At this moment I am ringing in the new year in UTAH. So As 12:00 rolls on by my body knows that back home, I still have an hour to go, so no rush. Until then I'll post this final recap. Another year of failed Christmas Cards, another year of failed organizations and YET, writing this gave me a great opportunity to recap with my family the successes of the year. So for that I am Grateful.
2023 Year Wrap Up
For those who don’t want to read …
Mason:
- 11 years old
6th grade
Perfect GPA
Says “Goat” a lot
Football, can finally catch in the in zone!
Basketball, loves working on fundamentals
Piano, claims he hates it’s until he performs (then He realizes how good he is)
Shoe size, he’s past his mom watch out dad!
Entrepreneurial ambitions, because he realizes how much things cost.
Favorite spontaneous activity, hopping in the truck with Grandpa Kent, doesn’t matter where (usually ends up at Denny’s or conscripted labor)
Tanner
7 years old
2nd Grade
Tested and passed to join the Highly Capable Class
Loves Reading Chapter books though his favorite books are still Doctor Seuss.
Best incentive: Electronic time
Basketball: he bounces more than the ball does.
Soccer, and baseball, he claims he was in it for the friends.
Swimming Team: anything to be in the water!
Piano: first time playing and performing, and like everything else it’s all in competition with big brother.
Spending money: discovered that his money disappears quickly when the concession stands open at the football games.
Favorite spontaneous Activity: Playing with the dog outside to avoid chores.
Mitch
Job: Secondary educator for Warden School District. Developing more Language curriculum for multi-language students
Church: Elders quorum President, keeps him very busy and using his Spanish skills all the time.
Sarcasm: His preferred method of communication … both languages.
Goals Reached: Bought a pair of “dad shoes”
Accomplishments: Gold Medalist for Homecoming Assembly Office Chair Racing.
Dad Accomplishments: Top Ranking for Destroying his own children at Ping Pong, Nightly reading with Tanner, Long distance Walks with the Dog, and forfeited the belt as Mario Cart Champion. (Still heavy weight but not the champion)
Still prefers his music and his cars the same way; Old, Heavy, and Loud.
Brooke:
Day Job: Supporting the Speech Department. Favorite area of focus is technology and Articulation, (Granuie the wide-mouth frog)
After School Job: Photography. Portrait and Sports Photography.
The in between jobs: FAMILY, Home, Yard, and dog.
Hobbies: Ukulele, Singing, Writing (Nanowrimo WINNER - wahoo!)
Bright Blue Truck owner!
Still an introvert but allowing my husband to take me to things now.
Church: Primary Singing Time and still loving it. (It keeps me connected to my mom)
Mason has caught the reading bug. He is devouring book series after book series, such as Fable-haven, Percy Jackson, Lost Heroes, Wings of Fire, and more. I do miss the days we would read these kinds of books together but I love watching his love for reading flourish. His hobbies revolve around the sport of the season; Basketball. This year he claims his failed basketball season taught him how to handle hard things. I saw him adapt and still try to participate in any way possible.
Football, he learned to catch the ball, while his dad challenged him to put more effort into defense. Five bucks for sacking the quarterback was fairly good motivation. This may have been his last year in baseball. He does very well with it however his interest in track and field has piqued. He tried the Swim Team as well and man does he look smooth in the water. His natural coordination shines when he’s in the water. Grandpa’s pool has become key in advancing his swim skills.
He started the 6th Grade this year and he is so proud of his own top scores. He’s doing ASB, Math Team, and band. He is hitting that age where he’s doing stupid boy things during class. Yes, he's gotten detention once but he makes up for it by showering his mama with love. In fact he never misses an opportunity to surprise me during his lunch time just to give me a hug. (I love working at my boys school, next year will be SO different)
Mason is a great friend and has great friends. Some are older than him, and he often thinks that gives him the license to attend all the things they do. Which means Mason has experienced some growing pains and is learning to handle the word, No, with grace. But that means he’s ready for Young Men’s to start next week, and he has decided he can’t wait any extra weeks to be ordained. He’s anxious to go on the temple trips and pass the sacrament as soon as possible. (We are very proud that he feels ready and family when you come visit we’re excited to have you at Church to watch him pass the sacrament.)
