(Link to 20 minute end-of-year slideshow)
Hello and Happy Holidays to all our friends and family. We hope and pray that this post finds you healthy and happy and feeling blessed. We are all blessed to have Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer as we remember His birth this time of year.
2023 was a year of high highs - We have dreamed of getting a cabin for decades and were finally able to make this dream a reality this year - a 744 sq ft 1968 off-grid cabin up by Brian Head! And McKinley auditioned and made it into the Honors Performance Series, she's performing at Carnegie Hall in February! And low lows - GG Tew died in February (obituary https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/deseretnews/name/louise-tew-obituary?id=51453983) , and Uncle Joseph died in a tragic way at the beginning of October (https://www.ksl.com/article/50745246/man-shot-killed-by-police-during-domestic-violence-call-in-taylorsville?fbclid=IwAR19LseDqnxLrTg28UwbhxB_wfkSCkkyYjjxUwasUaSNJYt9aXzcuUE5Kas) (obituary - https://www.starksfuneral.com/obituary/3448-azhrsq8nwq). We are grateful that Bekah and her children are a part of our family now and we love them so much.
-In February, we went to the huge Bear Lake Cabin that holds lots of memories for our family. We had a wonderful time playing in the snow, eating yummy food, watching movies (Narnia!), playing games, and just enjoying each others' company.
-In April, for Spring Break, we traveled to Texas to spend some time with Jason's family. We celebrated Noelle's birthday and Easter while we were there and enjoyed our visit with our Texas family very much!
-June was a very busy month for most of our family! Jason, Heidi & the 3 olders went on a Pioneer Trek in Wyoming with the ward. Jason & Heidi were "Ma & Pa" and the 3 olders were all in different "families." We battled mosquitos and mud, but it was a neat, memorable experience and we loved it! After that, Heidi & the 3 olders headed to Heber for girls camp and enjoyed being together.
-July, Heidi & the 3 younger ones spent some time in SLC with her sister & the girls had fun with their cousins before we dropped Kezia & Macie off for Oakcrest.
-Labor Day weekend was spent at Brian Head (and when we first saw the cabin!) at a condo and we very much enjoyed the sweet moments there. We understand and feel the importance of every second spent as a family on this last year where we're all together under the same roof as a family before McKinley leaves us next year.
-Jason still works at APHIS and very much enjoys his work and co-workers. He now works from home 3x a week and goes into the office 2x a week. He took a couple business trips this year - one to Denver to learn about drones & one to Nashville.
-Jason is now the Temple and Family History Leader in the Cedarview ward & likes his calling very much!
-Jason watched the littles while mom & the olders were at girls camp, which happened to be over his birthday (that has happened multiple times). Noelle woke him up and told him to check the news and he was surprised by a "FOXSNOOZE" newscast all about Jason's birthday. It was fun making it & Kezia did an amazing job with the editing :)
-We are grateful for Jason's handyman work as he re-built the railing for the cabin loft & is in the process of making a new loft ladder as well.
-Jason spoke at Joseph's funeral. Joseph loved him so much and Jason will miss their phone calls.
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Going to TX to see his family & interview his dad & aunt and going to Trek
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: Trip to Europe with Kezia
-Heidi's Young Women President calling was time-consuming for the first half of the year - Traveling Tabernacle, SNAP activity, trek activities and meetings, and girls camp activities and meetings. She tried to soak up every minute, though, because she knew changes were coming... and they did. At the end of the summer, Heidi got called to be a Temple & Family History coordinator - it's the first time Jason & Heidi have been in the same calling for a long time, so it's been good. Together, they have come up with a whole curriculum for a youth family history class, which has been fun.
-Heidi started working in the temple baptistry on Friday mornings from 8-11:30 and has really enjoyed serving the youth and getting to know the temple workers.
-Heidi has spend a lot of non-calling time in family history this year - interviewing her mom and dad at the beginning of the year and compiling a bunch of family history stories at the end of the year. She also took a name to trek and learned the stories of Mary Ann Barton, who is buried in Summit.
-Heidi trained with & ran (sort of - Kezia took off after a mile) the Cedar Half in September. We had some beautiful - and difficult! - training runs, but Heidi loved every mile with her daughter.
-The cabin was chiefly Heidi's dream and it consumed MUCH of her thoughts & time from September to November. Cleaning, de-cowboy-ifying, organizing, painting, taking stuff down, bringing stuff up, etc, etc. It's been a LOT of work & she is really looking forward to the time we can relax without so many things on the to-do list, but she LOVES being up there. It is truly soul-filling and beautiful. She hopes the cabin will be a much-needed SLOW DOWN place that our family & friends can enjoy, too.
