What's Happening!: 2008

The Short version
Julianne: basketball, Piano lessons, girls softball, gymnastics, Pinebasin summer camp, and tons of homework, going to Utah and playing at the Holdens Lake. Ryan: basketball, gymnastics, piano, Tavaci Singing group, baseball, homework. Jeni hosting 6 summer barbeques, lots of piano students, serving in primary, and serving as ward Organist (yikes). Mike bought a 4 wheeler, works in BIG yard, Bear Lake, summer walks. Did I mention Mike enjoys working in a BIG yard. Disneyland and SanDiego with kids. Carmel California, just the two of us (heavenly). Jeni rolls the car on icy hill. Mike’s job (still has, thank heavens). Parker: turns 1, busy, super fun, read books, finally learns to walk @14 months. Birthday parties. Rexburg Temple. Ryan Shupe Concert. Thriller SLC. BYU Christmas Concert. Sugar Cookies. Mikes garden (beets, broccoli, corn, peas, green beans, potatoes, carrots, onions and tomatoes). Taking pictures of family/photography. Monthly dinner club with friends. Tuachan St. George Les Miserables.

The Long version
This year has been a great year. We are thankful we have been healthy and accident free this year. Some of the highlights this year: Our Disneyland and San Diego Vacation. The weather was perfect and the crowds weren’t bad at all. Parker was fun to watch with the Disney Characters. Julianne and Ryan loved all the rides and there was a lot Parker could go on too. It is such a magical place. San Diego and the beach were spectacular. I love being outside and enjoying nature, so the beach and sand and natural beauty of the earth is great for me. Unfortunately we didn’t go on any big hikes this year.
Julianne and Ryan are busier this year than ever before. We decided it was time to enroll them in a few extra curricular activities aside from the normal piano and basketball routine.
Ryan and Julianne are so cute with Parker. Parker loves his big sister and brother. It is interesting having an eight year gap but the dynamics of our family are really fun. I love having an 11 year old baby sitter.
Mike and I took a nice vacation to Carmel, California. We toured the Winchester Mystery house, Hearst Castle and walked around tiny $5 million dollar homes in Carmel. We played and relaxed at the beach, ate and great restaurants, stayed one night at a quaint bed and breakfast. We also stayed at two other hotels that were amazing. This was such a relaxing vacation. I think I’m ready to go again.
I have cut back on my teaching schedule so I can spend more time on the things I really enjoy. I am excited to learn more about photography and am almost ready to take the leap and get a nicer digital slr than I have and all the fancy lenses too. I am totally excited. I also decided to scrapbook all 2008 digitally. I love digital scrapbooking but I still like the old way too.
Mike does a great job helping me out. He is the best husband and I’m thankful my children have and know their father. He is supportive to me and the kids and we love him so much. He is a hard worker at work and at home in his big yard. He spends a lot of time making his yard look as good as it can in this dry and harsh climate. Well, I’d write more, but I am tired. Good night and Merry Christmas!!