2016 Highlights #1-5

With my poorest record of posts this year (a paltry 8 posts), I hardly know where to start. But Elise encouraged me to list the highlights and then press forward with renewed commitment for 2017. Our lives have been full. Full of events, activities, challenges, tears, laughter, homework, deadlines, meals, and celebrations. They've also been full of very mundane moments...moments hardly worth recording. A brief snuggle on the couch, Saturday morning chores, Redbox rentals, sick days, Sunday afternoon walks, daily dish jobs, runs on the trail, and instrument practicing before school. Yet, it seems strange to record the large, rare moments when really our lives are made up much more of the small and mundane.

But pressing forward...our 2016 Highlights #1-5:

1. Madi turned 16, and to celebrate, we went to NYC! From the two Broadway musicals (Lion King and Neverland) to the corner suite upgrade at the Marriott Marquis, the entire weekend was magical.

2. St. Thomas vacation! We cashed in our miles and Marriott points and flew to St. Thomas for my husband's birthday. The snorkelling, kayaking, blue sky, and turquoise water was balm to our souls. My favorite memory is beach hopping from Magen's Bay to Coki beach where my husband snorkelled to his heart's content! Shortly after this trip, our lives changed significantly with my husband's night shift work. The memories of this trip seem very dreamlike...like a lifetime away.

3. Bunnies and Chickens. After a year of no animals because of our move and house building, we finally got bunnies and chickens again. We went from zero pets to over 20! The rabbits took over the garage (a fact I'm not thrilled with but have resigned to). Truman helped his dad build a coop for the chickens. We experienced the full array of emotions with exciting baby bunny births and tragic fox attacks. 

 4. A new driver, dating, and prom. With Madi's 16th birthday, all of our lives changed. The biggest change was adding a driver to our family. Madi drives to early morning seminary on some mornings and with some pretty amazing car drop-off-choreography, she often has a car to drive home after school. Oh the joy of having an extra driver! Also, Madi was asked to Mormon prom by Jared Schoeny...a landmark occasion for her as well as me. How can my first baby be old enough to go to prom?

5. Youth Conference at Kirtland, OH. I was called to serve in the stake Young Women's earlier this year. And so far, the most thrilling part of this calling was getting to accompany the youth to Kirtland. It was a whirlwind weekend of spiritual experiences with friends and my girls. We were asked to participate in a reenactment, I taught one of the sessions at the Johnson farm, and Madi and Elise sang with the youth choir. The meeting in the Kirtland temple was what Madi called, "this year's highlight."