Family Pictures and Year in Review

Above and below are blooper pictures. I had to include the one of Spencer attempting to hang from a tree. He is trying to stay brave and but you can see the sheer terror in his eyes.

2013 Year review:

(This is a copy of the letter we sent out to family/friends)

Steve:

Steve is just finishing up his 3rd year of school. Hopefully this time next year we’ll be writing about his graduation. He is going into Graphic Design. This semester was stressful for him because he had 4 studio classes and 2 regular classes. Studio class means he spends 6 hours a week in class plus at least that much time at home working on projects. So he averages about 12 hours a week per class. It doesn’t help that he’s a perfectionist.

He just got a new job on campus as a student graphic designer in the Admissions Center, so hopefully he’ll be able to get some good experience and add some things to his portfolio.

He is currently serving as a Boy Scouts Leader for the 11-yr-old scouts. He’s paired with a 50ish year old veteran scout (and former Bishop) and doesn’t really feel like he fits in the assignment.  But the boys really love him, and can identify with him since they aren’t huge scouters either.   

Katie:

Steve and I (but mostly me) still manage 3 student apartment complexes. This is our second year doing it and it’s much less stressful this time around, now that we know what we’re doing. This will probably be our last school year doing it though. I love being able to stay home with the boys and it’s been a huge financial blessing, to help put Steve though school, but I am ready to be done. It’s hard to do when you have little kids. Especially come this spring when I’ll be on the phone and giving tours nonstop. It’s hard lugging them around to all the apartments.

I am still serving as the Primary (children’s Sunday school) President. I don’t especially like the organization part of it (Assigning classes and teachers) but I love working with, and teaching the kids! They have such special, sweet spirits.

Other than work and church I’ve been reading and cross-stitching and trying to enjoy my boys as much as I can. It hits me all the time how fast they are growing and how much I’ll miss this stage: when mommy is still their best friend. 

Spencer: (Turns 4 on December 11th)

Spencer started pre-school in September. He loves his teacher and has made a lot of friends. He won’t be going to Kindergarten until September of 2015 so he didn’t necessarily need to start preschool but he is very social and was bored being home with me all the time. He loves being able to get out and be with other kids. Between school and me working with him at home he’s learning a lot. He very proudly learned his phone number last month (singing it to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star).

He is growing up so fast. I bought him 3 brand new pairs of pants that were a little long, hoping they would last him through next summer. About a month later he had a growth spurt and now they fit him perfectly. If he grows another inch they’ll be too short. He also has recently started trying to use grown up words and expressions. “It’s complicated” “Speaking of that” “You Startled Me” “Hilarious” “Unfortunate”… He could seriously have a whole show on TV called “Spencer Says the Darndest Things.”

Roderick: (Turned 1 on October 25th)

Rod, Roddy, Rodder, Roddy Poddy, Naughtly Roddy, or as Spencer says– Woddy. Our child of many names is also growing like crazy. He has 3 ½ teeth, is walking, running, dancing, singing and eating me out of house and home.  He’s starting to say more and more words. The thing he says most often is “Don’t touch” while he waves his little finger back and forth. (Can you tell what we say to him most often?) The other day he said his first sentence while I was cooking “Hot, don’t touch”. He is my rebel child, I can tell already. When I told Spencer something was hot or dangerous or whatever, Spencer took my word for it. Even though Rod says “don’t touch” he usually follows it up with touching it anyway. Rod is going to be one of those children that has to touch a hot stove before they believe that it’s really hot. Hopefully he gets that out of his system before he’s a teenager.

Spencer and Rod have a love-love relationship with each other. They love pestering each other as much as they love playing with each other. It’s been so fun watching them laugh together and watching Spencer be such a great big brother.

  

We are truly blessed and grateful for all we have and especially for our friends and family.

We love you!