Sewing

Brooke took a sewing class in the month of January.  If you were under 9 you had to have an adult go with you and since I tend everyday, I couldn't go.  Blair offered to go.  They made a table runner and did such a great job!  She can't wait for the next class.

Grandma's House

Grandma has a a big playroom in her basement (my old bedroom).  The kids love to play down there.  She has all the old dress ups and babies we used to play with as kids.  My kids have so much fun dressing up and being moms and dads.

Hardware Ranch

Grandpa Mike tended the kids one day while Matt and I went to the temple.  He took them to see the elk at Hardware Ranch.  They had fun and think Grandpa is pretty cool.

Ice Skating

The kids have been begging to go ice skating at the park since it opened.  Matt finally took them on Friday.  Cole picked it up really fast and loved it.  Matt has been calling him C-Matty-Ice-skater since.  Brooke took a little longer but once she figured it out she had a lot of fun!  Bailee got to ride around in the stroller and walk on the ice with Matt.  Maybe next year she will be big enough to skate.  They haven't stopped asking to go back.  Guess it was a hit.  (sorry not the greatest pictures)

More Hunting

Matt has really decided he loves hunting fowl.  Now, in addition to pheasant he is also hunting geese.  He went with the guys from work and they set up a blind and everything.  He said it was really fun and can't wait to go again.  I've created a monster.  My husband is becoming as redneck as my dad and brother :)  If I'm not careful soon all of Prime will be on Duck Dynasty (seriously... the guys he works with remind me of the guys on that show!)

2014

As a new year starts, I like to take the time to reflect on the past year and set some goals to help me improve in the coming year.  2013 was a good year.  It is the first time in a long time that we haven't moved or had plans to move soon.  Even though the start of the year was a big adjustment, I have truly come to enjoy our home and the place we live.  I feel like we are finally where we are supposed to be and I can focus my time and energy on other things.  My callings this year have helped me to grow and I have a feeling that as the year progresses I will find this to be true even more.  I am completely terrified to teach the Old Testament-- I have never read it and I know nothing about it.  As I prepared my first lesson for this Sunday I can already tell that I am going to be the one most blessed and that I am going to learn a lot!  I feel like I have come a long way physically, I exceeded my expectations for Boston and I am looking forward to continuing to improve.  I love that my running gives me something to work for.  I have come to truly enjoy my time at home with my kids and even though I still get burned out and fed up, I know that this is where I belong and that someday I will cherish this time and these memories.    

Goals from last year: 

Spiritual:

1.  Continue to attend the temple monthly, with Matt --  this has been a goal of mine for almost 3 years and it is something I look forward to and need.  I may have missed a month this year, but made up for it by going twice several months.  

2.  Spend more quality time with my kids -- I am still working on this, but feel like I have improved a lot.  I don't know that I'll ever be one of those moms that can ignore a messy house and sit for hours and play cars and barbies with my kids, but I have tried to show them that I can stop what I am doing sometimes to play a game or get them something they need.  I'm sure that as they get older and get into school I won't have this time as much so I hope that they can learn to trust me and talk to me now.

3.  Have family prayer daily --  This is hit and miss for us.  I have been through phases where I am really good at doing it, especially in the mornings as they leave for the day and I can tell it makes a big difference when we do.  I need to be better about remembering.  Still going to work on this in 2014.

Fitness:

1.  Continue to strength train 2x/week -- I have done very well with this.  I am learning to like weights and can tell a huge difference in my running (mainly not getting injured as much)

2.  Eat healthier/drink less Diet Coke --  this is a goal I have had for several years.  This year is the best I have ever done at it.  Training for a marathon helps me a lot to keep my eating on track and I know it makes a huge difference when I eat good foods and enough good foods.  I've also done a lot better with drinking less Diet Coke, I completely gave it up for over a month when I was training for Boston.  I'm a little less dedicated now but still try to limit myself.  It makes me feel so crappy, I don't know why I drink it, but I do.

3.  Keep track of my yearly mileage running (trying to hit 1500)  -- I ran just over 1428 miles in 2013.  Not quite my goal, but very close!  The first half of the year I ran a lot more because I was training for Boston.  June was also a high mileage month with Ragnar.  My highest weekly mileage was 45 miles... the week of Ragnar.  I had a few others come really close to 40.  My average weekly mileage was 27.5   July and August were my lowest mileage months because I was burned out.