-Heidi is still involved as the secretary for the Share Board. She also continues to go to hospital calls when she can to help comfort those families who have lost a baby, and also to make hand and foot molds, etc.
-Heidi still loves to hike and to read and do the girls birthday books (digital scrapbooking). She also make funeral slideshows for both Grandma Tew and Joseph this year.
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Sister Wellness retreat in March where Trisha & Heidi snowshoed & sledded & got to see a moose!, being there right after Althea was born to hold her and kiss her, also getting to hug her brother & congratulate him on being a daddy, being up at the cabin!! little getaways with her sweetheart, like St. George Anniversary where we got to see beautiful flowers and a tortoise.
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: Mc - Carnegie, Europe trip with my Kezia, enjoying the cabin this summer CA Senior trip for McKinley. Hoping to do more family history and read more books. More HIKES!
-We now have an adult child! So crazy! McKinley is a senior and turned 18 in Sept. Right now, McKinley is taking online classes through Iron Online and taking Orchestra & Seminary at the high school. Mom enjoys spending more time with her - especially to go for a walk or do yoga together :)
-Big music year for McKinley! She got a 1 for both her solo (Vocalise) and her quartet performance at State. Her orchestra got a 1- for their piece at State. She also got superior at Strings Festival. Someone (not sure who still!) nominated McKinley to audition for Honors Performance Series - an elite group of musicians who perform at Carnegie Hall. After a lot of practicing, recording an audition in Mr. Sorenson's studio, and submitting all she needed, she learned a month later that she was accepted! We put together a Gofundme for her & are so thankful for all the financial support she's received. She's excited for this once-in-a-lifetime experience in February!
-McKinley accomplished her friend group goal of going to all the dances her junior year! She also has fun going on dates with lots of different guys 😊
- McKinley is part of the school swing dancing club & has a lot of fun with that!
-McKinley's best friend Karmiyah got married this year & is expecting a baby boy!
-McKinley did a lot of things to earn money in the summer - she dog sat (actually, house, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit) for dad's co-worker for 10 days! We sure missed her (especially at 4th of July), but she earned some good money. She also was able to baby-sit and dog sit. She kept looking for a job & finally got one at the Pizza Cart at the end of the summer. She really likes her boss and co-workers and is thankful to begin saving money for her mission.
-McKinley applied to a few colleges this fall and has been offered the Presidential Scholarship to Utah Tech and the Fellows Scholarship to SUU. Decisions!
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Going to solo & ensemble with her friends - Calli, Jacie and Irene. Dances. Girls camp.
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: Carnegie, deciding on a college, Graduation, Maybe friend senior trip?, Capitola, Dating, Mission.
-Ireland started a job at DQ on Main Street in February so it's almost been a year! She doesn't always love to work, but she loves the paychecks. Ireland is our fashionista/skin care girl and spends a lot on her skin and clothes! But she's also saved over 2k for her mission find, too 💓
-Ireland worked really hard on her solo & ensemble piece (Romance). Randy Allen accompanied her and she got a 1- at State! Mr. Sorenson got her to agree to move to Symphonic Orchestra for her junior year. She agreed, but it required her switching her B day at Launch to A days.
-Ireland participated in the science fair - the only one from Launch who did so. She did a project on plastic-eating microbes and she'd been working on it for many months. It paid off - literally! She won the "Regeneron Biomedical Science Award" and $375! Ireland also received the "complex problem solver award" from Launch at the end of the year :)
-Ireland turned 16 this year and dad took her on her first official date :) She got to have a party with her friends at Lake at the Hills and our house. She got her permit and is working on getting her driving hours so she can get her license soon!
-She had fun with Jonny Lee for Homecoming :)
-Ireland is learning Chinese again this year and loves the culture (and thinks Asian boys are hot :)
-Ireland has been loving watching Marvel movies with dad and she still loves to read with mom - we finished Jane Eyre this year and loved it! We also went to an Emma musical at the Shakespeare Theater and watched Michael's Jane Eyre play.
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: solo & ensemble, Trek & Girls Camp, HOCO, Ember
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: Getting driver's license, solo & ensemble, 3-6k saved for mission
-Kezia is 14 years old and in 8th grade. She's involved in student council and continues to play the violin in orchestra.
