Happy New Year

2009 has been a great year for our family! A few years ago I decided not to write a Christmas letter to send with our cards and today I realized there were events that I could not remember when they happened because I had not been writing my yearly catch up letter. So in an attempt to "remember" what has happened this past year I am going to journal it here.

Merrill started a new job that he is really enjoying, and I am really getting used to having some security. He works for Aquaveo in Provo as their IT Manager. He is back to working 3 jobs during the ski season and we'll see how that turns out. It's usually not too bad, we still get to see him every evening. I'm not sure how much he loves teaching/babysitting kids at Park City Mountain Resort, (he says he does a lot of counting to what ever number of kids he has on that particular day) but I know he is great at it and we enjoy the season passes it provides our family with each year. Our kids LOVE to ski, and can now ski any run at PCMR. Lindsay tells me I need lessons.I don't like to ski with them because it is so hard for me to keep up, and a little terrifying to watch your 7 year old race her brothers down the mountain. I panic when I can't see my kids, thinking about every bad thing that could happen to them. This panic happens a lot when we ski together so I don't go as often as they do...for my sanity. Merrill has also been writing children's books. Paint the U Blue was his first one and the newest one is The Magic Pencil. They are both great stories and it has been fun for me to see him do something I had no idea he could do. One of the things I love the most about Merrill is his willingness to do whatever is asked of him, for instance, he is still the "physical facilities manager" in our ward...which means he's the janitor. My sisters and I get a good laugh about that one when we talk about it, but he is really good at getting it done, even when people who are suppose to show up and help don't. He even does it without complaint! (something I could learn a thing or two about) Merrill takes his responsibilities very seriously no matter what the situation. You'll notice that our Christmas card this year does not have the usual family photo...instead, just the kids. That's because he had an emergency at work and missed family pictures. I'm still a little angry about that one, but I do admire his work ethic and I hope his boss does as well.

Richard is almost 12 and I am quite sure I'm not old enough to have a 12 year old. Richard is all about whatever sport he is playing at the moment. During the early part of the year he played basketball, he was on the swim team at Riverside and also played lacrosse this past summer, and played tackle football this past fall. I have decided that lacrosse is my sport of choice! It's violent enough for him, not too violent for me, and great exercise. Plus it's really fun to watch. Richard is just as lively as ever and when you talk to him it's hard to remember that he's just 12. He loves to read, and is really smart...if only he would decide to apply himself. Putting his name on his papers and turning them in is "busy work" to him and he really doesn't care if he gets an F. We're trying to get him to learn to be responsible for his own grades, which is proving to be harder on me than him. I have to fight the urge everyday to ask (nag) him about his homework and grades. Maybe this is a lesson I need to learn!

Riley is 9 and he is as sweet as ever. He has the same school teacher that he had last year Mrs. Bevan and we all love her! She has also lived in our ward so it has been double the fun. She pointed out that he is an angel in her classroom...but in primary when Richard is there, they play off of each other and he's not so well behaved. I wonder what I'm going to do about that. Maybe it will solve itself when Richard moves up to Young Men. Riley still wants a dog...and I still don't think I can handle that. He is also loves to read and is smart...and also does not always put his name on his papers and turn them in. However, in his case, I really think he forgets. He gets good grades and loves school. Riley also played basketball, participated in swim team, lacrosse and flag football. He enjoyed every minute of playing time and made sure to let us know if he did not get to play as much as someone else on the team. He's all about the "fairness" of everything. How do you teach a 9 year old that life is never going to be fair?

Lindsay will be 8 in February and is really looking forward to being Baptized this spring. She is still dancing at Jive and absolutely loves every second of it...especially when she gets to perform in front of people. I don't know where she came from! I can't think of anything I like to do less. Lindsay is also on a competitive cheer squad, something I never thought I'd see her do. She has gotten really great at tumbling and really loves doing it. They are going to compete at the Nationals in Anaheim this February and we're all excited about that. Other than loving the spotlight, she is mini me and I love it! She likes to do anything and everything I like to do...especially shop. She reminds me every so often that she is the only cousin without a sister. I feel a little guilty about that, however I can't think of a worse reason to have another baby so she'll have to make due with me. She is my most athletic child and is great at whatever she tries. Merrill likes to tell her that she'll be in both the summer and winter Olympics. I hope he's planning on getting a few more jobs! She is very competitive and does not like to get passed while skiing. Early this past year she was skiing with my brother and they were racing. She needed to use the bathroom, but would not stop to go...instead she thought it would be a good idea to put her ski pole between her legs to "hold it". Lets just say it was not a good idea and she ended up with stitches somewhere she should not have. I think she's learned her lesson.

I stay busy driving kids around to various activities. My life is different now because the "retirement program" Merrill has been selling to me all of those hard years when my kids were young is now here. I have the whole school day to myself...and I love it! Things are still hard in different ways (mostly emotional), but I love the ages my kids are at right now. I am thinking about going back to school, or working a little more, so we'll see what 2010 brings for me. I am still keeping Sweet Baby Beads alive...but just barely. I am so sick of it that I don't give it the effort I should. We just bought a new car so maybe it's time to pick things back up again so I can pay for it! Today I was released as the enrichment leader and called to be the Mia Maid advisor and I could not be more excited. I have never had a calling in the Young Women program, but have always wanted to have one. When I was pregnant with Riley I was asked to be the girls camp director for our ward. I knew I was pregnant and would be delivering a baby 2 weeks before girls camp but we had not told anyone yet about the baby. I explained to the counselor the situation and he decided that it would not work. I was sad to not have that calling, but I am going to get my chance now and I can't wait.

Life is good for our family and as my grandma Herbert would say "I can't complain". The struggles we face are nothing compared to what others face. I truly believe that my Heavenly Father loves me and my sweet family and he will never give us anything we won't be able to bear. I love each member of my family so much that there don't seem to be the right words to express it. Each one of them teaches me in a little different way how to be more Christlike and I love them dearly for that. I am thankful that they are willing to put up with me and truly love me completely. I am also thankful for the relationships I have with each of you reading this. You brighten my days without even knowing it. Thank You! May 2010 be a wonderful year for us all.