2013 Recap

 

I had a lot of pictures I was trying to stuff into this annual recap collage! Many topics have their own post with more in-depth detail that was published during the year, but I still like a general recap, everything at a glance ...

• Ages: Grayson turned 44, Jen 43, Landon 18, Callahan 14, Keaton became a teenager (13) and Cooper hit double digits (10). Colton turned 8 years old.
• School Stuff: The biggest news was switching the two littles from Columbia, on year-round, to Terra Linda, traditional. The on/off again of the tracks was hard (especially with Cooper), so while the move was hard, it was a good one. Coop wrapped up 3rd grade, then started 4th. Jen acting as room mother to provide a little extra comfort for Coop. Colton moved from 1st grade to second. Keaton changed schools too, finishing up his elementary years and joining Callahan at West Hills (7th grade). Callahan finished up his 8th-grade year and started up as a freshman. Landon started his senior year!
• Fun Zone: Kept the boys pretty busy during off-track time and summer, hitting lots of fun places. Allstar Lanes, Planet Play, Chuck-e-Cheese, Classic, Nicklemania, Jump N Bounce. With all the boys (and cousins) we hit Cowabunga Bay and the Children's Museum downtown. 
• Travel: Gray went to New York for some sightseeing with his work buddy Rob. Then the whole family (sans Jen) went to Seattle and Orcas Island. Coop "collected" license plates during the trip. Gray and the littles with Clay and cousins to Uncle Eric's cabin, and Gray, Landon and Callahan went to Lake Powell. While closer to home, just a day trip, there were several trips to Pineview and new WAVERUNNERS!
• Vehicles: In addition to Roxy and Susie (the new waverunners), Gray got a new truck, a lifted white Tundra. The Avalance was now available for Landon to drive. Unfortunately, the Avalanche was in an accident. Landon wasn't even in the car, it was hit in the school parking lot!
• Medical Mishaps: After finally healing from his broken foot, Cal was back to basketball and ... he broke his foot! Again. It was the other foot. He only got a couple games in his whole 8th grade year. Colton - my only unbroken boy, broke his wrist. Keaton had a trip into the ophthalmologist as there had been "floaties" in his vision. Coop had some teeth extracted, and Colton lost his first teeth and had some cavities filled. Gray struggled with Sciatica after snowmobiling with the scouts. Four of us were hit hard with the seasonal flu in February and all five boys got the stomach flu for Easter! Grandma Norman passed away. 
• Scouts: Gray ran the ward derby as usual, hosting a derby workshop beforehand. He looked into Legos, making that an option for derbies as well, hosting one for our ward. There were several scout outings too: snowmobiling, Topaz Mountain, the sand dunes. Callahan got his "Life".
• Basketball: Cal got a couple games in during the winter season before he broke his foot again. He played churchball too. Keaton wrapped up his first season in the Bantam League, and Colton played Junior Jazz. In the Spring, Colton moved to soccer, and played in the fall as well. Cal and Keaton played on the same team for the summer league. I signed up Cooper for basketball in the fall - he fought it at first but then ended up liking it. Fall was busy with three boys in basketball and Colton playing soccer. In Winter ... all four boys were playing. 

What else makes the headlines for the year?  Callahan got his braces off. Olivia left on her mission. There was a big hail storm. Blockbuster closed their doors. We replaced the old phone/answering machine with a new one, and added gadgets such as Nest and Roku. Jen upgraded her Fitbit to the new "One" and had success with weight loss again. Church was the 11:00 hour, with both littles in Senior Primary now! The kids enjoy Phineas and Ferb, Minecraft, Pokemon and Scramble (although it's Grandma Westra who is really addicted to that game!)

... and that was 2013!