MICAH MAN--This year Micah really worked on developing his personality and that sense of humor. He LOVED imitating his sister, and especially his brother, Josh. He trailed Josh everywhere and picked up many things that Josh did--Legos, movie quoting, and bike riding. But he also developed some of his own loves: anything with wheels (including tractors!), his train track, and his love for the outdoors. His "Mommy-Micah Days" got longer, as Josh started full day school in the fall. He started telling me that he'd "tell me when the light turned green" in the car, and would often ask, "Are your lights on, Mom?" The Strider bike never knew a better rider, and his garden gloves fulfilled their greatest purpose with these little hands this year. Oh, and don't forget, this year Micah CONQUERED THE POTTY!!!
JOSHUA SCOTT--This was his year to LOSE TEETH. He was serious about this, losing upwards of six this summer. He also decided, on certain occasions, to earn money by scouring the yard for pinecones, which which earned him a penny for each one collected. The movies he loved this year: Moana, Trolls, Storks, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, Finding Dory, and Zootopia. It was a great movie year, and he was spoiled enough to see most of these in the theater. The soundtracks found their way into our home, also, and he sang and danced the year through. He still loves art and math and reading, and started first grade with a couple of temporary teachers before landing his permanent teacher: Mrs. Lindquist.
GRACE FACE--This girl got her own room this year, which seemed to be the highlight for her. We spent the 2nd half of the year decking it out in turquoise, her signature color. Granny made her a beautiful quilt for her bed, and Daddy perfected the loft bed for her. She started 3rd grade with Mrs. Cong, and continued to thrive in her school work. She loved swimming and biking, too--finally ditching the training wheels that seemed to curse her for the last year. She had soccer, basketball, and swimming lessons to keep her busy...and she continued piano lessons with Sarabeth.
This was the year that Linnea lived with us for five glorious fall and winter months, and the year that Kaitlyn continued working for World Relief and helped get our kids to school on my work mornings. This was the year that G'ma Colleen started watching Micah on Thursdays with the big kids, and it was the year that Jeff left Rogers High School with sadness, and joined the staff at Mead Alternative with new vision and excitement.
This was the year that I started teaching Gracie's Sunday School class with Amy Morrison, and the year that Jeff helped out with college ministry. We also got to "team teach" outdoor activities for the preschool kids during the week of VBS in July. Our small group continued to meet three Sundays a month, and we were overjoyed to see the way in which God grew the Templin family, bringing their third member to them in November of this year. Election season brought us lots of big questions and self reflection, and a desire to hear others instead of arguing with them.
This was also the year that we traveled to Boise TWICE--once for Zach and Carmen's baby shower (Wren Noelle was born this year!) and again for Aunt Christi's 60th birthday party. We went to Portland for Spring Break to see Linnea and be with the Van Sickles. This year we were introduced to "Pokemon Go" when Debbie and Daniel came to visit, and Debbie and Randy started their move back to Spokane late in the year. Treasured summer vacation time was spent with Julz at Rainier this summer and the V's went along too, as they stayed this summer in Spokane. Both of the big kids got to spend time at the farm on their own this summer, having G'ma and Papa "all to themselves." We called it Farm Camp.
This year we dove into summer house projects and ended the summer with a loft for our girl, a brand new deck, a new (and relocated) water heater, and a closet in the basement bedroom. I focused my creative energies toward transforming rusty horseshoes into garden fairy doors and repurposed cupboard doors, making chalkboards for a November craft fair with Julie.
Family changes this year included TWO surgeries for Papa Greg--one in February where his screws were loose (I still love that!), and one in November when his spinal cord was being pinched. In May, G'ma Joan retired from nursing, and thank heavens she did, so she could help Papa through his ordeal. G'ma Trudy turned 90 this year, and she and Papa LeRoy celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary--how about that?!? This year, the Morrows moved to Spokane, seven miles and nine minutes away, which was "close but not too close, Auntie, if you know what I mean." And this year we watched Pappy start his final decline...surgery in the spring led to recovery at a nursing home, and then finally home to be as comfortable as he could be.
It's been a great year for our family--marked with change and growth and blessing! Goodbye, sweet 2016... Now off to print our next installment of memories!
