I just love this picture of Robert and Laura! They have had more than a year together again since Afghanistan! That is so good and hard to believe how fast time flies. They have been so productive and busy and we are so proud of them and the life they are living. Although we wish they would slow down a little.
But they have a life like the rest of us, filled with good things and what is there that can be eliminated? We've gotten to see them three times this year and that was absolutely fantastic and then Jim also went alone last month to help them on a big project~their kitchen remodel. Hot off the press brand new photos of Spencer and Ross. Thanks, Laura!
The year has been filled with a lot of firsts and lasts for them. Laura was able to come out to CA for a ten day visit around her birthday. Then Jen joined us because Jim was able to go to Utah and do Grampa Camp with her girls. It was magical and we didn't even take a lot of photos of each other. Jim got this one when Laura arrived at the airport.
Laura and Robert and the boys spent their last day renting and bought their first house at the end of summer. Hopefully they have bought their first and last fixer-upper. Now we just hope they get to stay in Rhode Island for another two years. They have hopefully scraped their first and last group of ceilings with popcorn on them. Hopefully they have spent the first and last nights of living in the basement with the boys while making the upstairs livable for a few months! Robert had his last day in the Bishopric and first day in the Stake Young Men's Presidency. Laura had her last day of working in the Island's most wonderful gift shop and her first day of her dream job...teaching music at Pennfield School. She is teaching choir and has probably had her Christmas concert by the time you read this. She is teaching K-8. She is at the school 3 days a week teaching and helping out with lots of other things. It is Ross' school so that makes it really nice.
Spencer had his last day of middle school and his first day as a Freshman in high school. Spencer had his last day of jumping off high places and his first day in a full leg cast for several months.
Ross had his last day in the lower school at Pennfield and his first day of being in the upper school as a sixth grader. Ross had his last day of being defeated in basketball by Gramma at HORSE and his first day of being the new family champ! He is very happy to be playing basketball for his school starting this month with their first game.
Ross did his debut performance on the stage as an actor this past school year. He was Grimbsy in The Little Mermaid and was the valet to the Prince which kept him front and center a good part of the time. He did a fantastic job. He has a real stage presence. Seriously! We were so happy to be there for it. Ross loves performing and competing in sports and he puts his whole heart and soul into everything he does. He also plays the clarinet in the school orchestra and piano at home.
Ross the Champ!
When we arrived in May we celebrated Spencer's birthday with them and also that same day he was ordained at home to become a Teacher and advanced to the Teachers' Quorum at church. His Quorum Leader and Robert and Grampa participated in the ordinance. It was such a great day to be together. We also celebrated Mother's Day and Robert's birthday while we were there.
That week we went to Granparents' Day at the boys' school. Pennfield does such a nice job of everything and offers the kids and families so much enrichment. They served a very nice lunch and we got to go with the boys to their classes to see what they are learning. I went with Ross and Jim went with Spence. They also had their Mayfair Day, a big festival and Laura had major responsibilities. We helped her out the whole day, it was fun. That was also the week of the play rehearsals which we attended with Ross one night and also the week of the Sport's Awards assembly. Spencer had been the assistant coach for most of the year due to his broken leg. They presented him with a brand new award to be presented annually at the school from now on. He was honored as its first recipient for all his work in helping the coach. It was the Pennfield's Most Spirited Award! He was so surprised and quite happy about that!
But they have a life like the rest of us, filled with good things and what is there that can be eliminated? We've gotten to see them three times this year and that was absolutely fantastic and then Jim also went alone last month to help them on a big project~their kitchen remodel. Hot off the press brand new photos of Spencer and Ross. Thanks, Laura!
Love these boys so much!
Rhode Island is such a beautiful place.
Imagine living on a small island.
It is peaceful and pretty and
one of our favorite places to visit.
one of our favorite places to visit.
We had a simple fabulous time
It was our first time to ever do something like this
And hopefully not our last.
Laura and Jen
Spencer had his last day of middle school and his first day as a Freshman in high school. Spencer had his last day of jumping off high places and his first day in a full leg cast for several months.
I think the thumbs up is for getting the cast off
after three months.
But then he had to wear a brace and use crutches
for another month and a half.
It was a serious break.
Ross had his last day in the lower school at Pennfield and his first day of being in the upper school as a sixth grader. Ross had his last day of being defeated in basketball by Gramma at HORSE and his first day of being the new family champ! He is very happy to be playing basketball for his school starting this month with their first game.
Ross is the good lookin' one in the black double
breasted top coat and the white ruffled cravat!
breasted top coat and the white ruffled cravat!
Ross did his debut performance on the stage as an actor this past school year. He was Grimbsy in The Little Mermaid and was the valet to the Prince which kept him front and center a good part of the time. He did a fantastic job. He has a real stage presence. Seriously! We were so happy to be there for it. Ross loves performing and competing in sports and he puts his whole heart and soul into everything he does. He also plays the clarinet in the school orchestra and piano at home.
