Here's a summary of 2019: 

Overall, this was a good year for us.  We didn’t add to the tribe this year, but anticipate adding a couple more members next year.  Don spent quite a few Wednesdays in Olympia tending and playing with grandson Jake.  Our kids live in 5 different time zones, and we were able to see all of them this year. We took trips to Cancun, Snow Bird, Texas, and Europe (London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome).   We spent Thanksgiving here with Eric, Dani and Jacob, and are staying home for Christmas. We are spending Dec. 31st –Jan 4th in Disneyland.  Lucky, our dear little Chihuahua, passed away in October. He was very old for his breed and lived a good life. We had hoped and prayed that he would pass away painlessly in his sleep, and he did exactly that.

          Don has been working on reconditioning his vintage recurve bow collection. He sells them on his website TraditionalArchery.Net.  Don serves on the archery club’s board of directors, as well as the board of the Johnson Cancer Foundation. He is still playing the trumpet in the Tacoma Community College Symphonic Band.  Don also serves on the Stake High Council.

Michelle moved to the Clover Park School District. She works as an instructional coach for the district, and is also assigned to an elementary school. She has a shorter commute and more enjoyable position.  Michelle has kept her part-time job with FOSS.  She is still the ward Relief Society President, and with all she does, she doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She gets up at 3:50am every weekday morning.

          Christian and McCall are still living in the Salt Lake area.  Christian works in finance and accounting for Skull Candy in Park City. McCall is working for the local school district. Cash and Jack both played youth football again this year.  Christian coached Cash’s team, and they won their league championship!  Cash, Jack, and Reese all enjoy skiing.

          Emily and David are in Flower Mound, Texas.  David works for a health supplement company in Boston, but telecommutes from an office close to their home. He flies to Boston periodically for meetings.  Emily accompanied him on his last trip there, and Don flew to Texas to watch the kids and serve as the family taxi service. Bria turned 13 in October.  Cali turned 11 in November, and Liam turned 9 in September.  Bria enjoys the piano and the arts. Cali enjoys drawing and soccer.  Liam played soccer and basketball this year.  They all take piano lessons, much as we required our kids to do for years.

          Becky, Ryan, Ryan Mikele, and Virginia are in Fairfax, VA.  Ryan works for Booze, Allen, Hamilton. His clients are mostly Federal agencies. Becky was a family therapist at the county mental health agency, but once she became vested in their retirement system, she left the county and expanded her private practice into full-time work. She recently published an ebook available on Amazon Kindle about Postpartum issues. Ryan Mikele started kindergarten and Ginny is busy exploring the world as a toddler.

Danielle, Eric, and Jacob are in Olympia WA. Dani works as a therapist and social worker at the regional hospital, and Eric serves at Joint Base Lewis McCord.  He has applied for flight school. They bought an RV and enjoy traveling. Jake turns 2 December 30th, and keeps them busy.

          Brady, Morgan and Graham are still in London for at least another year or two. Morgan is expecting next summer.  We were able to visit them in London this summer, and joined them in Barcelona for a few days. Graham loves dinosaurs and Pepe Pig. He played 2 year old soccer this summer, but the team seemed to enjoy putting the marker cones are their heads more than kicking the ball. He is developing a bit of an English accent.