Our New Year's Card

I have yet to create a Christmas or New Years card and send it out, so once again this is my cyber card to recap the year. Maybe next year I'll think ahead and actually get one out. We'll call that my New Year's resolution for 2011. ;)

The year 2010 brought lots of good things to our family!  When thinking back on it I can only recall a few minor things to report that were negative.  The year was full of progress, excitement, and good memories.

Garrett at speech therapy.

Garrett started going to Speech Therapy class at the beginning of 2010 at Kids on the Move once a week until he turned 3 in August.  It has done wonders for his speech and patience, and taught us a lot as parents as well!  He has gone from barely being able to say one word recognizably to attempting full sentences with recognizable words mixed in!  He still goes to Speech Therapy once a week at a local elementary school and is continuing to make progress.  We're so proud of his improvements and how much he tries!  He has also developed quite an imagination this year!  He loves action heroes and pretends to be one all the time.  He's constantly making us laugh with his contagious laugh and fun personality!

October 2009

Keira learned how to read this year, and is now to the point where she can read most three letter words and a bunch of four and five letter words as well.  She's soaking up all sorts of information on muscles, germs, insects, math, the plan of salvation, and whatever else she can!  She can't wait to go to school!  I think she'll love it!   Sadly, Keira was involved in one of our low points this year when she had two seizures just a few weeks apart.  She has now had 5 seizures in 2 years, with no correlation that we can find between the occurrences.  We took her to a Neurologist, who concluded that she has epilepsy, but to what extent, we don't know.  She could grow out of it, so we're holding off on medicine to see what the future holds for her.   

 

                   December 2010

Libby is blossoming into a full-on toddler!  She is starting to repeat nearly any word you say to her and follows her siblings around the house trying to play along.  She's developing a love of dancing and singing, unlike we've seen in our other children.  Her favorite show is The Wiggles.  She dances and sings along throughout the show!  Along with being adorable, she's developing a little sass as well.  It is pretty mellow as far as toddlers go, though.  So far. 

Richard and I on Catalina Island.

Richard had a pretty big year this year.  He graduated from UVU with a bachelor's degree in Digital Media in August with great grades!  To finish off his schooling he went to Namibia, Africa for 5 weeks during the summer to be apart of the restoration process for their archives.  When he got back and graduated we hit a low point with little luck in finding a job until the end of December when he was offered an excellent job with Steven's Henager College!  We're very excited about that!!

I (Betsy) had most of my time filled with being a mother of three.  I have found that three kids 4 and under requires a lot of time and energy and loads of patience.  I did find some time to become a consultant for Discovery Toys and bring in a little extra money that way. Towards the middle of the year it was looking like I didn't have enough to do, though, and was made the Compassionate Service Leader, which requires a lot of time and energy in our ward as well!  We have a few babies born and a few families move out of the ward each month, which keeps me plenty busy.  

We got to do a lot of fun things together this year, too.  Lots of hikes, camping, reunions at Bear Lake, and lots of time with our families!  Richard and I took off in November sans kids for a fabulous cruise with some of my family to Ensenada, Mexico.  It was a wonderful break that we are grateful to have had!   

We look forward to more progression in 2011, and hopefully more great memories too!  We are grateful for all of our friends and family and hope you find great happiness in the upcoming year as well!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

Love, 

Richard, Betsy, Keira, Garrett, and Libby.