Ross the Champ!
When we arrived in May we celebrated Spencer's birthday with them and also that same day he was ordained at home to become a Teacher and advanced to the Teachers' Quorum at church. His Quorum Leader and Robert and Grampa participated in the ordinance. It was such a great day to be together. We also celebrated Mother's Day and Robert's birthday while we were there.
Good job Spencer!
We all got together again in August for Education Week in Utah. We had a nice picnic on Mt. Nebo the day we all arrived and it was a great reunion with Uncle Robert for some of the kids after 2 years. Laura and the boys spent the week with the family and at BYU and Robert had classes in Logan for work conveniently, so he was able to be with us part of the time.
Mt. Nebo hugs, picnic, hike and campfire.
There was a whole lot of love on Mt. Nebo
that afternoon and evening!
The kids had an impromptu talent fest
and it was so funny and fun and memorable.
Uncle Lowell had us in stitches over his
operatic rendition of "The Muffin Man!"
It was a wonderful mini-family reunion before Robert had to head up to Logan for classes.
We did get to see him again one night when he came down to BYU for a play. We stayed in the new dorms during Ed Week and that was fun. The classes were outstanding and we even met up with our friends Carol and John from home several times during the week and attended classes together. Ed Week is always a big reunion as we run into lots of people that we know from all over that also attend. And also we know and have followed a lot of the presenters over the years so that has been great as we have all raised our families and grown older and hopefully wiser together.
It was a little difficult with Ross not being able to attend Ed Week as you have to be 14 but Grandma and Grandpa Wadsworth and Aunt Missy and Aunt Jen took turns having him with them. They had activities planned and he spent some time biking with Jim. Ross said Grampa said it was much easier than it really was. He and Grampa also went to Park City to ride on a fun and fast ride.
The Long Hot Trail
In the car chatting for three hours all
together for the thrill of a 90 second ride.
Mt. Nebo hugs, picnic, hike and campfire.
There was a whole lot of love on Mt. Nebo
that afternoon and evening!
The kids had an impromptu talent fest
and it was so funny and fun and memorable.
Uncle Lowell had us in stitches over his
operatic rendition of "The Muffin Man!"
We did get to see him again one night when he came down to BYU for a play. We stayed in the new dorms during Ed Week and that was fun. The classes were outstanding and we even met up with our friends Carol and John from home several times during the week and attended classes together. Ed Week is always a big reunion as we run into lots of people that we know from all over that also attend. And also we know and have followed a lot of the presenters over the years so that has been great as we have all raised our families and grown older and hopefully wiser together.
It was a little difficult with Ross not being able to attend Ed Week as you have to be 14 but Grandma and Grandpa Wadsworth and Aunt Missy and Aunt Jen took turns having him with them. They had activities planned and he spent some time biking with Jim. Ross said Grampa said it was much easier than it really was. He and Grampa also went to Park City to ride on a fun and fast ride.
The Long Hot Trail
In the car chatting for three hours all
together for the thrill of a 90 second ride.
Spencer and Piper spent a few days together at Ed week but her time was cut short with high school starting for her right in the middle of the week. Here is one picture of them in our dorm room. We asked for a nice photo but Spencer wasn't complying at that moment. Sometimes indulging Mom, Gramma and Aunties is tough for a 14 year old boy. He had a really nice time though and wants to go back next year, although you cannot tell from this photo. He went home with quite a few books and CDs from Ed Week. This is proof positive as Spencer does not part with his cash easily! He is quite the saver, such an admirable trait. He is into the stock market and even spells his name $pencer sometimes!
These two cousins are fun together and so much alike.
It is just slightly uncanny actually!
The last visit of the year Jim went out to help on the kitchen remodel in their new house. It was a breakneck speed marathon of everyone helping get as much done as possible in 7 days. They were amazing! They took it down to the studs, rewired and plumbed everything, put up new wallboard, taped, textured and hung the cabinets before Jim had to leave.
Nearly finished
Next up~Decorating...the really fun part!
Beautiful transition guys!
For Robert, Laura, Spencer and Ross it was year of lots of changes and they have weathered it very well. They had their first foreign exchange student this year and just got a new one, a girl in the English Program from Japan. She arrived a few days ago and will be with them for a month. Between work and school and church and the community and traveling this is one very active and I'll say, tired but happy family. Christmas? Well, they are working on it Laura says, trying to get the tree up, etc. They will, they always do.The last visit of the year Jim went out to help on the kitchen remodel in their new house. It was a breakneck speed marathon of everyone helping get as much done as possible in 7 days. They were amazing! They took it down to the studs, rewired and plumbed everything, put up new wallboard, taped, textured and hung the cabinets before Jim had to leave.
The tear out
Nearly finished
Next up~Decorating...the really fun part!
Beautiful transition guys!
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