(I had this printed on metallic, gold paper that was admittedly pretty thick. But I didn't know when I bought it in a package! Well, Travis did most of the folding and stuffing into envelopes. He joked that we may as well have used the gold plates. Haha. Oops.)
M
issy Moo Moo, aka Olive Bo Balliv, or “Awive” if you’re Weston, is spunky and
spicy and the love of our lives! She climbs and shrieks and gives open mouth
kisses. Does NOT like headbands, sucks her thumb and cuddles silky blanket
tags. We are obsessed with this determined, adventurous girl!
E
lk meat anyone??! Travis went on his first elk hunt this year and slayed us a
beast! ;) Not sure how I feel about the mount, but a freezer full of meat is
sure handy!
R oad trippin’ be what we do! We’ve worn
out the highway between Gallup and Mesa and revere Arizona as our vacation
destination. We have visited at least once a month and realized that
technically makes us “active” in two wards. Come blessings! ;) After almost 150
hours of driving, we prize the car DVD as our 4th child, and have
done our part in watering the highway grasses.
R aise the roof, Collin is reading! He
started Kindergarten this year and enjoys attending the neighborhood school which
means no more Mass. Perhaps now when he reads the eye chart at the doctors
he’ll refer to the “+” as a plus sign and not “the cross”. ;)
Y ou can find Travis at the church or
traveling to such places as Tohachi, Sheep Springs and Pueblo Pintado with his
bestie, the stake president, for his calling. I still wear my yellow Cubscout
uniform loud and proud, as they have not fired me... yet.
C ob webs are of the devil and should be
left where they are!! Hard lesson for me to learn as I fell on our stairs
trying to clean some and broke “my back”…. the transverse processes of my L2
and L3 vertebrae… in May. It was my family to the rescue and 4 weeks of
recovery. I always knew cleaning would be the death of me!! I’m so grateful it
wasn’t worse.
H alle-flippin-lujah!! We FINALLY went to
Disneyland!! Please read, “we” means Travis and I. Yes, yes, selfish and loving
it. After 12 years of absence, I fairly reveled in Dole Whips, California
Screamin’, and alone time with my favorite. Tower of Terror is not my friend.
R unning maniac is our first born. Collin
likes to tag along on our occasional Saturday jogs, lasting 3 miles! Crazy boy.
He ran it up during his first season of soccer and earned himself the nickname
“Flash” for being the fastest kid on his team. He’s also tried his hand at Ju-jitsu
and gymnastics and loves all things active.
I ndian Capital of the World. < ---- Yup,
that’s where we live. Still kickin’ it in Gallup and learning to bloom where
you’re planted. However, I have learned that in any community, you can make a
home. Gallup may not be the exception to good people, but it’s also not exempt
either. We’ve been very blessed by amazing friends and ward family. (And bonus-
sometimes you’re serenaded by traditional Navajo dancers while shopping at
Wal-Mart!)
S ummer…. Oh, I love thee! Bring on the
sunshine and trips to Cali! We partied in Oceanside with my sisters and David
(the parentals and other brothers did an RV trip to Nauvoo) and had a blast
drinking dirty Dr. Peppers on the beach and playing card games “with
consequences”- think Truth or Dare. I LOVE my siblings! We went to Lego Land as
a family and spent 5 more days in Oceanside with the Evans. We are so spoiled!
T wo temple open houses for us this year.
The Gilbert, AZ and Phoenix, AZ temples were blessings for us to tour as a
family. We love to see the temple! (And those chandeliers!!)
M any thanks goes to Team Umizoomi and Dora
for educating Weston. I caught him informing his friend the other day that her
cup was 3 units tall and his was 5 units tall. Ha! I’ve also joined a little
preschool co-op with some friends and enjoy that time it gives me with my sweet
hearted boy. I will miss it someday when he finally gets his pronouns right.
A ugust was a special month, as it was when
Travis was able to baptize and confirm our neighbor as a member of the church.
We shared a Book of Mormon with him at Easter and he consequently began taking
the discussions. Our journey with him has been, and continues to be one of the
most meaningful of my life.
S- ome of my favorite quotes this year from
my kids:
*While Collin was praying: “Thank you that
Dad gets money at his job so that he
can (slight pause), so that Mom can buy things.” Touché, Collin.
*While driving through town Collin asked,
“Are there any eye dentists around here?!”
*While I was snuggling with Weston and
being silly, kissing all over his face, I’d say intermittently, “You know
what??! I sure like you!” More kisses… “Yes, I like Weston!” He was happy and
giggling while I said that, then very sincerely and with a big smile replied,
“And I like Daddy!”
*Another time that I was smothering him
with kisses, he good naturedly protested and exclaimed, “Why you kissing me?! I
not going anywhere. I not going to workkkk. Or on a mission!!” Ha!
Wishing you the Merriest Christmas and
Happiest New Year!! Love, Travis, Stephanie, Collin (5), Weston (3) and Olive
(15months)
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