"Wrap up" of 2013

Another few months have gone by and so much has happened!  I will try to "wrap up" the year and let you know of the "noteworthy" things that have been going on with the kids....

Nathanael decided to go to Homecoming this year.  He invited a young woman in our stake who also sat by him in AP English.  I was grateful that he took our advice and went.  His group had a young lady who worked on Saturday before the dance and so for their "day date" they went to the homecoming football game and then went for ice cream afterward on Friday night and then went to dinner and the dance on Saturday night.  In October, he and Travis had the opportunity to sing in the LDS production of "A Century of Honor".  It was to celebrate the LDS church collaborating with the Boy Scouts.  It was an amazing production and I felt that it was a privilege to be able to go and take Ethan to see them sing.  I am grateful that the scouting program, along with the priesthood, is helping me to raise my boys to be "men of honor".  Also in October, Nathanael sang in the "Disney Magic" concert with the Chamber Choir at school as a fundraiser for tour.  His friend sang , The Ballad of Davy Crockett", and asked Nat to pretend to be Davy as he sang.  Nat had a blast doing that and he did a really good job.    For Halloween, Nat dressed up as a Sith from "Star Wars".  He even got red contacts to wear.  It was really creepy. Nathanael had a great experience in November.  Because he is graduating this year, Travis decided to take him on a special trip.  Travis and Nat went to the BYU/Notre Dame football game in South Bend, Indiana.  They had a great time even though BYU lost and it was freezing cold.  Nathanael said that it was an experience that he will never forget.  In December, Nathanael participated in the "Madrigal Feast".  It is also a fundraiser for the choir to go on tour.  It is a dinner based on a Medieval theme.  Because he is in Chamber choir, he got to be "royalty".  One of the nights he performed a couple of Christmas songs on his bagpipes.  I had heard that he did a really good job. (I was in the kitchen helping that night).  A few days later, a friend convinced him to go to the Christmas dance.  It is an ugly sweater dance. His group picked out ugly sweaters for their dates at Deseret Industries and then they played laser tag, went to dinner, and then games afterwards.  He seemed to have a really good time.  To "wrap up" his year, Nathanael accomplished his goal of earning his "On My Honor Award" as well as his "Duty to God Award". He has been working on his "Duty to God Award" since he was 12 years old and it was such a great feeling to see him earn it after all his work.  I am so grateful as a parent that he has a desire to do what is right and accomplish his goals.

Lindsay has been very busy as well.  First of all, Lindsay turned 16 years old!  Wow!  I can't believe how fast time really does go!  Usually after the kids turn 12, they don't really have a "themed" party but she wanted to do one for her sixteenth birthday.  We did a ,"Once Upon A Time", theme because she loves that show.  We had hamburgers for dinner because one of the characters has a hamburger for the first time on the show.  We then played a "Once Upon A Time" version of the game, "Werewolves" and a "Once Upon A Time" version of "Taboo".  We "wrapped up" the night making carameled apples.  Yum!  Next, Lindsay went on her first date.  It was the Sadie Hawkins dance.  The theme was "Disney" and so her group decided to go as "Pirates of the Caribbean".  They went to a place in Provo with a nautical theme and did the ropes course.  They dressed up as pirates and then had dinner and then went to the dance.  Lindsay said that she had a really good time for her first date.  She had asked a young man in her seminary class who I think is about a foot taller than her!  Both she and Nathanael participated in the Lone Peak September 11th school concert.  It was fun to see both of them perform.  Because she already had a pirate costume, that is what Lindsay chose to be for Halloween.  She "wrapped up" the year by singing in a voice recital.  She sang ,"Silent Night".  She did very well considering she had a migraine headache just before and was on some medication that makes her a little sick to get rid of the migraine.  It was her last voice recital for awhile because she has chosen to just really focus on Irish dance.

Ethan had quite a busy end of the year.  He played AAA level competative soccer and his team won their division in the fall.  They competed really well and he has so much fun because Travis is the coach and Ethan gets to play with his friends.  Ethan also participated on a flag football team this year where his coach is a former NFL player.  His coach is a great man and is always very complimentary and encouraging to the boys.  Ethan had a blast!  Ethan decided to be Gandalph for Halloween.  He really likes, "The Lord of the Rings"  series.   In November, Ethan performed in the school play called, "The Emperor's New Clothes".  He even had a few lines in which he did really well.  He enjoyed participating in the play and soccer.  He is also the Deacon's Quorum class president which also keeps him on his toes.  Ethan "wrapped up" the year by playing Futsal on two teams.  He is a really good player but more important, he is a really good sport and I am grateful that he knows to play your best but recognize that it is only a game.

Clarissa continues to participate in Irish dance.  She competed in a feis in September and was able to win a medal which was very difficult because there are so many dancers her age.  Clarissa made a cute Dorothy from , "The Wizard of Oz" for Halloween.  In her Halloween parade at school, her teacher had dressed up as a witch and so they "acted" out the witch saying, "I'll get you my pretty!"  and Clarissa acted very frightened.  It was fun to watch.  She also received "The Eagle of the Month Award" in November for "Doing Your Best".  This is an award that her elementary school gives each month for a different character trait.  One boy and one girl from each class receives the award and they are nominated by their teachers.  I am so grateful that Clarissa was recognized for trying her best.  She struggles to stay focused and pay attention in math because it is a challenge for her.  However, she has really "stepped up" to do better and her teacher really noticed how hard she was working.  Clarissa "wrapped up" the year by singing in Deerfield's Christmas concert.  (Her teacher told everyone to sing louder and that Clarissa was trying to sing softer so that she would not drown everyone else out!)

Zachary continues to enjoy preschool.  He also played soccer this season and once again, Travis got to be his coach.  Zachary actually started doing really well at dribbling the soccer ball and going towards the goal! Zachary has that "Star Wars" gene that Travis apparently passes on.  He loves it and wanted to be a clone trooper for Halloween.  He was cute, but the color on his helmet almost made him look like a clone trooper chicken!   He "wrapped up" the year learning to stay in his own bed at night and helping clean up.

It has been a good year -but I am so excited to move on to 2014!  The children seem to continue to grow so fast and I can hardly believe that very soon our family will grow and change and we will enter a new phase of life.  There are too many "moments of joy" to mention, but one highlight was the day after Christmas hearing all the children play on the Wii-U together.  They were laughing and having a great time and it was something they could all play together!

Time to "wrap up" this post.....