2014 Family Highlights

We wish you all a merry Christmas and hope you enjoy reading about our family as much as we enjoy reading about yours.

Our family took up a new sport last March during spring break.  We took the family snow skiing for the first time.  The kids all loved it and Nathan has spent some time outfitting the family for the new season.

Robyn and Nathan --- Nathan started the year with back pain and decided to have the surgery to remove a herniated disc.  To celebrate their 20^th anniversary Nathan surprised Robyn with a hot air balloon ride in the morning and a white water raft trip in the afternoon.  They helped plan Robyn’s parent’s 50^th anniversary celebration and family retreat this summer, making sure all nine kids and their families could attend.  Nathan continues to work at Intel and as the ward clerk.  Robyn continues to read too much, drive kids around and will be training her 4^th partner as wolf den leader.

Collin (17) --- This year Collin finally got his driver’s license, his first job and completed his Eagle Scout project.  For his Eagle project he improved part of a trail at a local natural area.  As a senior Collin has been busy filling out college applications and preparing for life after high school.  He played tennis with the school team.  He has enjoyed playing his trombone with the band throughout high school and plans to join the band on a performing tour in Europe this coming March.

Randy (soon to be 16) --- Randy got his driving learner’s permit this year and has been begging to drive everywhere we go.  Randy had a great time working at the Boy Scout camp this summer as both a counselor-in-training and dishwasher.  Randy enjoys attending the charter high school but struggles with the heavy work load.  Randy plays the cello with the school orchestra.  He also enjoyed playing tennis with Collin and some of his friends on the local high school team.

Owen (12) --- When Owen became a deacon this summer we realized we had a member of the family in every quorum of the ward.  Owen has no fear and really took to the slopes and enjoys skiing with the family.  Owen plays the violin at school and is taking piano lessons at home.  He is a typical boy and loves to play computer games like Minecraft.

Sydney (10) --- Sydney started karate and plans to follow Collin, Randy, and Nathan and earn a black belt (they earned theirs in 2013).  She loves singing in the choir at school and also takes piano lessons.  Sydney and Owen got to go on their first horseback ride while we stayed at the YMCA last spring break.

Cora (5) --- Cora’s big adventure this year was when she got locked in the bathroom at the local park.  She has even asked Nathan how to say, “I got locked in the bathroom,” in Spanish.  She now knows not to go in alone especially at dusk.  She has discovered how much fun it is to have “neighbors next to us,” that she can play with practically every day.  She loves going to preschool and we have many interesting conversations along the way.  For example one day she asked if I knew everything. I told her I knew some things and she replied, “Well, can you tell me?!”  "Tell you what?"  "Everything you know!"