Christmas!

Christmas holidays!

We had a wonderful holiday with fam and friends.  Ashley and Mike came into town from Rochester New York for two weeks to recover from med school finals.  His first semester was a total success and he completely loved it.  Ashley looks beautiful. She is 32 weeks pregnant and doing amazingly well.  She even went skiing twice with us! We had a wonderful shower for baby Haven, and Judi and Ashley spent some time shopping for baby stuff!  With all the pink we have, we can only pray that the ultrasound reading was correct!!
  Sophie's goal was to read Harry Potter by herself by Christmas day if she wanted to get a WI game.... With long reading sessions with Ashley, Mike, James and Katie- Christmas eve, 8pm she emerged from the study with an enormous and proud smile.  Suffice it to say, Santa complied...
  Katie has one week until she leaves for Jerusalem.. She is calm and happily anticipates making 80 lifelong friends, studying the gospel thoroughly and growing in many ways.  Judi remembers her own experience as being life altering in all good ways, and she still stays in close contact with about 8 of her old room mates.
 Emily called us from her mission in Chile on Christmas eve.  She sounded amazing, strong and happy.  She cried when Mike and Ashley told her their daughter's middle name would be Emily... Her cousin Hal was on the phone and said her Spanish sounded perfect- great accent.  She bore her testimony to us in Spanish and we had a prayer over the phone...Tender and sweet and we miss her dearly.
  James-got back country skis for Christmas and spent a day in the back country with Michael and a day on the slopes with us.  So great to have him home too!  He is taking on leadership in the animation dept as the layout guy for a couple of student films. He has begun his own personal film in the hopes that Pixar will hire him as an intern this spring.  He and Mike Sr. have an adventure planned  for Spring.  They're going to hike the Inca trail and end up in Maachu Picchu!  Lots to look forward to..
   Judi is joyously anticipating her first grandchild, and preparing for the phone call that sends her at light speed to Rochester to help out with the first week home!! Could there be anything more exciting than loving the child of your own child?  Mike is working so hard as usual, holding the Stake afloat and all that entails, and working at St. Marks.  Katie often works with him and brings home funny stories of him "playing all day with his patients'.  He really loves them and they love him right back.  There is a hefty amount of verbal sparring that goes on to keep things light and fun..
   Life seems to just keep surging forward at a speed we cannot comprehend.  Seems like yesterday our little kids were all snuggled in close- warm and needy and within reach of our arms constantly.  Now we find them scattered to New York,  Chile,  Jerusalem,  Provo/California and our hearts yearn for simpler times.  But we are so proud of each of them as they move forward-achieving the dreams they nurtured in childhood. As they say, "the only constant thing in life is change" so we hope to be graceful and embrace the many new experiences that lie ahead for each of us.  Our goofy "family mission statement" has always been: "We're the Bournes.  We're not much, but we're all we've got!"  That's true.  We are all we've got, and I am grateful to walk side by side with each of you!  Love, Mom
  .

EMMY'S CHRISTMAS IN CHILE

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009!

Aloha!

Lucky Sophie, Judi and Mike got to spend the week before Christmas in glorious Hawaii with Gpa and Gma Bourne, Spaffords and Waldos! Thanks to dear David Spafford we stayed in a beautiful home where we got to really enjoy each others company... Our beach was fantastic for snorkeling and sleeping, the golf made the boys go wild, and Sophie made friends with turtles! Mike has a bounce back in his step and a twinkle in his eye! We came home just in time to pick up Michael and Ashley as they flew in from New York to visit for two weeks!  James and Katie came home from the Y and Emily continues to work in Chile with a phenomenal attitude and great wisdom.

 Mike loves his medical studies in New York and is loving his diverse class.   Ashley looks beautiful and has only gained about 15 pounds.  Her due date is only 9 weeks away!!  That makes it an exact 100 pounds that Judi gained more than Ashley. (you think I'm kidding...not!) James comes home from a taxing semester.  He is very involved in student projects- being the head of a couple of layout teams. He has also just been commissioned to do the graphic novel version of a movie that is being made.  He hopes to get a Pixar or Disney internship this year.  Katie came home with amazing grades in Anatomy and Statistics and has been crowned the newest "brainiac" of the fam.  She leaves on Jan 5 for a semester abroad in Israel.  She doesn't know anyone- but have you met Katie?  In 10 minutes she'll have 80 new best friends so we don't worry at all.  Her mom is a little nostalgic about her own experience there that simply changed the entire trajectory of her life.  We are anticipating an amazing and growing experience for her although we are already homesick for her...  Sophie continues to amaze and tickle us.  Is there anyone with more energy or love of life? She is someone that makes everything fun and her one line zingers are great.  Stand up comedy looks promising... She asked her dad to be straight with her about the "Santa" question.  He said he'd never lie to her but she better really want to know.  She did and he told her... Judi's foot accidently made swift and brutal contact to his shin but he's beginning to heal up nicely.

We feel blessed beyond measure this Christmas season as we count our blessings and remember the reason for the season.  God bless.  Mike and Judi

NEWS FROM CHILE! (CHILLY)

EMILY:" Mosiah 12:21 should read: How horribly calloused,dry, white and desperately in need of a pedicure upon the mountains are the feet of she that bringeth good tidings...."

HALLOWEEN!

Sophie was a gangster girl, decidedly informing her mother that "there is no cute...I HAVE to be cool this year!" Katie came up from Provo to trick-or-treat...

EMILY AND KATIE IN GUATEMALA LAST SUMMER (catch up!)

