December 2008 Wrap....

In lieu of a Christmas letter - here's a little more about everyone and a few pics we took yesterday while sledding just a half mile from our home (James was the only one who wasn't able to come for Christmas, due to work). In this first pic, Benjamin was only supposed to PUSH Mark, me, Tanya and Nadia, but ended up dragging behind us down the hill - it was quite the ride! We wanted Daniel to join us, but he was off doing his own thing - which is a "normal" theme for him.


Mark's working hard at Nature's Sunshine as an International Business Analyst. Since he is over many countries in Central & South America, and is helping another guy who is struggling with his own countries, he has to travel more than we'd like (for example Mexico in October, Ecuador in November, and Brazil in December). However, we remind ourselves to be grateful for a good job. When he’s at home he spends quite a lot of time with the Boy Scouts. When he’s not helping Daniel and Benjamin with their Scouting work or going on their campouts, he serves as a Varsity Scout Assistant Coach. He enjoys getting out in the garden in the summer, and was thrilled when the first seed catalog arrived a few weeks ago!

Nadine continues to run from one doc to the next with one or more of the kids in tow. As a way to help with medical bills, she started a new home business (much to everyone's shock - as this type of business was NEVER her thing!) and is selling lia sophia - quality lifetime warrantied jewelry. See more at www.liasophia.com/sites/nadinesbling and call me if you'd like to get lots of great stuff free and/or REALLY reduced. And yes - I will travel.... When she’s not doing that, and helping out at school, and doing “home stuff” (the usual & taxi cab driver, etc.), and fighting insurance companies RE messed up medical bills, she’s a counselor in the Relief Society Presidency and involved in some other projects for Africa and such things.

Rich has finished all but one elective class for his Master's of Public Health. Because he got a jump start on things and finished his thesis and field work last summer, he is able to do this class independent study and will be getting a full time job working as a Wellness Coordinator. He's actually been doing that part time, now will do it full time until he graduates in April. To see some of his thoughts, see Rich's Blog or to see more of him - look him up on Facebook - Rich Millar - the tool of the modern generation!

James continues to excel at all things computer...! He's working in Oakland, California at a firm that does software for investment firms. While his official job is Quality Assurance and Testing, he manages the company's network, advises the developers, built the company website, and consults with clients on custom work. When he's not working, James works a lot on computers and indulges in the occasional computer game (he recently beat the last World of Warcraft version in just two weekends). He also volunteers at the stake building on the Oakland Temple grounds as a lighting and sound technician for the many productions that use those facilities.

Tanya graduated this last summer from Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, CA. We all went down to witness the happy event. She just finished her first semester of college in Calif, where she's working to complete her GE. She is currently planning to get certified as a radiation therapist. Dance is still a large part of her life, which is how she's stayed so much more fit than her father and mother. Nadia idolizes her big sister and is Tanya's constant companion when Tanya is with us. You can also find her on facebook :).

Daniel had extensive surgery in October (and still has a mouth splint with night brace - hence the wires you see sticking out) and things are up and down with him. He loves drawing, taking things apart, and being outside and digging, playing with wood, building forts, etc. He also enjoys sports to a degree, but is not so interested in those any more. For instance, in his tennis classes this summer, he chose to be "ball boy" - going around and gathering all the tennis balls - rather than taking the opportunity to play?! He made similar decisions in swimming, track, etc.

To see more detailed info on the kids, go here...Adoption Blog

Benjamin had less invasive surgery the same day as Daniel (he had the surgery Daniel just had two years ago). He is following in dad's footsteps in terms of loving cerebral things. He loves books and absorbs all the information in short order - and he mostly thinks he is WAY smarter than his mother! He has pretty much flip-flopped with Daniel and now is the sporty one - Loving soccer, basketball, football, skiing, swimming, tennis, track, basically any sport...

Nadia is a real character - advanced beyond her years. She gives us plenty of enjoyment when we aren't being frustrated with her precociousness! She loves playing with her dolls and has quite an imagination. She'll keep herself occupied for hours and it's fun to hear the conversations that go on! It's thrilling to see her walk/run around the house singing songs she's either memorized or made up herself. She's extremely feisty and holds her own against her brothers.

