5 Years Later...
It's been over 5 years since I have posted anything here. I miss it. I have turned to Instagram as a way to share and document our daily happenings with pictures and text...but I miss the details. I have the worst memory, and coming back to this blog and reading the details of trips, games, milestones...I love it. So I am going to start posting more here for my own sake. I want to remember these times! They are flying by faster than I ever imagined! Noah was 11 the last time I posted...he is now 16 and a Junior in High School. Time is a thief! But I am determined to enjoy it! Here's a brief update about our family...
BEN // Ben is 8 years old and keeps us on our toes every single day! He is in 3rd grade and is so so smart! He has had a knack for math since he was very young, and he is now shining in his class as he already knows all of his multiplication and beyond. He loves to read and is always looking for a new book to read. He has struggled a bit with his speech...Rs are rather hard for him to say. But we are working on it with the school speech pathologist and I know that he will do great as the weeks go on. This has been a trial for our little man, but I know how determined he is to overcome it, and he will. I have no doubt! He adores his teacher this year and has so many friends in his class...which is a blessing and a curse. He has had to learn to be quiet in school and not chat...which is hard for him! He is quite the social butterfly and loves to be engaged with his peers. He got baptized in July and we are so proud of him and his decision. He is quite the spiritual little guy...he is always reminding us to say family prayers, to read scriptures, and he loves going to church and learning! I love his little spirit and the love that he has for the gospel at such a young age. He loves sports, especially football and basketball. He completed his 2nd year of football this year and loved every second. He never ever complains about going to practice and he always gives it his all! If you were to ask him what his favorite part of playing football is, he would say being on a team with his friends and HITTING! He loves to tackle...and he does a good job at it! On his team this year, he played the entire game on both offense and defense. He loves it all! He also LOVES going to the Utah games and gets rather disappointed when it's not his "turn" to go. When he does go, he is always engaged and cheers so loud. He takes after his dad and brothers! And mom too! He has so many friends right now...2 in particular that have made a great impact on his life. They make quite the cute little threesome and it's so fun watching them together. He also loves being home and is known to leave friends to just come home and be with the family. He loves movies and shows, and also playing games with Isaac. He will always come and give me a hug when he leaves and when he comes home...I can ALWAYS rely on him for that!
KATE // Kate is 10 and is becoming such a beautiful little lady. Her personality is quite different from the other kids, as she is often found spending time at home and she enjoys being alone. She saved up her money and bought a mini iPad this summer. She loves to draw, read, watch movies...and of course we take very needed precautions to make sure she's not always in her room on her iPad. She has friends, but not too many. She is not a social butterfly like her other siblings. She has had some challenges with friends this year, and she has turned to me as her companion. We truly spend so much time together, but it is what she wants. She thrives being with me, and I respect that. Lots of encouragement is needed to get her to go with friends sometimes, but we're working on it. It has been a little heartbreaking for both of us, but it is a challenge that we are alway working on. She can do hard things. She is still dancing...10+ hours per week! She loves it so much and I am so glad that she has this outlet. She shines when she is dancing, and watching her on stage is one of my most favorite things with Kate. Her smile eludes and I can feel how happy she is when she is performing. Makes my mama heart so so happy. School for Kate has been great. She is lucky enough to have her cousin, Sydney, in her class this year, which she LOVES! They are so lucky to have one another! I know that she treasures that friendship! Her class is a safe haven for her and she never complains about going to school and she always makes sure that she is up to date on all of her assignments. She does NOT like it when she falls behind. She is very persistent and ahead of the game...one thing I really admire about Kate! She makes us smile and laugh daily and her giggle is contagious! She gets along with all of her siblings, but lately she and Noah have been so close. Their little bond is just so great and I love seeing how special Noah makes her feel. She loves being with him! They have a lot in common and it's fun seeing them so happy together!
ISAAC // Isaac is 12 years old and is still he most mellow child. He definitely has a spicy side to him, but we don't see it very often. He is chill, kind, quiet, and so respectful. He is still a HUGE Utah fan...he bleeds red through and through. He even gets a "U" shaved in to the side of his head during football season! He is dedicated...and I don't ever seeing that change! Ever! He is now in 7th grade and really enjoying it. He was SO DONE with elementary school, so junior high has been a great change for him. He loves having different classes and he is doing so well! Straight As for his very first semester...he worked so hard and I'm so proud of him. He had to go and talk to a few teachers, which made him a little nervous, but he did it and raised his grades. He does not like having his grades low, so he is always striving to keep them up. He cares so much about his grades, which is definitely something that I hope sticks over the years! He just finished his 3rd year playing tackle football. He is small, but he is fierce! He loves playing football so so much and plans to keep in up in the years to come. His size has affected him a little as of late, but he will grow...we keep telling him that. It's just a matter of time. He also loves to play basketball and mountain biking. He especially loves going biking with Doug and Noah...and occasionally Ben. He has so many wonderful friends that are so kind and respectful. He loves spending time with them...he even hangs out with some girls! He doesn't "like" them, so he says, but he does like their friendship. He also loves being with his cousin, Elijah, who he also goes to school with. When he's not with is friends, he likes to be home and just chill out. He is also known for getting Noah and Ben to go and play ball with him in the front yard. He is such an active kid. Isaac grounds us...his mellow temperament makes him a "favorite" around here. We all crave being with him. He is truly adored!