Emily and Katie spent 5 weeks last summer serving in an orphanage in Guatemala.  They went with Lizzie and Jessie their aunts and had an amazing time.  Hard to say good-bye to the children they had grown to love...

JAMES IN ITALY!!

James spent a semester in Florence studying art (and girls apparently!)  He had the immense privilege of being at the greatest museums in the world, seeing the best art ever done, and painting in the same environment as the masters!  He was like a pig in mud all summer...He is working at BYU in the Animation department and is being interviewed by guys from Pixar! He is working on a personal film based on the block of marble that Michelangelo carved the "David" from.  It is called "The Abandoned Block" and is a beautiful story about "potential".

He is working on films around the clock and building his portfolio. 

Sophie's 5 minutes of fame!

Sophie got to be in the Olympus High School production of "Music Man"!

EMILY ARRIVES IN CHILE!

Emily arrived in Osorno Chile on October 6th.  She had dinner at the mission home and met with her president.  She was assigned Hermana Alvarez as her first companion and trainer.  Her president told us that Hermana Alvarez is possibly the best missionary in the church!  High praise indeed, and how lucky  that Emily gets to be trained by her and begin this experience with someone so wonderful.

19 DAYS IN THE MTC AND EMILY IS OFF TO CHILE!!

Emily spent 19 days in the MTC and took off for Chile!  She left  October 5th which will be right as spring is beginning!  Always one to take on a challenge and because she was somewhat proficient in Spanish- she joined a group of Latinos and bypassed the usual 9 weeks...  She loved her district and her two darling companions.  We love her and wish her well!

Snake River Adventure

Mike and James take a harrowing trip through Hell's Canyon- Snake River

OUR FAMILY- 2009

Girls and their dogs...

Sophie was lucky enough to raise her Yorkie "Snickers" for 8 years.  She sadly died a few weeks ago and we were sad to say good bye to such a good old friend.  We luckily fell in love with  new little friend, a Bichon Frise, named her Daisy and moved on!  She is happy, loving and bouncy (just like Sophie) and we love her!

Katie and Baron- our faithful friend and protector

Sisters...

Katie and Sophie spent the last of their summer together, going to the zoo, out to Yamasaki's and to Provo for a sleep-over...

September with the Bourne's

Early in September Sophie took off with her 4th grade class and her mom to Mill Hollow Camp up in the Uintah Mountains.  Much craziness ensued. Sophie's group won the skit competition-hands down-(Judi wrote it) we think we saw a bear, we were visited by the Mill Hollow Monster, and we teased boys mercilessly.  For Mike, James, Em and Katie we enclose a picture of their much loved 4th grade teacher and legend, Mr. Fornelius.  Sophie made him her new best friend....

Michael's med school class.
At Niagra Falls
Just before taking off!

On April 28,2009 Ashley and Michael got married in the Salt Lake Temple.  It was a beautiful spring day- a day full of beauty and possibilities- just like these two amazing lives!  Family and close friends gathered to celebrate the day.  We had had an intimate family dinner with just siblings, parents and grandparents the Saturday before at Log Haven.  We had fires going in the fireplaces and had the chance to really speak from our hearts to the soon-to-be- newlyweds...

Following the ceremony at the temple Mike and Ashley jumped on a plane to Maui! (thank you frequent flier miles!) They spent a week exploring the island and relaxing at the beach.

They came home tan and rested and we got ready for the big shin-dig at the Salt Lake Country Club.  It was an exquisite evening with a huge crowd of loved ones and friends.  We had a great band and at the end of the reception Ashley and Mike had the first dance together, then Ashley and her dad got to dance and finally Mike sang a song he had written for her.  After that we all cut loose!  Sophie and Katie were the dancing stars, and even Judi's 91 year old dad cut up the rug!  What a warm and wonderful evening as these kids begin their life together!

The following week we headed up to beautiful Boise for another reception!  It was fun to meet all the Boise people and family who have loved Ashley all her life.  Despite an unseasonal and torrential down pour of rain and hail it was a wonderful and beautiful evening to celebrate-once again!

Mike soon found out that he had been accepted to many medical schools across the country, but was most excited about his acceptance to the medical school in Rochester New York.  They decided that this was the place, and began making plans for the big move across the country! They had 10 weeks of pure bliss living in the apartment over the Spafford's garage (read: the most beautiful place they will ever live or hope to live...) It was a fun summer of hiking and biking and..oh yes... finding out that Ashley was expecting a baby!!!!!!!!!

Ashley's dad, John Peay, helped them pack up and drove with them all the way to New York. We all bow at his sainted feet for his immense effort and help!! They live in a beautiful apartment that Ashley has fixed up to make Martha Stewart green with envy...

Michael began med school with a beautiful and touching "white coat ceremony"  Mike and Judi flew out for this exciting event.  The four of them got to go to Niagra Falls, and visit the beautiful church history sites.  Michael received a most beautiful father's blessing from his dad in the Sacred Grove.

We love and miss Mike and Ashley and can't wait to meet their impatient little surprise bundle of joy!! What could be more exciting than loving the children of your own children?  Mike and Judi are ecstatic, and Judi is moving quickly into "irrational spoiling of grandchild" mode...

Mike and Ashley expect the Peay's for Thanksgiving in Rochester, then they are flying to Utah and Boise at Christmas for skiing and R and R.  The baby is due on Feb. 15th, and they plan to come out again in March for great rejoicing and spoiling of said baby.

You can read about their life adventures at: thebournereality.blogspot.com