchestra and is really enjoying it. He is a Bear scout this year, and worked hard to earn his Bear before school started. Jared gets to be his cub master here in Port Angeles which has been fun for the both of them. Owen  has endured the challenges of moving schools and states, and transitioning to fourth grade with a patient and positive attitude. We are so grateful for his sweet disposition and happy sense of humor. He also sure keeps us on our toes at meal times...always scrutinizing how healthy our meals are ;) and then eating more than we do. He's only nine and a bottomless pit.

Reid, oh Reid. He is vivacious, sharp as a whip, intensely charming, and infectiously enthusiastic. He turned six in September, and was SO ready for kindergarten. He spent the previous year and summer resisting (understatement number three) any efforts Delia made to teach him and prepare him for school. Once he started school, he has completely changed his tune. He likes to finish his homework early, loves to read, is a star student, and is a total teacher's pet. What are we chopped liver? Really though, we have already dusted off our egos are glad that he is thriving and learning. We are also glad that school has helped him drop the habit of hiding clothes from us, so he could wear them over and over and over again without being washed. There is never a dull moment with Reid around! He is Owen's number one admirer and shadow. He loves playing Legos with Owen and getting into this snap circuit set and "messing everything up!" ha. ;)

Natalie is two. That sentence reveals a lot. I am sure you can deduce the rest....

But really, she is our busiest child yet. The world is her canvas. Literally. :) She has ruined many a pieces of furniture in her short life. When she isn't pulling pens out of thin air and making her mark, she is tumbling, dancing, and bouncing around the house reminding us that we really need to get her into gymnastics. Her other past times include trying to boss her brothers around (she is pretty convincing), playing with her imaginary pets, and cycling through several outfits changes per day. She is our teeny tiny, smiley, sweet, little sassy pants dare devil. She still suffers from severe allergies to dairy, egg, and peanut, but seems to be making small improvements. She is proof positive that tough stuff comes in small packages.

Jared and Delia are grateful to be able to celebrate their 12th anniversary this year. Life has been a Journey with a capital J and we are so thankful we have each other and our covenants to lean on, as we wend our way through.

We are also so incredibly grateful for this time of year to celebrate our Savior, who brings meaning and purpose to our lives. He is THE gift of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2015!



In case you just can't get enough of us ;), here are some random pictures from the year:

Owen's Baptism

My baby is eight and was baptized on Saturday!

It was such a neat experience for all of us and we are so proud of Owen and his decision to be baptized.

(For more information on Mormons go here.)

We started months ago talking about it with him. We wanted to make sure he was prepared to make the decision for himself (as much as an eight year old can). We had family home evening lessons on it and made sure he knew what being baptized would mean.

We had many moments of sweet testimonies being born, and the Spirit filling our home as we discussed the principles of the gospel and the covenants he gets to make at baptism.

The day of his baptism started a little rushed but in the end, it was a very uplifting, beautiful experience.

I asked to be apart of the program but there was unfortunately a mis-communication between our ward leaders and the stake leaders so that didn't happen. I was so grateful when they asked me to come up after the speakers and bear my testimony though. I felt guided by the Spirit to share how I remember feeling at my own baptism and felt even more filled with joy at Owen's decision.

Jared asked him how he felt afterward. In his words, "I feel like I'm floating. Like I'm weight-less."

In the busy-ness of the event and keeping track of Reid and Natalie I did not get a picture of Jared and Owen before they entered the baptismal font. Luckily a friend snapped a photo on his iphone. (Owen needs to be reminded to smile for pictures - but as his mom I am usually the only one to remember to do this :)).

Otherwise everything happened smoothly. Jared baptized Owen, and my father and Jared's brother, David, were witnesses. Jared performed the confirmation.

We had a small gathering of family and friends which turned out to be the perfect intimate setting for our shy boy.

I grabbed some pictures afterward though with all of the family that was able to attend.
*This picture makes me laugh. It was the last group picture...Owen kept closing his eyes, and Reid was so over it from picture one.

What a special day for our special boy. We love you Owen.

Other fun facts of the day:

We both forgot the baptismal clothing (which was why were late). When we got to the church building, Jared and I both looked at each other like, "I thought you grabbed the bag." oops.

We were so grateful that David and Kendra could come! They had to miss another family birthday and drive quite a ways. We feel thankful they made the sacrifice.

We had a family lunch for which I made a big pot of chili. Now, with the exception of Wendy's chili (seriously unexpectedly the best chili I've ever had) I don't really like chili enough to make it. In fact I had never made it before but until Owen requested it for his baptism/birthday lunch. Only for you Owen. :)

Reid was a grump the whole time and spent much of the program in time out. Maybe it was a good thing I wasn't speaking...

Natalie is afraid of everyone but Jared and I, so I held her the whole time. That is, until the end when David tried reaching for her. Like magic she cuddled right up to him. Wish I discovered that bit of information way earlier!

Owen's main concern before he got in the water was whether the water would be cold or not... It was warm.

We spent the evening at a Hibachi Restaurant but it took convincing. Owen was set on going to Golden Corral. Afterward, he was glad we made him try something new (and so are we). :)

We unfortunately missed church the next day because both Reid and Owen woke up with terrible coughs and fevers. We had a pretty full week of birthday celebrations, winning 1st place at his first Derby Car race, and a sledding birthday party. As with most busy weeks, it ended in us all getting sick, but we've enjoyed the needed rest and snuggles.

Natalie's 5 Months!

On Thursday, Natalie turned 5 months!

Her fourth month brought a lot of changes.

She's doing this now...

Whaaaat???

That's what I said.

She's smashed Owen's record of pre-crawling and sitting at 5 1/2 months, and has taken the gold with the family record of 4 1/2 months!

Then, during this very photoshoot, she surprised me again.

She pushed herself into a sitting position on her own! I can't remember the boys doing this until they were full on crawling.

First, it was against the couch and later it was to a free standing sitting position. She's still wobbly but getting steadier everyday.

Oh boy....sigh.
We've got trouble on our hands.

Cute trouble. :)

She's taken the gold in sitting, but can she in walking? Reid was slow to get moving, but once he did he was walking at 9 months. We'll see if she can sweep the all around.

It's going to be a nail biter.


How can I resist the Olympic references with this little gymnast around? (My favorite event to watch)

Oh and when this girl isn't busy sitting or army crawling backward, she's skydiving in her free time.

:)

That or making her brothers laugh.

She spits and squawks at the most inappropriate times.

And her brothers think she is the funniest thing since AFV. 

She also grabs at everything! She tried grabbing at my phone and knocked it out of my hands! The screen cracked with a case and a zagg shield on it.


Don't let this cute little face fool you.

She's tough.

Just look at her guns. (and her adorable double chin.)

 She's also our little lady...

 Still happy, but quite demanding as of late.

It might have to do with another new change.

Her first cold.

 Aw man. I guess it was bound to happen some time. I just pray she doesn't cry all night tonight like she did last night.

I'm also hoping she waits a bit before she starts getting teeth.

You've got to stay little in at least one way baby.