The company where John works underwent a huge rebranding and changed its name from Creditera to Nav Technologies. It has grown a lot in the 2 years he has worked there! He loves the supportive environment, the focus on integrity and family, and feeling like he is making a difference in the world. He has some great friendships there and often stays late on Fridays to play a card game called Magic. He continues to play the organ in sacrament meeting about once a month and was just released from being an Elder's Quorum teacher after serving for a couple of years in that calling. He has been continuing to focus on his health and mental wellbeing and as always, puts his family above all else. He's a hands on, patient, understanding, fun dad. He takes Charlie to school in the morning and really enjoys that time with him every day.
Barb stays busy with the kids, the house, doTERRA, church, and her millions of projects and different commitments on her time. She's learning to reign in her FOMO (fear of missing out) while still nurturing her innate extrovert and "gatherer" personality. She has focused on incorporating exercise into her life this year and enjoyed doing yoga and a high intensity aerobics class called High Fitness. She's been teaching Relief Society this year and is still the ward choir director. She and John also spend a lot of time on Sundays helping the kids stay in their primary classes. Sometimes it's all hands on deck to make that happen.
A big focus for Barb and our family this year has been our niece, Bridget, who was born in October 2015 with severe health challenges. With John's support, Barb has traveled to Las Vegas twice to help Catherine and Richard and their family, as well as helping when they travel to Salt Lake to meet with specialists. In July, Barb and a friend, Rachel Watson, organized a large fundraiser/music show in support of "Boosting Bridget". 250 people attended and it was a night to remember. John was incredibly involved and supportive, and many friends, neighbors and family members attended or participated in the show.
Charlie is in 2nd grade at Crestview Elementary. Last year, he finished up his at home ABA (behavioral) therapy and finished 1st grade strong with the help of his teacher, Miss Aste and his full time aide, Lynne (Kelch). He achieved his goals so well last year that this year he only needs an aide for part of the day. His teachers, Ms. Saltas and Mrs. Hepworth (SpEd), are dedicated and fun, and really seem to "get" Charlie. He's still excellent at math, and often explains how he's figured out complex concepts in his head. He seems to be a very visual and logical learner. He excelled at swimming this summer and continues to take breakdancing from Chacho at The School of Dance. He loved his soccer camp over the summer, as well. He lost 5 teeth last year!
George just started his 3rd and final year of preschool. He will be the oldest in his class his whole life because his birthday is in September. We think this a great place for him to be! He attended Wasatch Presbyterian Preschool last year (in the same class as Jude!) and is at Cottonwood High School's child development lab preschool this year. He LOVES it. He is sensitive, emotionally intuitive, and loves to keep up with his big brother. He's a great artist, with a deep and abiding love of rainbows. He loves to sing and play Dad's drum kit. His favorite song is "We Will Rock You". He loves warmed up chocolate milk, scrambled eggs, Paw Patrol, and hugging Bonnie. He got really strong at swimming over the summer and participated in a tap/ballet class and recital last year. He was the only boy in his class and did so great! Mom got teary-eyed more than once watching him from backstage. He and Charlie are now in the same breakdancing class but that may not last for long.
Bonnie just turned 2 and has become a little girl and not a baby. She's potty trained (which she did by herself), a great sleeper, and talks in long, complete sentences. She wants to be just like the big kids and keeps up with them pretty well! People always comment on her signature haircut (an a-line bob with sweepy bangs), her beautiful eyes, and how much she looks like John. She loves chocolate milk, as well as baby dolls and stuffed animals, and has amassed a large collection. Her favorite songs are There was a Tiny Turtle, Little Sir Echo, and Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. She likes being a helper- she loads the silverware into the dishwasher with mom and takes the garbage out with dad. She is loud and talkative and feisty and determined and funny! That is, until someone other than our immediate family looks at her or talks to her. Then she gets clingy, scared, shy, refuses to talk and sometimes cries. She is very attached to Mom. She loves to do things "by self!" and yells at the top of her lungs, "I talk to mama first!"
