Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! 2008 Another year, how quickly they pass. Here is our family update!

Russ has decided to join the Utah County Search and Rescue Team. It seams he doesn't get enough excitement in his 9-5 job at Footnote.com. The first year is a lot of training and he is excited to get all the fun gear like GPS and beacons! It is all about the gadgets! Russ has gone on some great hikes and trips this year to Zions, Arches, and Moab. His greatest adventure is when he comes home and is ambushed by all the kids!
Tyler is 9 and in the 4th grade. He really likes his teacher and class this year. He is involved in the violin program at school and still takes piano from his grandma. Tyler also takes Karate at the Rec center with his mom! Tyler's favorite things this year are the Wii, Pokemon, science projects, photography and reading.
Casey is 7 and in the 2nd grade. He is involved in Soccer, karate, and piano this year. Casey's energy and desire for fun is overwhelming at times. Molli thinks it is very funny to watch Casey play the Wii because he jumps around and kicks just like the characters in the game. Casey's favorite thing is to stay up late and talk to Tyler and Dalton way into the wee hours of the night. Which explains why it is so hard to get him out of bed in the morning. We are hoping he will grow out of that trend before he is a teenager! Fat Chance!
Alyson is 5 and in pre school for the 3rd year! Alas for her mom, Aly missed the kindergarten deadline this year. So to pre school she goes, but only 2 days a week this year. Aly is very smart. She is reading small books already and can sound out 4-5 letter words all by herself. Aly also loves to go to Karate with Dalton and Casey once a week. Most of her time is spent playing with Littlest Pet Shops and inviting friends over to play. Way back in March Aly tore open her middle toe on a piece of sheet metal while visiting family in Saint George. It severed her tendon and took 6 stitches to heal. That was not much fun for poor Aly.
Lydia is 18 months and runs the place! She is never more than 5 feet from Molli during her waking hours. Lydia is already a comedian and likes to get the kids laughing at the things that she does. She is starting to say real words like, more, up, done, grandpa, mom, baby, no, and how you doin'. Soon all the baby will be gone, which makes her mommy very sad. C'est la vie!
Dalton is 7 and in the 2nd grade. Dalton is Molli's brother. He is staying here for a few months and going to school with Tyler and Casey at Vineyard Elementary. Dalton too is very much addicted to the Wii like Tyler and Casey. Every spare moment those boys are playing some game together on the Wii. As for non electric things he loves to play with Legos and Magnetx. Dalton had the not so fun experience of breaking his arm in August. It was a nasty break, the Radius slipped right off the growth plate and broke the Ulna! It was very disturbing to look at! But 6 weeks in a cast and all is better.
Molli is just trying to stay afloat the sea of misplaced items and kids homework! Having 5 kids to wrangle and manage is proving to be a great challenge. When she has a moment to herself she tries to scrapbook or organize photos on the computer. Molli has a new passion in Karate, only, she has little time to practice at home so advancement is slow! It is hard for a 32 year old to take a class with a bunch of 8-10 year olds, but hey, you gotta start somewhere! During the summer she is involved in the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival which is a lot of fun for her. At church Molli is still the Activities Committee Chair, which she does not enjoy very much. Thank goodness the Ward Christmas Party is finally over! She gets to kick back now and enjoy the holiday!

We wish you all the best holiday season and for Christmas to truly be wonderful this year!

Love, The Blacks