2022: The Long Version

 It’s always so fun to look back on the year and see all we have accomplished. Here are some of the highlights from 2022:

In January, all but Eden tested positive for COVID. So we quarantined ourselves at the lake house and treated our mild symptoms by jumping off the high dive into the freezing water. Take that, COVID-19! Eden performed in her first aerial silks recital and played multiple on-stage personalities in “Around the World in 80 Days”.

February brought a wicked winter storm to Missouri, so in order to get out of town before the bad weather messed up our plans, Justin, Austin, Brandon, and I left a couple of days early for our trip to Costa Rica. There, we enjoyed sipping piña coladas, hiking around the base of La Fortuna volcano, zip lining through the trees of Monte Verde, rafting the turbulent Turialbo River, dining with monkeys, and attempting to surf the rough waves of Playa Dominical. Such an unforgettable trip! We got home just in time for Austin and Brandon’s 18th birthday, after which they flew to meet up with their online Williamsburg Academy friends in Washington D.C. and surrounding area. What a senior year! Somewhere in the Dominican Republic, Brock was turning 20. 

March treated us with a Kaleo concert and a trip to Texas to pick up Justin’s dream car Corvette.

April was the month of multiple proms: Church Prom, Rock Bridge High School Prom in Columbia & Williamsburg Academy Prom in Utah. Justin, Austin, Brandon, Eden and I ran a Tough Mudder obstacle course, Eden played a very fierce and melodic Captain Hook in the musical, “Peter Pantastic”, and Brandon miraculously walked away from a very scary car accident. We are so grateful. 

In May, Kade turned 12, Eden completed her freshman year at Capital City High, and Austin and Brandon finished online high school. We drove to Utah for their Williamsburg Academy graduation ceremony. While they and Eden spent a few days visiting friends in southern Utah, Kade, Lars and I rode the Skycoaster at Lagoon, wandered around Thanksgiving Point, and took multiple trips to Leatherby’s for ice cream. We all made it back to Missouri just in time for the twins to attend their seminary graduation. So many awesome accomplishments! 

I turned 43 in June and celebrated by completing my scuba diving certification. Big bucket list item for me! We moved into the lake house for the summer and Austin and Brandon got jobs working at Woods grocery store. Eden, Kade and Lars made us laugh during their sketch comedy camp performance. 

In July, we hosted a Spanish exchange student for a week or two. I took a short and spectacular scuba diving trip to the Atlanta Georgia Aquarium. Austin, Brandon and Eden attended Youth Conference in Nauvoo, Illinois. We enjoyed a lovely and brisk family float trip down the Current River. Then we packed the twins up and drove them out to Rexburg for a summer term at BYU-Idaho. Before dropping them off, we stopped in Boise to pick up some of Brock’s stuff and see some friends. That was fun! After checking the boys into their dorm, we dropped Eden off for Adventure For Youth in Utah. While she was having her adventure, Kade, Lars and I had fun visiting family, hiking to Timpanogos Cave, and riding the Alpine Slide and Mountain Coaster. Justin flew out to help Kade and me hike to the summit of Mt. Timpanogos. That was an incredibly difficult and thrilling experience. I still can’t believe we did that. 

In August, Justin and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary with a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We toured the Haunted Crescent Hotel, did some mountain biking, and lots of walking around that fun, quirky town.

Eden got her drivers permit on her 15th birthday in September and I brought home a six month old Australian shepherd. Austin and Brandon came home from BYU-Idaho and started working 2nd shift (4pm-midnight) at Scholastic. We all went to see Twenty One Pilots in St Louis. 

October brought the St Louis Renaissance Fair. Three days later, we flew to the Dominican Republic to pick Brock up from his mission. We spent a few days visiting the people and places Brock has come to know and love during his time in that beautiful country. We finished the trip with a day snorkeling and scuba diving at the beach. On our way back to Missouri, Austin and Brandon received their own mission assignments! Austin has been called to serve in Villahermosa, Mexico; and Brandon will go to Santa Ana, El Salvador. They are both scheduled to begin mission training on January 23, 2023! We finished the month off with an Aaron Watson concert in Lawrence, Kansas. 

In November, Eden, Kade and Lars performed in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Justin took Brock, Austin, and Brandon on a quick road trip to San Antonio to visit family. The twins quit their jobs at Scholastic and Brock started working at Menards. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Justin turned 46 and Lars turned 8. It was a month of heaven on earth with all of the kids home and enjoying so much togetherness! 

December started with a quick road trip to Chicago to see Wicked. Next week, Lars will get baptized. The week after that, Austin and Brandon will receive their temple endowments. Finally, the week after Christmas, Brock will go back to BYU! 

It’s been quite a year! Can’t wait to see what fun we’ll have in 2023!