This year.

I have no idea of what this picture is, but it symbolizes what I feel for the new year. Actually, that isn't true at all. This picture seems very organized and looks like it is a plan of some sort.  I have a lot of random notes here and there that need a starting point and an ending point.  I think this pic is actually from one of Tye's work meetings. SERIOUSLY. If I went to work and we brainstormed, it would not look like this. It would be much messier in a lot of ways.

I don't have any updated photos because my computer is on the brink of crashing. I have about 20k photos on this thing that I have transferred onto a hard drive but I can't bring myself to delete them on this laptop. I might be a little crazy that way.  Anyhow, I can't download any photos or videos which is sad because I have about 5 photos to download.  It seems that Instagram is now my main source of sharing things that I think should be seen.  Which is also sad.

This past year was a GOOD one. One I will never forget. I got to reconnect with my oldest son, which was amazing in oh so many ways. I could write a book on that alone.  We've had the opportunity to have Oliver here a few times and hopefully a lot more to come. It is AMAZING how much my kids are all alike, how well they get along and how amazing it feels to have them all in the same room, laughing with each other.  I think it is the best feeling that can't be replaced by anything. I love having 6 kids. Oliver is coming to hang out this week so hopefully I will be able to post some pics of the kids soon :)

We bought a new house in September and it is a dream.  All of the kids have their own rooms/bathrooms and we have room to spare.  We are looking forward to the summer so that we can swim in the pool.  It is unfortunate that half of us are gingers because we shouldn't be in the sun, but hopefully sunscreen will protect us.  We really like our neighborhood and ward. It feels sort of like we are in a small town in this big city. We have been lucky to be where we are.

The big kids are all in high school now - we have one in each grade Fresh through Senior.  Chloe is in preschool and starts school this fall.  Yeeeessssss. Tye can't wait to experience elementary school.  I have forgotten what it's all about, but I'm sure it has something to do with Ipads nowadays. Trey has been applying to colleges so he can go this fall.  I am hoping he'll go somewhere close but I am afraid he is going far, far away (like California).  Our kids will start leaving one right after the other and it makes me feel uneasy.  Oliver will be our first missionary - as much as I can claim him to be my missionary.  I am glad we will experience that with/through him.  The girls only have a few years and they will be off.  I have this wish that they will all move into a condo somewhere in Tempe together, go to the singles ward and slowly finish school/find mates/get married/have kids in 10 years (in that order). I want the kids to all live close.  It's strange to think about this stage in life because it always seemed so far away but now it is right around the corner.  We could easily be grandparents within the next 5 years. CRAZY.

Hopefully soon we can get some pictures up here. And maybe I will remember what else happened this years so that I can catch it up.