Merry Christmas 2014

It’s December already.  Where has 2014 gone? This year has passed by the fastest yet, I believe. It was gone in about three blinks, I swear!

The beginning of this year we spent travelling to school basketball games and going skiing at the local ski resort. It was a lot of fun and time well spent. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to use my season ski pass with all my “seizures” (or twitches, as I like to call them).  My episodes seemed to taper off so I decided “What the heck?”  I think it was the best thing I could have done. We went 8 or so times before the season ended in March.

At Brighton Ski Resort

For Spring Break this year we took along Joe’s best friend, Ryan, aka “Gundy”. We went skiing at Brighton, rode mountain bikes on Antelope Island and took in a Jazz game. We were lucky enough to get our nose bleed seats moved down near the court AND got to sit next to former Jazz Coach, Jerry Sloan.  That was pretty cool.  Jerry’s wife told Gundy that she would be his agent. (The guy is 6’ 8”…. Perfect basketball material).

After school got out our lives did not seem to slow down.  If they did anything, it seemed like they were going even faster. Joe was able to go on an East coast tour with his school. They went to New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. They got to see Wicked on Broadway, go to a Yankees game, and tour our Nation’s capital.  It was the trip of a lifetime.

While Joe was travelling the big city, Jesse, Wayne and I went with about 200 other youth to Martin’s Cove, Wyoming. Martin’s Cove is the site where many LDS pioneers were rescued in October and November 1856. They were stranded, starving and ill prepared for the early winter storms as they were headed to Salt Lake City.   We participated in our own hand cart trek across the sagebrush to learn of those pioneers and to also get a taste of what it may have been like. It was an amazing trip. It was a touching, spiritual experience to say the least.

Poor Justin was left home to take care of the dog while everyone else was off adventuring.  I did try to make it up to him later this summer. The kids and I went back to Nebraska for a whirlwind trip. It was Grama’s 90th birthday in August.  It was Justin’s first time out there since he didn’t get to come when we went out there two years ago. We had a great time; even mom flew in from SLC to join in the celebration. Grama ripped it up for her birthday party in true Grama “Polka” fashion, although she did tell me we really should call her Grama “Slow Dance” now.  It was so good to spend time with Grama, mom, my aunts, uncles and cousins. They’re a hoot. The kids had a great time too. They were even lucky enough to see lightening bugs!

The day after we got back from Nebraska, Wayne and I were on a plane for our second trip to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. After our short 2 day trip in May, it was determined I had qualified for a study the NIH was doing. It required me to be out there for one week for testing and other fun stuff.  The basic underlying objective of the studies was to further understand how the mind and brain work to cause the symptoms of functional movement disorders. I don't know what they found out, but it was an interesting experience. You can read about the adventure and the one back in May in their entirety here: http://frogsqueeze.blogspot.com/.  It was an amazing trip.  Wayne and I saw so many cool things while we were back there. We were also able to catch up with an old friend from college. He and his wife were superb hosts and gave us the grand tour. Wayne and I never knew the East coast could be so enjoyable.

Joe spent the summer on camp crew with the Forest Service again. He was able to go on a couple fires out in Oregon and Washington. He is hoping to get on as a “real” seasonal this coming summer since he will be graduating in May. I can’t believe he’s a senior in high school this year. Time really has a way of getting away from you. Joe finished his Eagle Scout project this summer. He built a Dutch oven grill at a Forest Service guard station. He spent lots of time welding at the high school. It turned out really nice…. Now if we can get him to finish his one merit badge he’ll have it made.

Joe also got his braces off FINALLY! Poor kid has had them on for almost as long as Justin.
Joe didn't make the basketball team this year. We all were pretty bummed, but Joe's kept a great attitude. He has already been taking advantage of his ski pass this winter…trying to catch up on all those days he missed because of basketball years before. I'm thinking he'll be fine.

Jesse is 15 and a sophomore. It‘s official; she made it to the six foot mark this year. I get a kick reading the basketball roster for her team.  Everyone ranges between 5’ 2 – 5’ 10” and then there is Jesse 6’ 0”. Makes me smile. She does look like a giant out there on the court compared to the others. It does come in handy getting rebounds. :) She told Wayne and me that she really wanted to be 6’8”.  I’m not entirely sure why, since it’s hard enough to find jeans that are long enough as it is!

Justin is 13 and on his last year at the middle school. He and Jesse were the same height up until the other day. We stood them back to back and Justin had Jesse by a half inch at least. He’s growing so fast. If he keeps it up he’s going to be the size of Andre the Giant. Justin did shot-put for track this Spring. He threw it pretty well.  They didn’t have enough kids for an 8th grade football team this fall, but next year he’ll be at the high school. It will be fun to watch and see what unfolds in the coming years.

Jesse said something to us this summer that still has me giggling every time I think about it. I was having a “twitchy” day and I think Wayne’s eyes were killing him so we both were sitting on the couch feeling sorry for ourselves.  Well, Jesse in her loving bluntness says… "Well, aren’t you two just a bowl full of special?" It made us both laugh. A couple weeks later she brings home a sign that said:

“Everyone adds their own ingredient to our bowl full of special.”

She had made it in 4H.  She was quite proud of her craftiness, and rightfully so. A perfect family slogan if ever I saw one!  It is something I will cherish always.

I hope that this letter finds you and yours doing well this Christmas season.  Our family has been blessed, I have no doubt. It’s been a good year with ups and downs, but all-in-all a good one. I am so thankful for my faith and my family.
Sending our love to you all, Merry Christmas!