Conner turned 14 in May and started high school (9th grade) this week. He still lives in Elko with his dad and started guitar lessons. His big goal is that when he graduates high school, he would like to move back to Salt Lake and go to school to become a graphic design artist - he spends most of his time on the computer designing animation...I have to admit, I am not 100% sure of what it all is, but he enjoys it. And since it is inspiring a career path and college, I think it is great! He gets his braces off is a few months and he is very much looking forward to that.
Baylee turned 13 in June and started 8th grade this week. She goes to Butler Middle, her best friend is a girl named Chile (very sweet girl) and we are hoping her grades pick up this year. Very smart but has issues with focusing and keeping on track, so she started medication for ADD and it seems to be helping, so our fingers are crossed. She is not really boy crazy yet, which I LOVE!She started theater and is very excited because she loves acting and being in front of big groups of people. She has grown up a lot, but gets very emotional at times (teenagers!) and hates doing any kind of chores. Her room is a pig-sty most of the times and a huge challenge is just making sure everything is sanitary with no food, wet towels, etc all over the floor. She is also very clumsey, which makes it twice as great that she has found theater. :-)
Mikel is 6 and just started first grade at Bella Vista. She still goes to La Petite before and after school but her full-days at elementary. She takes cold lunch on most days, but loves picking a hot lunch day off the menu. She has a crush on Aiden Dixon still (boy in her class), which has been going on for about 2 1/2 years now (she gets mad at him once in a while for being a "dumb boy", but it never lasts long). She is a little snobby and whiney sometimes, but also very intelligent, compationate and sincere. She is trying desperately not to suck her thumb anymore, but it has been hard for her to stop. She got accepted into a competition dance team (YEAH!) but because of scheduling problems, she is still in the regular classes (sorry!). However, they did move her up with the big kids, which she loves. She is very talented and very motivated but she HAS to be the best at whatever she tries or she gets frustrated. She loves fashion, purses, shoes etc., but still cannot tie her shoes because she gets mad that she has to work at it (see what I mean!); we are working on that. Her best friends are Sagel and Riley from La Petite - she had her first "Big Girl" sleepover just before school started.
Nik is 4 and is in the Pre-K class at La Petite. He is smart as a whip and remembers everything he hears and sees. Very stubborn boy, but also very loving and snuggly. He loves toys, movies, riding his bike, and imaginative play. Star Wars has been his long time favorite (old and new) - sometimes a new fad comes in for a little bit (Transformers, Iron Man, etc.), but he always goes back to Star Wars. He loves pretending that Tyson is a Syth Lord and that he is a Jedi comign to destroy him...you can see where that goes! :-) He makes friends instantly, loves sports and wants to play football, soccer and basketball. He just finished a training program for soccer and can't wait to get on a field. Nik is very competative, like Mikel, but he is not as crushed as she is if he is not the best - hoping that he will just try harder instead. He is the picky eater in the family - he loves spicy food (salsa!) and most fruit, but he does not like most meat or veggies. Pizza, chocolate milk, and PB&Js are the all time favorites and will do about anything for a piece of candy!
Ok, now on to me and Aaron...where to start! We remodeled our great room this year which was a nightmare! So many things that you don't expect pop up at the most inopportune times. But it is now almost done and the house is feeling more like a home. We still have a lot to do, especially with the backyard, but it will all come along in time. We try to have date nights as often as we can, and it helps that Bay is old enough to watch the little ones. Football season is starting again which means going to Ute games - GO UTES - and watching the Steelers.
Aaron is traveling a TON for work, which is very hard, but also very satisfying. He is doing a great job and is becoming very successful at his company. My current challenge is trying to balance work, school (will get my BA in April!), and kids, and now doing it alone half the time. But it won't be forever - even finishing school in a few months will be a huge help for scheduling everything. The bigger challenge, I have realized, is that he is my best friend and we have been lucky enough to be able to spend so much time together over the lst 7 years that sharing him now with something he is so passionate about (his career) makes me a little jealous...
Ok, now on to me and Aaron...where to start! We remodeled our great room this year which was a nightmare! So many things that you don't expect pop up at the most inopportune times. But it is now almost done and the house is feeling more like a home. We still have a lot to do, especially with the backyard, but it will all come along in time. We try to have date nights as often as we can, and it helps that Bay is old enough to watch the little ones. Football season is starting again which means going to Ute games - GO UTES - and watching the Steelers.Aaron is traveling a TON for work, which is very hard, but also very satisfying. He is doing a great job and is becoming very successful at his company. My current challenge is trying to balance work, school (will get my BA in April!), and kids, and now doing it alone half the time. But it won't be forever - even finishing school in a few months will be a huge help for scheduling everything. The bigger challenge, I have realized, is that he is my best friend and we have been lucky enough to be able to spend so much time together over the lst 7 years that sharing him now with something he is so passionate about (his career) makes me a little jealous...
Ok, I think that is enough for now...hopefully I will have more to post before next year! :-)