LEAH // Leah is 14 years old and is growing up before our very eyes. She is beautiful...inside and out. Over the course of this past year she has grown to the point that she is now stealing my clothes and shoes. Very strange to me, but flattering at the same time. She loves makeup, skin care, clothes...all the things that teenage girls love. She loves school and has maintained a 4.0 for the past 2 years. She strives to do well in school always...she is known for being upstairs doing homework almost every weekday. I love how she sees school as an important part of her life now and in the future. I am so proud of her! Dancing is what she does in her spare time...close to 12+ hours per week! She truly is such a beautiful dancer and is she is always wanting to be better. Her focus and dedication is amazing to me and I'm so proud of her. She never ever complains about going to any practice and she truly gives it her all each and every day. Her studio changes things up this year a bit, and it was honestly a bit hard for Leah to adapt to the new ways. But she has and she is making the most of it. She is so good at that. She sees her potential, and that is what matters! She is in a good number of dances this year, not as many as she had hoped, but she keeps her head up and does the best with what she has. She is also in the ballet that they are preparing to perform in a few months. She is on pointe in the ballet and I'm so excited to she her hard work, as well as her teammates, on stage. We are so excited for the upcoming competition season to see her dances on stage. Definitely something to look forward to! Leah also has so many friends...she has ALWAYS been a social butterfly. And I mean that. When she was just little she always found friends around her...she loves to be in the company of her peers. She has also had a few struggles and has learned who is a good influence on her and who isn't. She strives to surround herself with those with good morals and people who lift her up. She is also one to have an eye for those who need a friend...I love that about her! She truly is a gem and she and I have truly become besties over the past few years. Being with her makes me so happy!
NOAH // Noah is 16 years old...a JUNIOR in HIGH SCHOOL! I can hardly believe it. I remember when I was the same age...truly feels like yesterday. Yet here we are, with such an amazing young man who is gearing up to enter the world. Noah is an amazing student...school comes so naturally to him. It's kind of annoying how easy it is for him. He is taking a lot of classes this year that drive his interest, in the hopes that he can focus in on what he wants to do in the future. He is very interested in business and how to make money. Noah is already setting financial goals for himself, which I can not stop. He knows what he wants...and it will be fun seeing him get it. I know that he will too! His determination is amazing...he gets so focused in on what he wants and makes it a reality. He's always been like that! He just finished his second year on the mountain biking team at his school. He didn't make it to state, but that doesn't mean that he didn't do well. He moved up at each race and always gave it his all. I, sadly, was not able to go to any of his races, but I am so glad that Doug was able to be there with him! Noah is also playing basketball on a few Rec teams with his friends. He also goes and plays basketball every week with Doug and his buddies. He always looks forward to going on Thursday nights. Although there have been a few times that he has stayed out a little too late and missed getting up for school! I let him slide sometimes...but I've had to get on him for not doing it every week! Noah started a job at Hangar 15 on his 16th birthday! I am so so proud of him and his determination to get the job that he wanted! Noah is not one to have a job that doesn't interest him...so working at a bike shop is perfect for his first job. He has learned so much, made some great friends, and learned how to negotiate to get a raise! So proud of him! The one downfall is that he does NOT like missing out on stuff that we do when he has work. He gets major FOMO, but he is learning to have his priorities in order. Noah is such a great kid! He has been such a joy as a teenager and I'm so so so proud of the young man that he has become. He loves his family so much and would much rather be with us than friends. Although I have had to push him to be with his friends too! He also has 3 boy cousins that he is very close to, so that has been great for him. I love his so so much and am really trying to treasure the next 2 years while he is home.
