CATCHING OUR BREATH AND CATCHING UP!

What an eventful year this is turning out to be.  Here is the update on the fam:

Mike and Judi: Still alive and kicking- Mike still Stake President and working hard at the SL Orthopedic Clinic. Makes time for nightly trips to the gym and reading everything on the shelf at Barnes and Noble- just to keep up his reputation as "Renaissance Man".  Challenges Sophie to nightly soccer games which he generally wins, but she has him beat in jump-the-rope.  Judi is teaching aerobics (she has to- to keep up with Soph) taking care of sweet Bette in this last rough year and happily settling into being an overindulgent, insanely- in- love grandmother to precious baby Haven. ( who is by the way, an undisputed 2 month old genius and possibly the most beautiful baby on the planet....)


Mike, Ashley and Haven: Living in Rochester, New York for the next four years while Michael completes medical school.  Mike nearly needs to be restrained from skipping down the halls he loves it so much.  He was top in his class in two categories and will be receiving honors this September! (Boy Wonder). Ashley is working hard being the most adorable and loving mother in the world to our new little angel.  She has taken on all the challenges of marriage, moving across the country, pregnancy, birth, medical school, supporting husband...(did I miss any major life changes?) with such grace and love.  Little Haven (and I do mean little, she is in the 5th percentile of weight!) has a mass of beautiful black hair and eyes just like her beautiful mom.  She is mild and content and an absolute joy.   If you want to see two grown men turn into mush- just take a look at the grandpas in her presence...

Mike, Ash and Haven came out for spring break to ski and to join the family in blessing Haven.  We also got to go to SunValley and ski for two days with Ashley's parents, which was a total delight. Mike got in some back- country near- death ski experiences which hopefully will hold him for awhile...He's training for the "Wasatch 200."  It is a 200 mile race through the mountains of Utah this July with a team of about 11 guys...

James just returned from interviews in California at the Disney Studios. He's trying for internships with Pixar, Sony, DreamWorks and Disney.   He and Mike leave April 16th for L.A. again for a road trip and some more scouting of studios...His work just keeps getting better and better and he is  getting excited to work in professional situations. He did some back country skiing with his big bro this winter and may have found a new passion!

Some of his stuff:

Emily is serving her mission in Chile, and just before the horrendous earthquake was moved down to Puenta Arenas which is in Patagonia right by Antarctica!  She says that the wind can blow you literally across the street, and winter is coming on.  The cold weather however, is in juxtaposition to the incredible and warm hearted people down there. She loves everything about her mission. She is growing and changing and doing some good at the bottom of the earth! Her language has come along nicely because of her native companions, and her mission president is this wonderful man from Heber City...

Katie will return from her study abroad in Israel on April 23rd! She has had a life enhancing and changing experience, and has made 80 friends for life!  She got to travel throughout Israel as she studied politics and religion, and had a week in Egypt and a week in Jordan.  Her last big adventure will be to snorkel in the Red Sea this weekend, and then she is home bound- thank goodness!! She'll go to BYU during the spring and then live home during summer semester.  She continues to dance, and is pursuing a masters degree in Social Work (counseling).  She's back to work in her dad's office where hilarious sparring with patients and co-workers keep everybody happy and on their toes. We missed you Katie!!

Sophie has discovered boys.  Not the giggly," I have a crush on you thing"- she just likes them better than girls. Being with boys lacks the annoying drama that comes with 10 year old girls- and she can keep up with them in all sports.  We have 4-5 hanging around our back yard trampoline every night, with the newest adventures being exploring Cottonwood Creek.

We blessed Haven in Salt Lake on Sophie's 10th birthday!  She sang "A Child's Prayer" just before the blessing with one of Judi's friends.  Soph has a voice!  A great voice!! Who knew?!!  She can belt it out like a Broadway bound gal, and has high hopes for a child's lead in the next Olympus High musical.

A crazy wonderful year with our kids spread out all over the world finding themselves and following their dreams.  The distances between us are huge but our hearts are knit together in bonds of love.  Life is an adventure for sure and it is rich and wonderful to share it with all of you.  Much love to all, Judi