-Kezia was the narrator/snow princess for the Frozen CCCMT play. It required a lot of memorization and lots of dance moves, but she did a great job & was so beautiful in her costume!
-Kezia got Superior at Southern Utah String Festival for her Etude and Devil's Dream pieces.
-Kezia continues to love baking and has worked to really get macaroons down. She made a bunch for Karmiyah's wedding (all different colors & flavors!) and they were awesome!
-Kezia was the Dean's big helper for making sure people had their trek clothes ready to go. She sure did a great job with her trek outfits!
-Macie Mitchell & Kezia spent a few days in SLC together before they headed to Oakcrest (a 7th grade girls camp). Kezia had some amazing experiences there and we hope they are memories she'll never forget.
-Kezia and her friends (Berkley, Ivy, Macie, Aubrey, and Tessa) like to attend the temple frequently :)
-Kezia participated in cross-country again this year and did great! She was 3rd place female and fast!
-Mom and Kezia (usually ;) had a good time training for the half-marathon. Kezia left mom at mile 1 and kept up with Eli Starr for most of the 13.1 miles, coming in at 1:40:58, 1st in her age group & 45th female!
-Kezia was mom's BIGGEST helper with the cabin! From choosing colors, to layouts, to cleaning, to painting Kezia is the best! Mom is so grateful for all her help!
-Kezia continues to earn money with lemonade stands, babysitting, dog sitting & selling dog treats. She has been saving for a long time and was able to pay for her ticket to Paris! She has also been all over Airbnb so we can get our Europe trip planned. We're close! Mom and Kezia are even reading Les Miserables & hope to finish before we leave.
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Oakcrest, Bear Lake, helping at the cabin
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: French bake sale, finishing Les Miserables, Europe Trip!!, Capitola, Enjoying the cabin, passing the AP Spanish test, driver's permit, job?
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We still love and talk about our duder-dude almost every day! The word "Link" is pretty popular and we'll never stop thinking about him and smiling when we hear it. Link would be 11 this year and we continue to be involved in Share in remembrance of him. Love you Link!
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-Noelle is 9 years old and continues to be in dual immersion - 4th grade with Senora Engst and Mrs. Vanardsdale.
-Noelle was a rock troll for the CCCMT play & it was so fun to watch her!
-Noelle had a fun soccer season - her team did a great job and won almost every game!
-Noelle is a natural swimmer & glides so well in the water. She might join the swim team soon!
-Noelle's friends are Adeline, Katelyn, Jordan, and Brinley.
-Noelle's favorite YouTube channels are Skip the Tutorial (a Minecraft channel), Dude Perfect, Mark Rober, Game Theory, Ryan Trayhan, Moriah Elizabeth, Film Theory & Food Theory.
-Noelle has been a voracious reader this year and has enjoyed McKinley's library of Brandon Mull books. She's read the entire 5 Kingdom Series, Candy Shop Wars, and Fablehaven. She also has read most of Roald Dahl books, Hoot, and Frindle. And many many more! She got the Golden Eagle (highest) Reading Award this month! Noelle is also starting to write her own book in Google docs.
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Going down the big yellow slide at the Aquatic Center for the first time, Valentine's box, CCCMT, speed boat, helping at the cabin, swim lesson
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: 5th grade, double-digits, soccer, 2-mile runs, Capitola, McKinley getting graduated
-Oaklyn is 7 now and in the 1st grade. She got to start dual immersion this year and Mrs. Vrska and Senora Sanchez are her teachers. She's really enjoying learning Spanish! She even earned the "Catch the Vision Award"
-Still our social butterfly, Oaklyn always wants a friend over and Charlotte Price, our backyard neighbor, is still her go-to since they can hop the fence and play. She also loves Brielle Judd, Amor, Link Vogel, Macie Durbin, and so many more :) She also loves going to SLC and hanging out with her cousin Rachel.
-Oaklyn was a rock troll in CCCMT Frozen and didn't know all the dancing but she was still adorable :)
-Oaklyn learned how to tie her shoes this year :)
-Oaklyn is getting to be a great reader like her sisters and flies through her "book-in-a-bag" books.
-Oaklyn is crafty and loves Perler Beads, painting, drawing, coloring, and making creations.
-Oaklyn still loves swimming & even went off the high dive multiple times!
-The tooth fairy has been busy this year at our house! Oaklyn has lost 6 teeth!
FAVORITE 2023 MEMORIES: Swim lessons, birthday parties
GOALS/ANTICIPATION: Try dance/tumbling,
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