family pictures from summer trip

Fall family update

Jared opened his mission call and he is going to serve for 2 years in the Chicago Illinois mission (English speaking). He is having a great time at BYU and is enjoying his social dance and BYU traditions classes. He is serving as Sunday school president in his freshman ward. His bishop used to be his Sunday school teacher in our home ward. Ken is able to touch base with him at different BYU sporting events, and we occasionally have him home for a Sunday dinner. It is fun for him to run into cousins on campus. Marcus is a busy junior. He just needs a few more hours of night driving to get his liscence. He is busy competing in marching band and excited to get his first trio in jazz band. Betsy is in middle school now with a bigger homework load. She is working hard at trombone, piano and Irish dance. She even traveled to Wyoming to attend a feis in which she moved up a level in one dance and got many other medals. Adam is 10 and a webelo scout. He was happy to start 5th grade with many of the friends he made from last year at his new school. He has started trumpet and excels at singing. Andy is a great 3rd grade mathematician and cursive writer. He is really taking pride in his studies and not just the sports games he organizes at recess. He is an energetic and social 8 year old. Ken and I are busy with our callings and have just been called to be a “Ma and Pa” for our youths’ trek next summer. Our major accomplishment was taking our family on a 3 week trip across the country. Some places we visited were: Council Bluffs/Omaha, Iowa City, Nauvoo, Fairborn/ Kirtland OH, Independence/Far West Missouri, Harmony/Philadelphia PA, Washington D.C., Hill Cumorah/New York City/Niagra Falls NY. We made a lot of memories and we all came out of it better than we left (except our weight). We also just enjoyed as a couple some lectures and plays at the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City.

Jared the graduate

We are so proud of our high school graduate. Jared has really worked hard to accomplish all that he has achieved in his high school career. He graduated with a 3.9 GPA, a Utah scholar, lettered in music and English, awarded an academic half tuition scholarship to BYU for fall as well as a 4 year seminary graduate, while working 15 hours a week, doing an internship all year at the elementary school, competing in the Timpview band, heavy AP classes and online Physics, after having transferred high schools in the middle of his 4 years. And that just scratches the surface of the greatness that is in him!

spring family update

Jared will graduate soon and has been accepted to BYU. He is happy to room with my nephew in the new heritage halls. He continues to work 15 hours a week and maintains his high grades. He is busy with end of the year events like prom, band banquet, orchestra state etc. He plans to serve a mission either this winter or this spring. Marcus did well with his state competition trumpet solo. He continues to take private lessons and will do summer band too. He is currently serving as teacher's quorum president. He is taking drivers education and looks forward to turning 16 in August. Betsy is having fun being 12. She loves being in young women's with all her friends and looks forward to girls camp this summer. She just sang some solos in a recent performance of her showstopper's group. She also just auditioned and got into symphonic band for middle school next year. She progressed in her last Irish dance competition so that she's qualified to start looking for a solo dress now. Adam had a successful 4th grade year at his magnet gifted school. He made some new friends and learned very difficult spelling words. He is a bear scout and enjoys hapkido and piano. Andy played his first season of soccer and loved it. Now he plans to do swimming this summer and flag football in the fall. He has a sports after-school class and continues to excel in hapkido martial arts. He had fun participating in his first pinewood derby race last month. I enjoyed going to women's conference with my sister-in-law and mother. It has been fun having my parents home from their mission. It has been fun reuniting with all of you through all the happy family celebrations that have been happening this spring. I have enjoyed going to a weekly Book of Mormon class as well as work with a personal fitness trainer. I have had less pain since losing 75 lbs and hope to continue to strive for good health. I just got called to be a counselor in the Young Women’s presidency. Ken has been enjoying increased activity at the gym and is making progress in his fitness goals. He has won many trivia contests on True Blue sports show. He loves spending time with his children and taking them to BYU sporting events. He continues to lead 3 packs in the cub scouting program. He is trying to plan a big trip for our family to go to historical sites this summer.

Hawaii for 4 days and cruise for 7

Honeymoon trip

Ken and I had a great time in Paris and Spain.