Merry Christmas 2017!

In this era where we use social media to let friends and loved ones near and far know day by day what’s going on in our lives, we sometimes forget how fun and meaningful it is to send and receive a little card or note summing up what all has gone on and how everyone is doing. If you follow these blog posts with any regularity, you know about the major events to transpire in our family over 2017, but in case you didn’t know, here are some major highlights.

Quick wrap up of the week: We had class parties, started Christmas break, did not get predicted snow, saw The Last Jedi and Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, and got ready for a quiet Christmas at home.

Quick wrap up of the year:

•        January: We all drove out to Utah to watch the University of Utah Women’s Gymnastics squad beat the U of Michigan (and so Mike could interview).
•        February: Hallie reached her post-bariatric surgery weight loss target. Woo hoo!
•        March: Mike traveled to New Zealand on a research trip with work colleagues and students.
•        April: Landon and his teammates won the state championship for their level in gymnastics! Mike accepted a job offer, so we started packing our bags.
•        May: Hallie celebrated her birthday with a special trip to Disneyland, and Landon suffered his first broken bone (a stubbed toe). The kids got magic wands at the Renaissance Festival. Hallie had skin removal surgery.
•        June: We had several gymnastics-related activities and celebrated the wedding of the kids’ coaches. Landon had Cub Scout Day Camp, and Mike taught his first class.
•        July: We took a Route 66 road trip to Oklahoma to see Diamond and Caleb get married!
•        August: We hit the road again, bidding farewell to Ventura County, California, and hello to Springville, Utah. We promptly left our new home to see Riley, Breanne, and their kids in Washington.
•        September: We went to Midway Swiss Days. We got into the swing of new routines at work, school, and gymnastics. We hiked the Y for the first time as a family and attended an adoption barbecue where we got reacquainted with old friends.
•        October: Landon attended General Conference in Salt Lake for the first time, and we discovered new places to enjoy in Salt Lake. Eliza went for her first horseback ride and had her first gymnastics meet of the season. Mike and Hallie attended an outdoor concert and experienced our first real return to cold.
•        November: Mike traveled a lot back and forth to California and Colorado for conferences and advising students. Hallie held the fort, and the kids didn’t make her too crazy. Eliza competed in her second meet as a Level 2 gymnast and got 1st place all around.  
•        December: Landon had his first meet of the season as a Level 6 gymnast.

We appreciate reading and hearing about all the news that you have to share. We feel fortunate to have you as our friends and wish you all the best for the coming year!