ANGIE // I turned the big 4-0 last year in 2021! How...how is that possible? I still feel like a young mom, despite the occasional aches and pains! Being a mom is my #1...and it always will be. Being a mom is definitely the hardest, yet most rewarding thing that I have ever done in my entire life. These kids take up pretty much all of my time, but I love it. And of course being with Doug is up there on the list. My days consist of being at home during the day, and being with kids 24/7 once they get home. I am driving them to all of their activities, which I will admit is not the most "fun" thing to do, but it is a must. I do love my time with the kids in the car when we have time to chat...just us! I am also very thankful for some carpools for my kids, which gives me some time to get the other stuff done. Like I said, I am home during the day, but I don't necessarily love it. Cleaning and picking up the house does get old after a while. I have been wanting to start a business...or something along those lines...for quite some time now. I don't know why I haven't, and I am kicking myself lately for not doing it! Just go and do, Angie! I need to not be scared of failure...I just need to get it going. SO that is what I am going to do! I truly think that this will be a good choice for me! Time will tell! I have not been keeping up on my hobbies much lately, but I want to make sure I do this year. Making and creating is my passion, and I need to do it for me! It's who I am, and I want my kids to see me doing something that I love to do. I have had a few trials over the past few years, my foot being the biggest one. I had foot surgery in 2017 and it was the was the worst decision of my life. My foot did not heal properly, and I have had to have 3 additional surgeries by 2 other doctors to fix ALL of the damage that the first surgery caused. It's been a mess. I have been drained emotionally and physically. To be in pain 24/7 has been beyond miserable. I have cried way too many tears about the reality that is now my life with my foot. I recently had my 4th surgery, which is hopefully the last for some time. We shall see. I am praying that I heal in a way that will not cause me much more pain. Fingers crossed. Another absolutely horrible trial is the passing of my dad. I'm not going to go in to to much detail, but he passed this year on October 2 and it has been one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. He was one of my very best friends and not having him here anymore has torn me apart. The past 2 months have tested me in a way I never expected, but my faith is solid. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is where he is supposed to be. I just miss him terribly. My mom has become so much more a part of our family, and I will make sure to always take care of her. She needs us more now than ever...and we will always be here for her. I don't care if she gets sick of us...the daily phone calls and seeing her more is our new life. I have also been in the Young Women in our ward for five years, two of which I have been the president. I absolutely love the young women in our ward...I honestly can't put in to words how much they mean to me. This calling has been a huge blessing in my life. I was so nervous at first, mostly because the president before me was absolutely amazing and I just didn't feel confident enough to fill her shoes. Yet here we are, and I am doing all that I can for these wonder girls. It's crazy how when you are in a calling like this, the needs and just the thought of these girls take over my mind. I love it...and being there for them is so so important to me! I have 1 more year to be with them and I really want to make it count!
DOUG // Doug is forty-something and just as amazing as ever. He got a new job in the Fall of 2019, and come March 2020 he started working at home full time. He very rarely goes in the office, which is a huge change from working in an office our entire marriage. He not once worked from home, so it has been quite the adjustment, but we love it. We especially love that his commute time has disappeared! Doug is looking for a change of pace in his career and recently got his Real Estate License! We're excited to see where this new adventure takes us...eventually. Sports still dominate Doug's interests. Watching basketball and football...NCAA and NFL...are always a priority. He has sucked the boys into this little obsession of his, so now we have 4 boys that are infatuated with the games. Doug also plays basketball every week with his friends, and Noah. He also loves to go mountain biking with the boys. I'm so glad that they all enjoy doing these things together...as I am not one for doing any active sports. He is still a die hard Utah fan and will very rarely miss a home game. I usually go with him, but now that the boys love to go too, I often give up my ticket to one of them to go with Doug. Many memories are being made at those Utah games! With 3 kids in junior high and high school, Doug has become the designated math tutor in our home. I'm very thankful for his math knowledge, because that is the one subject that I can not help with. Doug has been the Stake Financial Clerk of our stake for 8 years now! This calling is right up his alley and he has loved it. He works with some amazing people and he is so dedicated to doing all that he is called to do. He has also become a great backup for me when I can't pick up or take kids places. One great advantage of staying home! He is also the go-to parent on youth nights! One hardship that has happened is the loss of his amazing mom, Karin, in November 2021. She was such an amazing influence in Doug's life and it has been hard navigating life without her. She is always in our thoughts and we always like to share our memories of her with the kids. Plus it's always fun to watch videos of her...she was quite the character. Doug has also been an amazing caregiver to me during my time of having so many foot surgeries. He was always there to take me to and from the surgeries, making sure I had the correct pain meds, making sure I kept my foot on ice, and telling me to sit down when I think I can get up and do all the things. I'm super thankful to him and for all that he has done for me!
Our extended family has grown tremendously, which has been so much fun! Two of my nieces got married, and two of my nephews got married as well! They all married amazing people who have become such good friends to everyone in my family...we love them all so so much! All of my nieces and nephews are growing up faster than I can blink. Doug's family is SO close...we spend so much time together and I absolutely love it and never want that to change! I don't care how many people we add to the family...both through marriage and the addition of babies! I want us to always be so close to each other...and I know we will!
That's all for now.
Family Picture from October 2020
