This past year has brought many blessings and challenges!
Andy:
This year has been fairly eventful for Andy. He turned 21! He graduated from Wenatchee Valley College and is currently gearing up to move to the West-side to attend the University of Washington. Andy has met a sweet young lady, Yulia, while attending classes. She is from Russia and I love her accent! Andy definitely lights up when he is around her. She is also attending the UW (probably the motivation for him to move there). While I have him here though, I have recruited him to be my weekly gym buddy. Lucky guy! I do look forward to spending some time with him.
Casey:
Casey is now a Senior and is enjoying many of the trials Senior year brings! He started the year off as a captain of the Manson Trojan Football team. As you can see from the x-rays below, his football days were nearly derailed. Luckily, the bone he broke was not a vital one, and the doctor released him to play after only missing four games. He helped lead his team to the first level of state playoffs (not sure exactly the wording here, but you get the idea :)). He loved playing so much so that after making the Varsity Basketball team, he had to be reminded that we do not tackle players in basketball. Casey has managed a full load. His day begins at 5 a.m. with him heading off to seminary and doesn’t usually end until around 8 after practice and the long drive home. He has kept his grades up and recently submitted an application for BYU! I am definitely proud of this young man of mine.
Kelly:
Kelly continues to work for Town Toyota and is now serving as Elder’s Quorum President in church. He takes is calling seriously and is always finding ways to help others. Almost every Wednesday finds him at church in meetings or doing paperwork. He is my inspiration and rock. I am one lucky lady! Kelly is definitely a man of many talents. The week before Thanksgiving found us with no dishwasher, no washer, and a fridge on the fritz as well. And we were hosting Thanksgiving dinner! Needless to say, I had prunes for hands. Kelly ordered a new dishwasher and washer, while we hope the fridge would last til after Christmas. The dishwasher came in on the 23rd of December and Kelly spent the evening installing it. He also decided to order a thermostat for the fridge and replaced it himself—saving us about $1000. Still no washer though; they say we won’t get it until February now.
Me:
Talk about an eventful year! I ‘graduated’ to fourth grade and have been trying to wrap my mind around everything these students need to learn before I send them off to fifth grade. I LOVE it! I decorated my room with a Harry Potter theme and enjoy stepping into Potter World every day. I am still serving as the Secretary for Washington Association of Bilingual Education and enjoy working with such dedicated educators. I have been blessed to have two awesome walking buddies and we walk every afternoon that we are able. I continue to enjoy spending time with my sis, Cindi, and her three boys. They are all growing so fast! This year, I am trying something unique (not)! I am setting goals.
1)Read my scriptures and journal daily (love my new journal and plan
to use it!)
2)Attend the temple once a month (anyone up for a few trips?)
3) To take singing lessons (anybody know of someone who does this kind
of thing?)
4) To take photography lessons (see comment above :))
5) To be able to run the Pig Jig in Manson (Help Shannon and Celeste :))
These aren’t my only goals, but I thought I should be realistic about my expectations.
Oh ya, I almost forgot our latest addition to the family!
George:
Casey found George lying in our driveway completely lethargic and on the brink of no return. He called me frantically insisting that I get all the necessary items for nursing this kitten back to life. (I hate cats! I am allergic to cats!) Needless to say, he is now a healthy spoiled rotten kitty cat!
