2008 - The Year in Review

Wow, 2008 is finally over! All I can say is - it was quite a year. There were so many ups and downs it is hard to remember them all. It was certainly a year of many trials, but through the trials were many, many good times as well. I am just so grateful for a wonderful family who is always there to listen and help. They are the most wonderful people in the world. I couldn't be more blessed. Here is a little breakdown of what happened in our lives in 2008! In January we had my grandpa Harman's funeral. It was a great tribute to him and my grandma. Also in January we bought more property - 77 acres with a house. I was sure it was just more stress and worry but I am warming up to the idea. In February we celebrated Chris's 4oth Birthday with as much family as could be there. Chris turning 40 wasn't so fun but the party sure was.

The kids really enjoyed helping Chris with his presents!

We had a lot of great food and good company!

In March we went to St. George for spring break. It was so fun and so nice to feel the sun and enjoy the nice weather. I am such a warm weather person I can never wait till spring. This is always a good opportunity to fill my wishes until it turns nice in Cache Valley. We did a lot of fun things while we were down there including hiking in the sand dunes. Oh, and of course we swam, and swam and did a little more swimming. Taze and Tesi can never get enough.

Taze and Tesi had fun driving the cars at the fun Park!

The go carts were a blast. We loved racing each other!

The warm sand felt so good on our bare feet and the scenery was spectacular!

Of course we had fun snowmobiling all winter too. Taze could never get enough. Taze and Tesi got new snowmobiles for Christmas and they sure had fun breaking them in. It was really fun watching them learn to drive them. Taze learned really fast and is a natural like his dad. Tesi likes to look around a little too much to leave her unsupervised. Although, I have to say this winter she is doing much better. She does love to go fast. I think she got that speed thing from me.

I am so proud of them they both do such a great job!

In May we celebrated both Taze and Tesi's birthdays. Taze turned 5 and Tesi 3. I can hardly believe it. My beautiful babies are growing up so fast. They are so much fun and I have enjoyed every age and phase they have gone through.

May and June brought t-ball. Taze was so excited. Somehow I got the lucky opportunity to be his t-ball coach. We had one game and one practice a week. Thank goodness it wasn't more than that. Those little balls of energy wore me out. Plus with the unpredictable weather we had last spring a couple practices and games were cancelled. The games we did make-up. Taze played very well for his first year. He was just a little disappointed the game wasn't a little faster. He wanted to be where ever the ball was. He is just a little beyond t-ball I think. So this year I believe we will just play at home and wait til he can play real baseball. Ya-hoo! Also in June Taze took swimming lessons. He loved it. Of course they didn't last long enough for him because he could swim all day long. Tesi felt bad she couldn't swim with him. Taze did very well and is looking forward to lessons this summer. Tesi is too - because this year she is old enough to take them. It will be really fun to watch and see their progress.

July was a busy month with some very trying moments. My sister Jerin and her husband Bryce and their girls had a tough month. Bryce was hit by a car when they were out walking the girls sheep one Sunday night. The car was going about 55 or 60 MPH. I am so thankful he is OK and the rest of the family was not hit. Jerin was expecting and was 6 months along. Talk about a stressful few weeks. I know there are angels watching out for us and that miracles do happen. I saw it first hand. The doctors kept telling Bryce and Jerin they could not believe the condition he was in. They teased him that there must be something about being a bishop. This trial was a true test of faith and a testimony builder that prayers are answered.

August was another busy month with the fairs, barrel racing and school starting. I felt very lucky this summer because for the few times I was able to barrel race I won a buckle and a great check. Tuff is just awesome - that sums it up about him.

I don't think by this picture you can tell how happy I am. What do you think?

School started on August 21st. Oh boy, what a day. It was one I have been dreading for 5 years. I can not believe my little boy is 5 and old enough to start school. Taze was pretty excited for the 1st day. He thought riding the bus was fun too for the first few days. Now he looks for every excuse there is to miss school and stay at home. I think he is afraid of missing out on something. He does a really good job though and he gets better in school each day. We are really proud of him.

This is Taze the 1st day of school, he had to have a watch and wear it. He needed to know when school would be out and he could come home.



Here we are walking Taze to the bus. I am really trying not to cry!



Taze is getting on the bus and I am trying not to run after him . . .



