Merry Christmas!

Gosh. Is it really Christmas again. I know people told me when my babies were small to enjoy this time - that it would fly by but I swear, having teens and young adults goes even faster! It's crazy to think in 3.5 years all my kids will be out of high school. 3.5 years is a blink! 

I'd ask my kids to write updates but it would be torture for so many and others would just ignore the assignment so, I'm going to write them myself.

Starting at the top!

Kambree and Cameron. 

Dang! I am so stinking proud of these two. They work so hard. 

Kambree finished her first year of nursing school last spring and is currently committed to working as a RD (residence director) for Snow college in addition to completing her 2nd year of nursing school. 

But more importantly she is growing us our first ever grand baby! Each Saturday she sends an update on the babies projected size. When I first learned of this beautiful child (because you know this baby is going to be a doll!) he/she was no bigger than a poppy seed. And now he/she is onion sized! 

 The CKam's were tied to, managed a hotel in Manti until July. Although there is still a lot of commitment being a RD we've sure enjoyed seeing them more since the hotel gig ended.

Cameron just finished 15 weeks of training at the police academy and as of this week is working at the Gunnison Correctional Facility.  He takes such good care of our Kam and our soon to be grand baby. I joke with him that hes' set the bar pretty high for the other kids spouses - but I'm not joking - we couldn't have hand-picked a better spouse for our Kambree. 

Kam will graduate with her RN the first of May and the baby is expected at the end! 

Austin

Our Austy finished up a year at Snow and moved home. Over the summer he worked for South Jordan City in the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Dept. He is now quite proficient with a weed wacker. He's been laid off since the end of October and just secured employment at PC Lap Tops  - be sure to call him if you need a computer! 

He's taken to growing facial hair as of late. Currently he's shaved but for the majority of 2014 he sported a beard that in time - actually looked like a beard and not Shaggy from Scooby-Do. 

He has no plans for a mission and that I know of - he has no one special in his life but he's at that age where he doesn't want to tell me too much or share too much about his life. He likes being evasive. Trust me - he's giving us grey hair & the is often the topic of the "3 am committee in my head" but he is so fun to be around and so persuasive and charming  that we just throw up our hands and love him.  (The other kids joke that we'll never have an empty nest - Austin will always be at home with us. No. He'll move on. Someday.  He's just a slow bloomer - always has been.)

Devree

Wow. Dev graduated with a 3.9 last spring and worked at Chuck A Rama until leaving for Snow this fall. She's a freshman attending on a full tuition scholarship. She's learned a lot this first semester about the drama of living with roommate and how good it is to come home and eat a home cooked meal!  Recently she experimented dying her hair black - but despite how that sounds - she looks fabulous. She really did well her first semester of college and she's thinking about going into social work. 

She has such a close bunch of friends here at home that she's had friends over or gone out with friends every night since coming home.(I have to admit I miss her friends too - except after midnight - then I want everyone to go home and go to bed!)  She's also said good bye for two years to  many of her guy friends as they've left to serve missions. There's been many a tear shed during those goodbyes. No one special  - just lot's of special guy friends.

Alex

I look up at Alex these days and think "Wow. How did we get so lucky?" He's such a joy. He's literally growing in front of our eyes (five foot eleven at the last measurement) but he's figuratively grown too. He's not a little boy anymore even though I feel like he should be 5 - I've only him for 5 years. He got his drivers license this year, earned his Eagle and started dating. He loves cars and girls - but not necessarily in that order. He's still playing water polo and won the MVP award during the fall tournament. As much as he'll tell you 10th grade is boring and he hates it - he's doing okay. A's & B's. He's working at Chick-Fil-A and sometimes wears the cow mascot costume. He's always been super cuddly with his mom and he's realizing just how much more fun it is to cuddle with cute girls - oy - give me strenght!

Rylee

Our other freshman is doing fabulous! Her hair is past her waist and a topic of conversation wherever we go. She's dancing on Murray Community's Company team three nights a week and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She too has a fun group of friends boys and girls alike - that keep her busy every weekend. She LOVES to bake and has made some exquisite desserts this year  and she's very torn if she'll dance in high school or take Pro Start (a culinary program). She can't do both - they conflict. Whatever she does - she'll do great. Except math. Math makes her cry.

James & Wendy

James is working as a private contractor safety consultant in North Dakota. Two weeks on and two weeks off. This is his first winter in ND - and it's already bitter cold. When he's not working he enjoys riding his motorcycles both road & dirt wit his boys, fishing, camping and snowboarding with his sons. (Although he's decided to take up skiing as snowboarding is really kicking his can!) . He's also proficient at home repairs - something he doesn't enjoy as much and if things would stop breaking and needing fixing he could ride his bikes more! 

I (Wendy) am just trying to hold the fort down most the time. I still ride my bike but I've decided that the next 3.5 years of mothering are more important than miles logged and I'm just trying to stay fit enough to really start riding when the kids are gone. I just recently got called to serve in the Young Women's presidency and I'm looking forward to working with my Ry and going to girls camp. 

Ella our dog is still around, doing tricks for treats, and barking at anyone entering the house. 

We've been blessed this year with great employment, good health and lots of fun memories. We look forward to making more memories, becoming grandparents and watching these darlings of ours figure themselves out and take flight. ((Gulp)) 

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and stand as a witness to you all that God lives. That Jesus is the Christ and that through him we may have eternal life and be with our families forever. 

God bless you!

The Richharts