Here's what everyone's been up to: (I was hoping to get individual family pictures, but may not)
CJ & Stephanie are still down in Tucson finishing up CJs residency there. He has been interviewing for jobs and we're all keeping our fingers crossed that they'll choose somewhere closer! We love to hear his stories of pediatric dentistry dilemmas. It has been fun to go down and visit them in Oro Valley near the base of those beautiful mountains. We've taken fun hikes and made memories there. Stephanie is busy doing the mom thing running kids around and making a good home for them. Charlie lost some more teeth this year, Hannah started preschool & Baby Cakes (Kate) is potty training and finally getting hair!
Paul & Skye are in American Fork, UT. Paul started a new job at DOMO this year and loves it! He and Skye are super health conscience, but we love it when we come to visit and get their yummy cinnamon rolls. We do - infrequently- go to the gym with them while visiting too. Besides being the busy mom, her & her mom are busy with orders for their business, thesugarlanecompany.com (check them out). Chance started school, Demi will start preschool (as soon as she gets this potty training thing down), and Baby Bear (Blaire) keeps them all in line with her curly headed demands.
Jerry & Jessica have stayed near the homefront, although they are having Christmas in Germany this year. Jerry is our #1 employee, and we are so happy he is loving what he does (most days). Jessica has been busy this year babysitting her cousin-in-law (Nettie) and various neighbors & friends children. She took a little break from that to come learn the administrative stuff at our office, before having the baby, and within a week after. Busy mama! Madison is in her 2nd year of preschool. Logan makes life fun & crazy! They both went to preschool for a little bit together, and played soccer. Baby MacKenzie (Papa has yet to give her a nickname) joined the family September 1st, and is so precious, especially as she is smiling and laughing now!
Brandee moved up to American Fork earlier this year to make a home in Paul & Skye's basement. They made her the cutest room up. She is such a great aunt (and is getting lots of practice living with different siblings) and will be such a great mommy herself . . . someday. She works at Iggy's and they love her there. She also works at Skye's father's car lot, and is learning administrative stuff there, as well as upgrading her car from the Suzuki she's had forever, to Kia Crossover. She is a hard worker, and we miss her around here. She took her dog, Mayhem up with her and spent the summer hiking in the beautiful mountains there. He is a "snow-bird" dog, and is now back with us, instead of in the snow.
Kyle got back from his mission in the West Indies, where he loved sharing the gospel and serving the people there. He likes to cook curry for us (who only mom will eat), and play his Reggae music, and treat us with stories from what it was like there. He started school at MCC and is a good student, as well as working at Sub-Zero (ice cream place - go see him there at Stapley & Baseline) He is such a performer, as he wows people with his liquid nitrogen skills, making it in front of them and catering events. He is hoping to get a job in the banking industry (if anyone knows of an opening let him know!)
Jenni moved back to Arizona after a 2 year stay in Washington (we call it her mission-btw she loves hanging out with sister missionaries. She even got close to the ones that lived with us). She had such great adventures up there. She started out living with Nikki, then moving in with a few different co-workers. She worked at many places, including Jamba Juice, Panera Bread, and her favorite (but most demanding) Staybridge Suites Hotel in the Buffet Kitchen. She's learned lots of skills, how to buy & sell stuff, how to get a job! She is now at the Marriott front desk in downtown Mesa.
Nikki & Shaun are still in WA, but Shaun has interviewed at different places to transfer with Boeing. We hoped for a moment that they'd move to Utah, so we'd have more family together there, but we do love visiting Washington. Nikki worked outside the home for a little bit this year, but is busier than ever back at home. She is not just a soccer mom, but a football & basketball mom as well. We were there this August in the coldest weather to watch Jaydon's first football game. We love being Grammy & Grampy to Jaydon & Gavin!
BEST VACATION EVER!
Our highlight of the year was going on a Disney Cruise together in May! Disney really knows how to make a vacation fun! They know how to suck you in to doing another one too; throughout the ship they'd ask if this was our first Disney Cruise and we'd answer YES and I'd think "this will be our only Disney Cruise". But we could tell there were people who were experts and come every year. I'm wondering if they live out of their cars and just save up for it (hmmmm, might be worth it) They had Disney characters all over the ship everyday, super fun, family friendly restaurants, pirate night where we all dress up and have a family dance, amazing stage shows, movies & ice cream anytime, day or night, coolest pool & tube slide, and even their own island, Castaway Cay. We got cabins with balconies all adjoining, and the single adult children had inside cabins, but would come over and hang out on the balconies with us. It was great fun, mostly that we were all together!