Oh look! I changed my mind, I am running after him. I can't let him go. "Taze, wait, don't go!"



I really did let him go to school. This is Taze and Tesi with his teacher Mrs. Lucia.

Tesi really misses Taze when he is at school. Everyday when we take him she has to give him a hug and a kiss goodbye. It is so cute. They are so good to each other and are such good friends. Taze is so funny because while he is walking into the school he will blow me kisses and sends hugs. I cherish these moments.

The end of August, then September and October we started working on construction projects for our other property. Things are moving along and with the great fall we had we were able to accomplish more than we thought. Halloween was fun. I had the opportunity to help with Taze's school party. All the kids got to dress up in their costumes and play games. I think they all had a really good time. Taze was superman and Tesi was Belle. They were both so cute.

My super hero and my princess!

November was a fantastic month. Bryce and Jerin welcomed their beautiful baby girl here on the 6th. She is absolutely darling. Of course Jerin went into labor during the night and had her fairly early in the morning so I was not able to be there for the birth. But I did make it over later with my Dad, Mom, Taze and Tesi. We had so much fun seeing them and taking them lots of great presents. Her name is Brekk and we love her so much.

What a beautiful baby girl!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Everyone was able to make it except for Landis. He joined the Army in September and won't have a break until Christmas. He did call though and everyone got to talk to him. It was such a treat. All the kids (big and small) made gingerbread houses after dinner. They really turned out cute and some were even pretty fancy. Some went out and shot skeet. Thank goodness it wasn't to cold. Then some played basketball. We really enjoyed visiting and eating and eating and visiting. It is always fun when everyone gets together.

In December we took our annual trip to Las Vegas. That is my Mom, Lori, Jerin, Camrell and I. And of course Brekk got to go this year. We weren't letting Jerin out of it just because she had a baby. We were all to excited to take her with so we could love her as much as we wanted without the kids getting a turn. Anyway, the trip was a blast. We decided to drive this year instead of fly. After last year we found out we couldn't fit everything we bought in our suitcases. We took my Sequoia and we had it jam packed plus a luggage carrier on top and one hooked into the receiver hitch. Yes, we did look like the modern day Clampets. We went to the rodeo one night. The performances are awesome. Then we just shopped and had fun spending time with each other. We even got some great pictures with famous cowboys.

Mom, me, Jerin and Lori the Morning of the 1st big shopping day!

Jerin, me, Camrell and Lori the morning of the 1st big shopping day!



Lori, Camrell, Jerin and Mom with Luke Branquinho, the reigning world champion steer wrestler! I think he won because of this picture, all our good luck rubbed off on him. He is so cute in person and such a nice guy.



Jerin, Camrell, Brekk, Lori and Mom with Stran Smith, reigning world champion calf roper. Jeez our luck must of rubbed off on him too. He is super good looking too. We were so lucky!



I had to put this one in just for Camrell. Yes it is me alone in the picture with Luke Branquinho! Eat your heart out Sis!!!

This picture makes me laugh. As if we were not loaded down enough and shopped enough for 3 days straight, we stopped in St. George and went to Tai Pan. We only came out with a few things from here so it wasn't too bad. We still had one little corner to stuff something in, so we did!

When we arrived home it was time to think about Christmas. I still needed to get things ready for our family Christmas party as well as Christmas at home. As unprepared as I felt the party went well and so did Christmas day. Taze and Tesi had a ball on Christmas. Of course they were really spoiled but they deserve it. I think they are the best kids a mom could ask for.

Taze is surveying everything Santa left. He can't wait to get his hands on his presents!



Tesi just waiting to rip into her presents!

We had a great Christmas and a fun break. It was so nice just hanging out together and not having a set schedule to be somewhere. We visited with family, went snowmobiling and played lots of games with Taze and Tesi. What a great life.

I do have to say I am excited for 2009. I am hoping it is a little more smooth sailing this year. Although I do know we do not grow unless we have trials. I just don't think they need to come all at once. If they were spread out a little I wouldn't mind. My advice for 2009 is: If you find yourself down and in the dumps it is ok to cry. Cry hard and long if you need to but when you stand up, put a smile on your face and be grateful for all the blessings you do have and don't concentrate on those you don't. Life is what we make it - so make it great!