Goals for 2014:

Spiritual:

1.  Continue goals from last year -- temple monthly, time with kids, family prayer daily

2.  Improve personal prayers

3.  Be Positive -- Choose Joy

Fitness:

1.  Continue goals from last year -- more specifically eat more vegetables and run more than 1500 miles

2.  Break 3:20 marathon -- last year I ran Boston in 3:25, I am currently planning to run Ogden in May and  hope that a very strict and intense training plan (that bumps me up to a higher mileage than I've ever run) will get me there

Hunting

Matt has taken up a new hobby of pheasant hunting.  I gave him a shotgun for Christmas and he has put it to good use.  He's been several times with my dad and the guys from work to the local hunting clubs.  This particular day, he went with my dad and uncle and Cole got to go too.  Matt said he did really well walking around with them and thought it was pretty cool -- we even cooked the pheasants they shot for dinner.  (well and some chicken :) -- some of us refuse to eat wild animals :))

Christmas

This year I was determined to enjoy Christmas.  With our Matt's knee surgery and our sudden move last year, Christmas felt a bit chaotic to say the least.  It is my favorite time of year and I love the spirit that comes with it.  We put our decorations early, made lots of treats for neighbors, listened to lots of Christmas music, and enjoyed every minute of the season.

As usual, our kids ended up very spoiled.  I LOVE IT!!  I love seeing the joy in their faces and the anticipation for Santa.  I don't let my kids have whatever they want whenever they want it, they work hard to earn new toys or things they want.  So it is fun to be able to see them get everything they want... just once a year!  This year they all got new bikes.  Brooke got a new baby and lots of stuff to go with it and a sewing machine.  Cole got a farm set with a cool barn and lots of fireman accessories.  Bailee also got a baby and stuff to go with it and a keyboard.  Not to mention all that they got from Grandma and Grandpas!

We had our usual Christmas Eve party and sang, read, played bingo and had birthday cake.  I love these traditions and the things they teach my kids about the true meaning of Christmas.  I know it takes Karen and Mike a lot of time to put it all together and I hope they know how much we recognize and appreciate their effort!!

This year we also had the opportunity to do a sub for Santa for a family close by.  Our kids got to help pick out presents and then we were able to watch from our cars as the dads left the presents on the porch and ran.  Of course I bawled seeing this mom, who we knew was struggling, come to the door and then bring each of her kids to get their present.  I hope that our kids understand the lesson grandma gave about how blessed we are in our family and how lucky we are that we are able to help others.

Christmas morning was spent at home (again feeling very blessed not to have to travel!)  and then the afternoon at Grandma Beck's and Grandpa Brad's with all the family.

I had the opportunity to give a Christmas lesson in Sunday School the week before Christmas and really enjoyed the time I had to prepare it.  I played a song called "Do You Have Room" by Shawna Edwards and talked about making room for Christ in our lives all the time and not getting caught up in the hustle and bustle-- but stopping to remember what is really important and enjoyed all the little moments.

I am so grateful for my Savior and His gospel in my life.  I'm grateful for His constant support and the knowledge that I can always try again.  I love celebrating His birth and the spirit that comes this time of year.  I hope that I can remember all through the coming year to make room for Him first.

Christmas Card

Dear Friends and Family,           

                                                                                      

We hope that this letter finds you happy and well.  This season always brings with it a spirit of reflection and gratitude for all the blessings and joy given to us by our Father in Heaven and those around us.  We feel very lucky to live in a beautiful place like Cache Valley and cherish relationships we have with those close to us.  We are grateful for our good health and the opportunities we get to enjoy the many wonderful activities that surround us.  For those that we don’t see as often as we’d like, we pray that life brings you all you wish for and that you feel the same appreciation for the lives that touch ours, no matter for how long. 

XoXo,

Matt, Bobbie, Brooke, Cole & Bailee

FAMILY UPDATE

Matt:  Spent the first half of the year in rehab after an ACL and meniscus replacement last December.  Still managed to find time to golf (a lot) and ran his first half marathon.  Works as the corporate controller for an international agricultural company called Prime International.  Couldn’t ask for a better job or coworkers.  Currently serves as the Young Men 1^st Counselor and loves working with the youth.

Bobbie:   My biggest accomplishment this year was running the Boston Marathon.  It was a goal that I wanted to accomplish in the next 10 years and thanks to some amazing friends (thanks again guys!) who sponsored me; it was a dream come true!!  I spend my days at home with the kids (plus a few extra) and you still couldn’t pay me enough money to go back to work.  I currently teach Gospel Doctrine and serve as the girl’s camp director for our ward.  I’ve developed a new love for learning and am grateful for the time my calling allows (or forces J) me to take to really study and be taught.

Brooke:   6 years old and in 1^st grade.  Loves riding her bike, dancing, singing, and playing with her babies.  Thankful for her family.

Cole:  5 years old and in preschool.  Played his first season of soccer.  Loves playing firemen (still), riding his scooter, and fishing.  Thankful for snow.

Bailee:  3 years old and in her first year of preschool (which she loves).  Enjoys painting, doing hair, and singing.  Took her first trip to the emergency room this year after eating a whole bottle of Tylenol (she was fine).  Thankful for sleeping.

Sledding

One of the greatest things about Grandma's house is the big field behind it.  In the summer it is great for exploring, golf, and 4-wheelers and in the winter it is great for riding sleds behind the 4-wheelers!