I decided to share our year in review on this blog this year. I am sorry if it is long and boring for you but it has been such a busy year for us that it can't all fit on one Christmas card!
January 2012
Cody has been in the MTC for a couple of weeks now. He enjoyed Christmas there and the missionaries had Elder Bednar visiting and speaking on Christmas day which he thoroughly enjoyed. Traci was busy working on applications for BSN school at the University of Utah and UVU. Going back to school is a tough thing but the right thing to do at this time and the hope is that she will get accepted into one of these great schools. She is still working full time at the Women's Center and plans to stay until her schooling is done in a few years. Traci also had knee surgery at the end of December and is recovering from this as well. Traci is still in the YW Presidency and loves the girls and especially loves being with Cassidee.
February 2012
Cody was able to leave the MTC around the 20th. Since his visa hasn't yet come through, he was sent to Atlanta, Georgia. He was disappointed about this but was excited and ready to get into the field and practice his Spanish. He had never been to Georgia and so this was a great experience. We were able to talk to him for about 30 minutes while he was at the Salt Lake Airport. It was great to hear his voice! Ashlee got engaged to Matt Ivie this month. They are so cute together and love to laugh. It is fun to listen to them together and their joy and happiness. But, life keeps getting more stressful for mom with a missionary, a High School senior who has lots going on right now and now a wedding to plan?! Not sure how we will get all of this done.
March 2012
Cassidee turned 15 this month. She is growing so fast and very excited to get her learner's permit so that she can practice driving. She continues to have good grades, loves singing in choir and is also enjoying taking dance lessons. Cody found out on a Tuesday that his visa had come and flew out on Wednesday for Florida where he met up with some other missionaries to fly to Buenos Aires. He got to call us for about 10 minutes from Florida since it was all so quick. He was very excited to get to Argentina! Austin started his last year of High School Soccer. He is an amazing player and everyone loves to watch him. Many people feel that he is one of the best (if not the best) player in the State of Utah. He is starting to receive offers from various colleges to come and play for them with the promise of a scholarship. He needs to be making some decisions but is mostly focusing on the current season and making up credits to be able to graduate from High School. Traci had another surgery this month with a breast cancer scare. Fortunately, we were blessed and everything was fine for which we are very grateful.
April 2012
Soccer season continues and Austin is having a great season. The team is doing well and we all enjoy watching him play. Ashlee turned 22 this month. She continues to babysit for a family down the street. She loves those twins like they were her own and they love her too. We all love having them in our home much of the time and miss them when they are gone. I guess she is getting great practice for the future?! Traci is still waiting to hear back from the Universities for Nursing school and continues to work full time, attend every soccer game if possible and help Austin with his extra homework for make up credits. Busy, Busy is all we know around here right now!
May 2012
School and Soccer season will be ending soon. It is very hard for Traci to watch it end. Soccer has been our lives for so many years and she will really miss watching them play. Austin has been working hard to be able to graduate with his class and we are very proud of him. He set records this month with top scorer for his High School ever as well as in one season. He finished as the 2nd highest scorer in our region and as one of the top 10 scorers in the state. He also was appointed to the 1st Team All State and All Region. This was very exciting for him! Mom is very proud and cried when it all ended with a great season in the playoffs....which was also a new record for our High School. Cody continues to grow and learn and is getting closer to feeling fluent with his Spanish. As they head into winter, he realizes that he misses an entire spring/summer since he left Utah in the winter and the seasons are reversed. It was so great to talk to him on Mother's day for 1 1/2 hours. We continue to plan for the wedding which is quickly approaching.
June 2012
Austin graduated! Yeah! He worked hard and was able to walk with his class. It is so hard to see him and all of his friends graduate. They are a great group of boys...just like brothers...and we hope they will hang out at our house always. Ashlee and Matt got married on June 16th in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was a beautiful day and they had most of their family and friends there. We were blessed with great support from everyone and the day couldn't have been more perfect. They spent a week in San Diego and had lots of fun vacationing together. They are living in our home and we love having them around. They are great kids! Cody continues to do well and continues to baptize and learn. We are so grateful for him and for his service and we are all receiving many blessings from his willingness to serve and teach the people of Argentina. Cassidee was called to be the Mia Maid President this month and will do a great job serving the other Mia Maids. She also went on the Stake Trek this month. It was a hard experience but she made some great new friends and was glad for the chance to experience it.
July 2012
Austin has decided that he wants to become an Eagle Scout. This is something that mom has been encouraging him to do for 2 years now but he wasn't interested...even though he watched his brother earn it 2 years ago. So, now he only left himself one month before his 18th birthday. Just when we thought we were going to have a chance to breathe for a minute! So, we all started working hard to help him and got it done just in time. We were very proud of him for making this decision and working hard to accomplish it. He decided not to play soccer at any of the out of state colleges and is still not sure what to do. He is planning to go to UVU in the fall and possibly play for their club team, work and prepare for a mission. Traci was accepted to both nursing programs....now to make a decision. It was very difficult but finishing the BSN at UVU just felt right so she will start school in August. So scary going back to school after being out for so long but the Lord is in control and we know that this is the right thing to do at this time so we have faith that it will all work out.
August 2012
School started this month...at least for Cassidee and Traci. Cassidee is now in 10th grade and at the High School. She was ready for this and can't wait to see her many friends again. Austin decided not to attend school and to just work and maybe attend school in the Winter Semester. I guess it can be hard to be 18 and make so many grown up decisions! He continues to play soccer and basketball every chance he gets!