Mason is an animal lover, though he’s allergic to work. His cousins are his first friends and he will drop everything to spend time with them. He’s trying to convince me to take him to the church for early morning basketball before school, (Nope) He’s still growing, still learning, Still loving life between those tween moments when he doesn’t get his way.
Then there are his conquered fears. Mason doesn’t like heights, yet this year he succeeded in riding STUNT PILOT at silverwood and he took Grandpa Kent on the Big Mama, a 3500’ zipline from one mountain to another in Spokane. He loved every minute of it.
Tanner prefers to be called Tanner over TK. I think it’s because it’s been misheard enough he’s given up on it. He’ll still answer it, but he knows if he hears his full name, he’s in trouble.
Being 7 years old has been good for this kid. Though he feels it all, he’s learning to manage those big emotions. He also loves to read books, mostly graphic novels, 😋 but he makes sure we never miss a story at night. His school library book lives on his nightstand. We read it every night so he can get 100% on his AR tests. But he often forgets to put it in his backpack on library return day. We’re working that memory.
Tanner Loves his fluffy hair and won’t let me cut the top! “Everyone loves my bed head.” he claims. And it’s true, everyone runs their fingers through his hair, kids and adults, and he sometimes lets them. (Haha)
He has been developing new hobbies, though his addiction to video games is still going strong. Mario, Plants vs Zombies, Pokémon, and more. He's full of tips and tricks which he shares without being asked. And yes he still hops and sweats while playing the Switch. He’s tried his hands at Baseball, Swim Team, Soccer and Basketball He’s clearly in it for the social aspect, but he has a real knack for sports. Maybe someday he will realize that hard work pays off. He started the piano and often runs to the piano to practice. At first I thought it was because he enjoyed it, then I realized he was just trying to beat Mason to the piano bench. Anyway, he performed in his recital with great confidence and we are so proud of him.
At School, Tanner adores his 2nd grade class and teacher. He does get a bit over excited and talks too much but he loves doing the work and takes pride in passing everyone in Math. If he doesn’t bring home math homework he instantly requests I print off extra worksheets for him to do. He has buddies that live on the street above and below him and even though he loves to follow big brother around he has no problem navigating the neighborhood to find someone to play with.
He wanted me to list off some of his best friends, so here is an incompetent list of friends in absolutely no order: “Cooper, Helaman, Jack, Blaine, Jace, Dylan, Bethazar, Adam and some from basin city, Breaken, Carson, and” (He said another C name that I forgot to write down. Oops. Small mom fail.)
Tanner also loves his cousins. Sometimes it’s hard being the only boy in the age bracket, but they all play well together and do their best. It’s such a relief to know that he loves his extended family and looks forward to seeing them again.
Mitch and I are at 18 years together. According to Mitch our marriage is an adult and one of us acts like one … not sure which one that is since lately I feel like I can’t keep up.
We love spending time together and are learning the balance between work and play. We traded in our white Hyundai for a bright blue F150 and other than the pains of gas this truck has made me so happy. We ask that you pray for Mitch’s “old man car’ because three days before Christmas it started making strange noises. So even though he loves to work on cars we really need this car to get him where he needs to go daily.
Mitch is still teaching at Warden High School, mostly Spanish and English language learners, but he is also helping out with US History class. He LOVES it! In fact, if you’ve listened to his stories you can tell how he gets along with those high school kids. I am working for our school district in the Speech Department. I’m based in Connell Elementary but I go to the preschools, and Jr High. I assist with the technology the kids use to communicate, while also teaching articulation, Language, and skills for social interaction (Yes I’m learning a lot, haha).
Both our callings at church keep us busy, but it’s been a wonderful way to serve others. Life is so busy we are grateful for that opportunity to focus on others and serve the Lord. And I get to teach music to the primary children. It's seriously the best gig I could ask for and lifts my heart when I’m feeling depressed.
We still live where we live and the Dog is destroying my backyard. Her name is Harrie, and she actually is a great pet. Big and stupid at times, then other times you can tell she knows exactly what she did wrong.
This is our family, and we’re loving life.
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