I think it is pretty obvious that I am not very good at keeping a blog. In fact, I am terrible. My mom is always suggesting I work on it so this year I am really going to try and keep up from month to month (maybe more). I guess maybe I feel like our lives are relatively boring and wonder if anyone really reads or cares but in the end it should be more for me to keep track of our memories. This year I will make an effort to keep up the blog! To start I will do a review of our year :)
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Our 2015 Family Review:
Eric: Finished his Junior year at Byu-Idaho. He managed a 4.0 this fall semester during a very difficult semester and we are so proud of his accomplishment. He does a pretty good job and balancing family life and school but I can say it's definitely nice when he is on break from school. Eric completed his internship with Forsgren Engineering here in Rexburg this last summer. He really enjoyed working for Forsgren and plans to work there again this summer.
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| Eric working on the Teton County landfill rehabilitation project |
Michelle: I have been busy this year working my makeup + hair business and it has been wonderful. There were times when I had several clients a week and it kept me very busy. I know I can keep getting busier if I want but at this time I like a more relaxed pace. I have spent the last 19 weeks cooking our little baby and it has been a rough pregnancy yet again. Gestational Diabetes is keeping me on toes as I am taking insulin again. I definitely don't like giving myself shots and am very thankful this isn't something I have to do all the time.
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| At a Tim McGraw concert this summer |
Kylee: Now a Sophomore in high school and doing very well in her classes. Kylee has started dating and still enjoys hanging out with friends whenever she can. She completed driver ed this year and hopes to get her license in April. Kylee is challenging herself in her classes choosing classes like Accounting (which she can get college credit for). Kylee is "looking" for a job. Though we think she could be a little more aggressive. We try to motivate her with the idea that working = spending money. She has made it a point to try and get a job this year.
Alexis: An 8th grader and doing very well in her classes. She got a 4.0 her first trimester and has started hanging out with friends a lot more now. She still loves reading, cats, and chocolate. Alexis is starting driver ed this year (kind of crazy) and is really excited about it. She is saving for a car and we made a deal to match whatever she can save to get her first car... She happens to be a very good with her money and has saved quite a bit (dang it).
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| Mid December photo shoot |
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| Halloween with friends |
Tristan: He has really worked hard this year as a 6th grader finishing his first trimester with A's and B's. He has several friends in the neighborhood and can be found at someone's house or with friends almost everyday after school. He is still into video games and can't wait to go camping this summer.
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| Fishing in California |
Davian: Now in 2nd grade and enjoying it for the most part. His favorite subjects are science, recess, and lunch. He has built up quite the Pokemon collection, enjoys video games, and Legos. He too has many friends in our the neighborhood and enjoys hanging out.
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| At California Adventures |
Olivia: This toddler is as busy as ever. She enjoys exploring everything. She enjoys the show "Sofia the First" maybe a little too much. She loves to play with her siblings and loves horses. Eric has a love for horses and so he loves that she loves horses as much as he does. She enjoys pretending her family members are horses and clicks whenever she sees a horse. She has many play horses in her toy collection. She must be a true Stoddard because Stoddard means "keeper of the horses".
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| 15 months old |
Mister Meow: We still have our cat. He has survived the move to the new house and loves having a yard with a lot of mice. He spends most of his days sleeping and most of his nights outside doing what cats do. However, with the weather being so cold lately he is very reluctant to go outside at all. He has become a little less tolerant of Olivia and her constant need to bother him but is still overall really good with her. He is a great cat and loved by all.
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| They both like to sleep |
Family Highlights:
We moved to a yet another house in Rexburg and like it even better than the last. The neighborhood is great for our boys and the ward is a lot more family friendly and less college students and babies.
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| First day of school ( don't have any other picture of our new house) |
We cashed in our trip to Disneyland that Grandma Smith gave the kids our first Christmas together. We all had so much fun and wish we could go every year.
Eric & Michelle celebrated their 2nd anniversary.
Most importantly, Eric & Michelle were able to get sealed in the Rexburg Temple with Olivia for time and all eternity.
