Kids and their stockings

Christmas

Hattie

Hattie in Utah summer of 2012

Post Christmas

I can't believe Christmas is over already! The kids had a great Christmas being spoiled. The two older girls got their I Pod touch that they have been wanting for ever! And the boys got legos and a remote control car. Hattie got a Hello Kitty airplane that she is in love with! But I was spoiled this year too from my hubby! I got a notebook Asus for school. Yes you read that right. I just finished my first semester of college. I only took two classes, but I got A's in both of them! I will take two more classes for the next two semesters which will end in July 2013. Then I start full time. I am taking classes with BYU Idaho online. It is a wonderful program that makes it affordable for me to go. It is called the Pathway program. It has been challenging at times, but I am really enjoying it! I also got bath salts and chocolate for Christmas! I got Dean a new printer that he can print off his IPad and I can off my notebook. He also got a few other things he wanted. We made lots of treats this season - we delivered 22 plates of treats! On Sunday we had the Bake Family Christmas party at our house. There were 19 cousins and all their parents. It was a full house with a lot of good food! This year Ellen started 8th grade at the middle school. She played basketball this year and had a lot of fun doing. She fouled out in one game and was thrown to the ground in another game. Over all she played great - especially since she hasn't played basketball on a team since 2nd grade! She is in a few clubs at school too; builders club (they do a lot of service and raise money for different things.) ski club, art, and book club. She has also gotten all A's this year. Ellen will be turning 14 on January 12. 2013. This year she earned her Young Women's Award (which is like the Eagle Scoot award for boys) and she just finished up her Honor Bee award ( 40 hours of service.) Alexis started 6th grade this year and she is in the middle school with Ellen. She turned 12 in November and moved up to Young Women's at church. Alexis too has gotten all A's this year too. With cut backs at school, the 6th graders don't get to do many sports. But this spring she wants to either play tennis with Ellen or run track. She is in the same clubs as Ellen which has helped her adjust to middle school. She is loving school and had made lot of new friends! Danny started 2nd grade and turned 7 last year. He loves school and his friends. He is looking forwards to turning 8 in April and being baptized. He loves to read, play video games, and play games with the family. And he likes to be called Daniel at school. It sounds so weird to here little kids call him Daniel! Deano started kindergarten this year. He too loves school. He is still in speech, but doing really well. We have to remind him to slow down and use all his words. He has MANY friends at school! He is learning lots and wishes he was there all day (or mom does!!) Hattie turned 3 in November and is getting to be a big girl - even though she won't go potty in the potty chair!!! She loves kitty's and playing with her brothers. She loves painting her nails with her big sisters and eating chocolate with them! Like I said, I started college this year. It is rewarding to see that I can do well in school and be an example for my children. I want them to know it is important to go to college. I keep busy with that and taking care of the kids and house. We also clean Dean's work building once a week. It has been good for the kids to learn how to work and do it right. Sometimes it is more of a fight then it is worth, but it is good that they learn to work! Dean is still at RSCI, it as 12 years last October! He has been a project manager there. He pretty much finished up a job that was up in ND on an Indian reservation. It took about twice as long as it should have and took it's toll on Dean. He took a 3 week leave from work in October and tried to figure out what he wants to do. He went back to work at RSCI but for right now he is trying out being a Super Indention. Less stress and a much needed break. He is working on getting his Professional Engineer Licence also. The plan right now at work is that he will start traveling in April of 2013 to his job site. He will be gone Sunday night - Thursday night or Friday morning. Not ideal, but we will re look at it all after that job is done (April - July or August.) I am not excited about the change, but if it makes him happy and less stressed, it is worth it. Things will work out in the end! This year has been a busy one and I don't see it slowing down in 2013! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!!