2010 has been a very good year for us. Here is a little bit about what we have been doing:
Patrick is still teaching History and Government at Lehi High School. This has been his first year as the Athletic Director which, for our school district, means his first year not coaching football or baseball. Believe it or not he has actually been gone more than when he was coaching because he is in charge of organizing and attending ALL of the Varsity sporting events. He has enjoyed being Athletic Director but misses coaching and will probably try and find a way very soon to get back into it. :) Patrick is also still teaching online classes for the University of Phoenix, something he has done for the last few years. He has really liked teaching online and hopes to start teaching a couple of new classes in 2011. Patrick is the Elder's Quorum President at church.
I, Leslie, have started back to school full-time majoring in photography and graphic design. It has been fun to get back into school but is has been challenging to try to keep everything in life organized at the same time (homework, housework, etc.). After being very blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom I have started a couple of very part-time independent jobs to help with the finances. I am a demonstrator for Uppercase Living, a vinyl company that has a lot of fun, unique things for decorating your space and making it your own. I am also a teacher for a company called Poppy Seed Projects. They specialize in fun, inexpensize craft kits for individuals or church groups. The have a couple of new kits, an LDS Temple Portrait Kit or a Family Portrait Kit. People can host classes and make these kits and I am one of the teachers that helps them. I have enjoyed these little jobs because I can work whenever I want, I really enjoy what I do and it helps a little with the finances. I also teach the 7-8yr. olds at church, am the Activity Days Leader and I am on the Relief Society Activities Board.
Jalen is in second grade this year. She is a very good reader and loves school. She turned 8 in September and was baptized in October. It was a very special day for our family. A tradition we have started in our little family is that when you turn 8 you get your ears pierced and you get to choose where to go on family vacation. I don't know what she was more excited about, getting her ears pierced or going on vacation. Jalen chose to go to Disneyland and we left right after her baptism over Fall Break to go. We had so much fun and were very glad to have Grandpa Curt and Aunt Brittney and Courtney join us for a couple of days. Jalen is a very sweet girl. She always thinks of others first and is a very good example to her younger brother and sisters and a very good helper to mom and dad. She is still dancing and still loves it. This will be her second year on a competition dance team. This is also her first year in gymnastics which has been fun. She has also enjoyed being able to participate in Activity Days at church.
Halle is in first grade this year. She is our little social bug and has a lot of friends. She really loves reading and school. She turned 6 in August but can't wait to be 8 like her big sister! She wants to do whatever Jalen does and is her little shadow. She is very good with her little brother and he gets so excited when he sees her. She has a very special bond with him and can make him laugh like no one else. She loves dancing and is very talented. She has also started gymnastics and this is her second year on a competition dance team.
Tatem is now 3 1/2 and keeps us on our toes to say the least. She loves dress-up and she is very theatrical. Tatem has started dance this year and she dances and sings all around the house in her dress-up clothes. She loved Disneyland, especially the princesses and fairies. She is my little helper while her sisters are gone all day at school and she loves to play with her little brother. She is excited to start pre-school this coming fall. She will move from the nursery at church to the 4yr. old class (Sunbeams!) this coming year.
Asher is our little pride and joy! He turned 1 in September and life is so wonderful with a little boy in the house. He looks exactly like his dad, blonde hair and blue eyes and it never fails that whenever we go somewhere and I am holding him someone asks me whose baby that is. Asher is not walking yet but it will be any day now. He loves to throw the ball around (something that makes daddy very proud) and he loves his cars. He is a little explorer and very curious about everything. Asher is a great eater and he sleeps 10+ hours at night. He is very mellow and happy and hardly ever cries. He always makes us smile and he is so good letting all of us love on him all day.
We have been very blessed in 2010 with good health, stable jobs and fun family time. We are always busy doing something but our favorite time is our time spent with our family and friends. We love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!
