Top 10 of 2013

....in no particular order

1.  Tucker started kindergarten.

2.  We got Tilda (ahem.... at least Emmaline did- it's her pet chicken).

3.  Savannah made it onto the varsity soccer team at East High School.

4.  Iconography finished temples in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Gilbert, Arizona.

5.  Oliver got a solo in the school Christmas Program.

6.  Emmaline PR'ed and placed 4th at the Footlocker West Regional race in Walnut, California. (tibits if your interested- watch for her in the right corner at the beginning, then skip ahead every time they show the front of the race).

7.  Dad went to Bolivia to work on the temple there.

8.  Savannah received a spot on the Southern Virginia soccer team.

9.  Emmaline got hit by a car.

10.  We went to Toledo Bend for a family reunion.

Top 10 of 2012 (in no particular order)

1.  We went to Argentina.
2.  Our first year to complete two temples.
3.  Dad got called to be Elder's Quorum President.
4.  Emmaline started High School and received the "Freshman of the Year" for Cross Country.
5.  Oliver started Carden Memorial School.
6.  Mama ran the Ogden Marathon.
7.  Savannah completed her Young Women's Personal Progress for the first time.
8.  Megan got hit by a car.
9.  Oliver got baptized.
10.  Tucker stayed the cutest baby in our family.

2012 was eventful to say the least.  We laughed a lot and learned a lot and we can't wait to see what next year brings to our family.

Merry Christmas!

Emmaline is the "Freshman of the Year"

From the December East High Communique:

CROSS COUNTRY

The East High cross country team

closed its season with the annual awards

banquet held in the East High Ballroom

on November 8th. Tomy Gutierrez and

Abigail Hurst received the Athlete of the Year award.

Chris Rushing received the Performance of the Year

award for his top 15 finish at the Murray Invitational.

Emmaline Huntzinger and Garek Bielaczyc were

Freshmen of the Year, with Ellie Lowell receiving the

Rookie of the Year award. Megan Rushing and Brooke

Hamblin shared the Endurance Award honors, with

Anders Hart winning the Endurance Award on the boys'

side.

A big thank you to all the parents who helped make the

awards banquet a memorable experience. The cross

country team next heads to Walnut, California for the

Footlocker Western Region Championships to be held

on December 1, 2012. Good luck, Running Leopards!

Quotes of the Day

After the first day of school, Oliver's teacher rushed over to tell me that he was "so smart!" When I asked him why she might say something like that, he explained that they read a poem about wind and he told her that the wind was "metaphorically speaking".  Hmmm- I think she was impressed.

The other day Tyler was asking him how math, his favorite subject, was going at his new school.  "That math is my playground," he replied. 

Both of the boys LOVE playing on the iPad and they are always talking about "upgrading" things.  Tucker sometimes draws flames and such on his cars and tells me he is "upgrading" them.  He is having a bit of an adjustment as he transitions back into the Spanish Preschool.  The other day, as we were walking in, he said, "I can't wait until I get upgraded and can go to school with Oliver."

Not making any promises...

But I might just start blogging again.  Please excuse posts about things happening over a year ago.  I think first I'll try catch up!

the "Little Preacher"

I was reminded the other day about Jeffie's kindergarten teacher calling him the "little preacher".  I brought Oliver cupcakes to share with his class for his birthday.  After they sang to him (a horribly long rendition of "The Earth Goes 'Round the Sun," he stood up and said to his teacher, "There is something special I want to tell you about my birthday."  He then began to tell the class about turning eight and how he had chosen to be baptized in the river at our ranch at our Horn Family Reunion this summer.  After he sat down his teacher, who is not LDS, said to me, "Some day he is going to be an amazing orator." I think for just a moment she felt the spirit and didn't know how to identify it other than to think she saw a glimpse into his future.  He  certainly reminded me how important it is to share the gospel of Christ in even a simple way. What a great example!