September
School is going well...so far. Cassidee continues to get good grades and enjoys school. Traci is adjusting but is doing well and is excited for this step in her life. Austin is working at a call center part time and still trying to make some decisions. Ashlee and Matt continue to work and help around the house and do everything that they can together. They love movies and games and continue to hang out with their friends whenever they get the chance. They were both called into the primary and they are great in these callings.
October
Well, this month was busy and Austin's prayers were answered with General Conference. He is so excited to go on a mission NOW! He doesn't have to make a decision about school etc since he will no longer have to wait until next summer to put in his mission papers. He is so excited to get them submitted and get out in the field with all of his friends that have been getting their calls recently. We are truly blessed as this is the right time for him and answers the questions that he was struggling with. His papers have been started, wisdom teeth coming out, shots done and ready for more appointments with the Bishop and Stake President. What an exciting and scary time for our family. Joining the $800 club so soon was not in our budget but we know that we will be blessed with Austin's choice to serve the Lord.
November
The month of thanksgiving...and we are so grateful for our many blessings. Austin continues to prepare for his mission and the papers have been sent....just waiting for the call...which can be the hardest part sometimes. He is obviously anxious to know where he will be serving. School continues and Traci continues to do well but is very ready for a 4 week break once finals are over soon. Austin officially received his Eagle Scout Certificate this month. He doesn't feel like we will have time to have a court of honor for him (I think he is just embarrassed to be the center of attention) so this may not happen for him but I guess that is his choice.
December
Traci was released from the YW Presidency this month...that was a very hard thing as this has been one of her favorite callings of all time. She has been there for 3 years and the others in the Presidency have been there for longer so it was time for a change but is still difficult and Cassidee is very sad. Austin received his mission call on December 12...12/12/12...so exciting! He was called to serve in HONDURAS, COMAYAGUELA. We were all so shocked and yet excited since he really thought he may be going stateside. The real shocker is that he leaves on January 23rd! We thought that we would have more time (and more time to earn more money) to get him ready to go..no such luck. There must be a reason that he is needed sooner rather than later. We don't know anyone personally that is serving in Honduras so this will be very exciting and a great learning experience for Austin!
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July 2012
Austin has decided that he wants to become an Eagle Scout. This is something that mom has been encouraging him to do for 2 years now but he wasn't interested...even though he watched his brother earn it 2 years ago. So, now he only left himself one month before his 18th birthday. Just when we thought we were going to have a chance to breathe for a minute! So, we all started working hard to help him and got it done just in time. We were very proud of him for making this decision and working hard to accomplish it. He decided not to play soccer at any of the out of state colleges and is still not sure what to do. He is planning to go to UVU in the fall and possibly play for their club team, work and prepare for a mission. Traci was accepted to both nursing programs....now to make a decision. It was very difficult but finishing the BSN at UVU just felt right so she will start school in August. So scary going back to school after being out for so long but the Lord is in control and we know that this is the right thing to do at this time so we have faith that it will all work out.
August 2012
School started this month...at least for Cassidee and Traci. Cassidee is now in 10th grade and at the High School. She was ready for this and can't wait to see her many friends again. Austin decided not to attend school and to just work and maybe attend school in the Winter Semester. I guess it can be hard to be 18 and make so many grown up decisions! He continues to play soccer and basketball every chance he gets!
September
School is going well...so far. Cassidee continues to get good grades and enjoys school. Traci is adjusting but is doing well and is excited for this step in her life. Austin is working at a call center part time and still trying to make some decisions. Ashlee and Matt continue to work and help around the house and do everything that they can together. They love movies and games and continue to hang out with their friends whenever they get the chance. They were both called into the primary and they are great in these callings.
October
Well, this month was busy and Austin's prayers were answered with General Conference. He is so excited to go on a mission NOW! He doesn't have to make a decision about school etc since he will no longer have to wait until next summer to put in his mission papers. He is so excited to get them submitted and get out in the field with all of his friends that have been getting their calls recently. We are truly blessed as this is the right time for him and answers the questions that he was struggling with. His papers have been started, wisdom teeth coming out, shots done and ready for more appointments with the Bishop and Stake President. What an exciting and scary time for our family. Joining the $800 club so soon was not in our budget but we know that we will be blessed with Austin's choice to serve the Lord.
November
The month of thanksgiving...and we are so grateful for our many blessings. Austin continues to prepare for his mission and the papers have been sent....just waiting for the call...which can be the hardest part sometimes. He is obviously anxious to know where he will be serving. School continues and Traci continues to do well but is very ready for a 4 week break once finals are over soon. Austin officially received his Eagle Scout Certificate this month. He doesn't feel like we will have time to have a court of honor for him (I think he is just embarrassed to be the center of attention) so this may not happen for him but I guess that is his choice.
December
Traci was released from the YW Presidency this month...that was a very hard thing as this has been one of her favorite callings of all time. She has been there for 3 years and the others in the Presidency have been there for longer so it was time for a change but is still difficult and Cassidee is very sad. Austin received his mission call on December 12...12/12/12...so exciting! He was called to serve in HONDURAS, COMAYAGUELA. We were all so shocked and yet excited since he really thought he may be going stateside. The real shocker is that he leaves on January 23rd! We thought that we would have more time (and more time to earn more money) to get him ready to go..no such luck. There must be a reason that he is needed sooner rather than later. We don't know anyone personally that is serving in Honduras so this will be very exciting and a great learning experience for Austin!
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We hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.....it's hard to believe that it is almost 2013!!!
