2012 Year End Review

Aeris

At age 5 ½ she’s still Mom & Dad’s little sweetheart.  She finally reached the growth chart at her 5-year check-up.  In June she finished her second year of Preschool with Miss Amanda.  I cut back from helping in the class both days she attended to just one of the three days for her Pre K class.  The adjustment was difficult at first, but an important step toward leaving Mom 5 days a week at kindergarten.  After a quick summer break, she started Kindergarten in August.  She’s flying through reading levels and is quick with numbers too.   

At the end of every day we all laugh about what Aeris did that was funny.  Our favorite was the day a substitute bus driver stopped to pick her up in a substitute bus.  She took one look at the unfamiliar bus and old driver and ran the other way saying, “That’s not Mike and that’s not my bus.  I’m NOT getting on.”  There’s no changing her made-up mind.  She gave us a scare when she reacted to a cashew nut this summer even though she'd been allergy tested two years ago.  After another round of allergy testing, we are now carrying epi pens and keeping tree nuts out of the house.

Logan

We started off an exciting year by celebrating his second real birthday on February 29^th (eight years old!) and then a baptism two days later.  He also joined the cub scouts!  In April he raced his first pinewood derby car, proudly named "Back to the Future."

He’s another comedian in our household and at school.  He has no shortage of friends and no shortage of talents.  He continues to do tricks on his bike, played soccer in the spring, loves gymnastics and has started piano lessons.  His third grade teacher expects much responsibility.  It’s hard for him to focus on schoolwork when he’d rather be playing, but he’s made amazing progress in his reading and math.  He participates in the school choir.  Everyone laughed when he announced at the Christmas concert that he loves Santa Claus "because he brings stuff we don't want but we like."  Hmmm.

Jade

She’s in her last year of elementary school as a 6^th grader, counting the days until she can claim to be a middle school student.  In September she turned 12 and left primary behind to be a part of the YW organization at church.  She worked with a private swim coach during her summer break at our pool and made it onto the rec. center swim team in August.  She keeps busy with practices three days a week and meets once a month.  The breaststroke is her favorite swimstroke.   

She spends her free time reading books by the dozen and playing the piano.  We increased her practice time by putting a full-sized electronic piano into her room.  She played her 7^th soccer season in the spring and took tennis lessons in the summer.She sings in the school choir.

Jaynan & Nate

We celebrated 16 years of marriage on our anniversary in July!

We started out the year with a trip to NYC!  It was our first time in the city and our first time leaving the kids at friends’ houses for so long!  We saw Wicked on Broadway and spent the Chinese New Year in Chinatown.  The view from floor 102 of the Empire State Building was phenomenal!  We nearly lost our way in the Met and the giant Macys store and had the chance to play the BIG piano at FAO Scwartz.  Our time at Ground Zero was heart wrenching.  I’d love to go back when the construction is complete.  The memorials are awesome.

I volunteer my time as a cub scout den mother and as the UFMC historian/newsletter specialist and the Secretary/Treasurer for the Riverton Area of the NFMC.  28 piano students fill our home with beautiful music all week.  How lucky we are!

Nate works hard 5 days a week at Fidelity Investments.  It’s not a job that he loves, but he thrives at nonetheless.  He made a move from their American Fork location back down to the Gateway.  The commute is long, but made easier by the new Frontrunner train opened this month by UTA.

We made some home improvements this year.  I finished my garden this fall just before the snow.  I can’t wait for planting season!  The boxes are beautiful and with the soft soil the plants will thrive.  I’m sure the harvest will be bountiful.  We finished the theater, bar, and game room in the basement.  We put in all the flooring and will put in cabinetry this spring.  We are so grateful for the friends and family who have helped us with these projects!  (You know who you are!)

Mellco Landscape put in the Rock steps.

Bar area, before carpet installation  Game room & half bathroom are beyond the tile.

The theater

We have the 50 inch plasma wall-mounted for TV and use the projector and 100 inch electric screen exclusively for movies.  We have 7.1 surround sound.
Beyond the hallway is a set of double doors leading to the storage room, two bedrooms that we finished last year, and full bathroom (photos upcoming when the cabinets are in!).

2012 has been a great year!