Happy Holidays!

It has been a good year for our family, I can’t believe it’s nearly over already. We got in a few adventures like to Kanab (with the entire Knudsen family), Cathedral Valley, and Cedar Mesa. Tyler had our trips packed with hikes, ancient ruins, and geocaches. Here are the year’s highlights from each of us:

Zoe is seven and a true individual. She loves science just like her dad. She won 3rd place in the schools science fair with a weather prediction project. She and Tyler spent hours reading their homemade weather instruments and tracking the weather. She bedazzled her fellow students again with another spinning hula hoop routine at the school talent show. Her summer was filled with playing with friends, fort making, and bike riding. She started dancing at a new studio and performed in the 4th of July parade. She played soccer in the fall and started 2nd grade. She loves school and enjoys reading, anything with art, listening to music (her favorite band is One Republic), and she still loves her snowy owl.

Ava is five and full of it. She loves anything beautiful and sparkly. She started dance and soccer this year and loved both. She is a natural performer and often steals the show. She started pre-school at SUU in the fall and was excited to go four days a week. She has a boy friend there that she thinks is hilarious and he adores her. She is very funny and full of expression. Her favorite princess is Ariel so we took her to the Tuacahn production of The Little Mermaid for her birthday. She couldn’t wait for Ariel to come on stage, but quickly caught on that the actress was really a human because of her boots and skirt. She loves parties and is oft en planning and inviting people to pretend events. She loves creating, painting, and coloring.

Ren is eighteen months and such a sweet baby. He is really good natured and quite mellow like Tyler. He loves to be outside and tries to escape out the front door any chance he gets. He loves playing with his sisters and teasing them. Balls are a favorite of his, he oft en carries a soccer ball around the house. His favorite books are with farm animals and he likes to moo and neigh when we see cows and horses while driving. He surprises us with new words every day. His little laugh makes my heart happy. I enjoy ever minute with my little guy.

Tyler is still enjoying his dream job as a geologist with the state. He had many outdoor adventures this year. His favorite was a 4-day backpacking trip through Death Hollow with Eros and Hector. He also explored some remote areas of the Grand Canyon and climbed Wheeler Peak. He did well in both a 50-mile and a 65-mile mountain bike race. He surprised himself in his first half marathon finishing in 1:34. Tyler still occasionally writes about his adventures for the St. George Spectrum, and keeps up his blog cedarandsand.blogspot.com.

I started out the year running and kept it up through the year. Races keep me motivated so I ran a half marathon, the Moab Red Rock Relay, and a handful of 5 and 10k’s. I feel super busy with my work and running the kids around to school and lessons. Tyler and I did a 10 mile hike near Capitol Reef for our 12 year anniversary in August. It was amazing to spend the day completely alone with my best friend. I am so grateful for my little family. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and new year!

Here are more recent pictures of the kids....