This spring Nate went to Regionals with Utah State's Concrete Canoe team and they took 1st place!
In May, we went to Huntington and Goblin Valley State Parks in Southern Utah, with Wayne and Jackie! We had a blast! It was like a big kid's playland with tons of easy rock climbing and cave exploring.
Nate and Scott both ventured out into the world of tablet owners. Of course us kids had to have fun with the photo features.
Donnell was our ward's girls camp director this summer. It was their "high adventure" camp with a low budget so we got tons of awesome help from friends and family.
We also had the beautiful blessing of getting to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Olsen and then head up to our favorite fishing spot . . . Wallace Lake!
It also has been so great to spend time with our family and friends! There is a million more pictures I could post of all the great times we have had with everyone!
We also went through two sad events this year with the passing of my dear friend Ali and our beloved Uncle Neil. We miss them dearly and know that they are in our Heavenly Father's care.
This summer, we also got to vacation in Wolf Creek / Ogden Valley with the Owens! We had tons and tons of fun including canoeing, cliff jumping, and going on motorcycle and ATV rides!
For our 3rd year anniversary, Nate took me to this beautiful waterfall called Doughnut Falls because it falls through a hole in the ceiling of a cave and I took Nate to the Living Planet Aquarium. My favorite exhibit was the adorable river otters and Nate and I got to touch a shark in a touch tank.
This year's winner of the 2nd Annual Golden Gardner's Competition was Wayne and Jackie for growing the largest onion. Next year the competition is going to be the biggest zucchini.
This fall we went on numerous hikes to enjoy the fall colors like the Crimson trail and Bloomington Lake! Oh how I love the change in the seasons!
These next two pictures could basically explain the majority of Nate's life this past year! His love for his salt water fish tank and the most time, by far, was spent at the kitchen table working on homework! Uugghh! He only has one more semester to go! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!
This summer we found some property that we can foresee, in our future, being the place that we could one day build our dream home. It is absolutely beautiful there and we couldn't pass up the price. The view of the mountains and of Cache Valley is breathtaking and it puts us out in the little farming community of Newton. Nate and I are both country kids at heart and this property seemed to fit the bill. It currently has a little cabin there that we could live in while we build. It is all hinging on whether or not Nate gets a job here of when we will build. It may be a case of us holding on to the property for several years while Nate works on getting a job in Cache Valley, we are not sure, but one thing we are sure of is that we both feel like Newton is where we are supposed to raise our family someday.
So, we have been working on finishing our basement and selling our current home which we will dearly miss, but feel like we are doing the right thing.
At this time of year, we get to reflect back on our blessings, joys, heartbreaks, answered prayers, and time spent with family and friends and know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has been with us the whole year through. We are so grateful for the Gospel in our lives and for our testimonies. We know that our Savior lives and that our Heavenly Father loves all of His children! We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