If you'd like to see pictures from our various adventures this year (lots of pics and only *little* blurbs by me) - scroll further down in the blog (and click on "older posts" in the bottom right hand corner to see any that are missing) or click on these links:

Rich's Ultimate Frisbee

Big Bear, California

Monterey Bay, California

Whale Watching

Fun in the Payson Pool

Evans Family Reunion

Tanya's Graduation

Dan & Ben's Sports

Mark and Nadine on the Coast Guard cutter

Ultimate!

Rich is an Ultimate Frisbee Fanatic!! He plays on many teams pretty much year round. His team is regularly the winner or runner up for the intramural competitions at BYU.




As you probably noticed, Rich wears bright blue socks and cleats for Ultimate frisbee (he says because those particular cleats were the only ones at the store that fit him at the time!). We were visiting with him after one of his games and Nadia asked, "Why do you always wear these blue socks?" Rich told her, "Because I look cool in them. I wear them everywhere: To school, work, church... I ALWAYS wear them!" She said, "They're VERY weird and they're TOO bright!" So Rich asked her what she would do if he showed up to her school wearing the blue socks - would she talk to him or think he was too weird? She said, "Well first, I'd sing you a lullaby and make you fall asleep. Then, I'd take off your blue socks and put some other ones on!" She cracks us up!

In this picture, Rich is making the winning catch (while sandwiched between 2 other players). For a photographer - those bright blue socks prove very useful :).

Big Bear (Calif) with Cousins

We spent 2 days at Big Bear with my niece Tracey (Alderson) James and her family. Tracey's boys Pete & Jon play really well with Dan & Ben, and Nadia *loves* to spend time with Sydney, Sam & Emma. Here Nadia (on the left) is at the pool with Sam.


One of the boys' favorite activities was catching lizards in the woods just behind the condo.

Summer fun in Northern California

We enjoyed a week in Monterey Bay (unfortunately without Rich - who has reached the stage where work preempts family outings. Bummer!).

The ocean is COLD and not great for playing in, but we did find lots of great sand dollars, build good sand castles, enjoy tide-pooling, have great fun in the pool, visit an interesting Spanish mission, and experience awesome whale and dolphin watching.

More pics from Northern Calif...

Mission San Juan Bautista, then whale watching with a marine biologist as a guide. Incredible despite a little sea sickness! We saw LOTS and a few of them were coming RIGHT under the boat - back and forth. We could smell their breath - UGH - talk about halitosis!!

July 24th Fun in the Pool

Our 15' above-ground pool has been great (except for the set-up in the summer & take-down in fall which is a PAIN!). It's deliciously warm since Mark hooked up the pump to a couple of solar panels ... I love it! Rich came over on the 24th July holiday and we had fun with him here.






















Then a couple of fun SHORT video clips - Rich making an unorthodox entrance into the pool, then horsing around with the 3 kids (they love it when their big brother visits!):

Evans Family Reunion

Great fun was had with extended family at the Evans family reunion in July), including great water time at Pineview Reservoir (up Ogden, UT, canyon).

Tanya's High School Graduation

In June Tanya graduated from Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, California. Oh Happy Day!! Benjamin was especially happy to be there :).

Dan & Ben's Sports

This year, the boys participated in basketball, track, swimming, tennis and soccer before their surgeries put a kaibosh on sports. Although Daniel still does quite well at soccer & basketball, he's not enjoying sports as much as Benjamin these days. In case you can't tell - the first 3 pics are Dan, and the next 3 Ben. Sorry - I haven't perfected "action shots" yet :(.

THE HEALY Coast Guard Cutter - May 08

Our trip on board the HEALY was Mark & my first "real" break TOGETHER since the adoption - almost 6 yrs ago. We were invited by Mike (Mark's best friend since they met as freshmen at BYU) who has been the medical officer on board the Healy for the last few years. Mike was a GREAT "tour guide" and it was a very relaxing time for us - but with Mike along as the 3rd wheel, and separate sleeping berths, it was hardly our "romantic cruise" we were planning on for our 10th Anniversary!

The Healy is the US's newest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker. It helps to keep shipping passages open, can break through 4 1/2 feet of ice and is designed to conduct a wide range of research activities. It has more than 4,200 square feet of scientific lab space, numerous electronic sensor systems, oceanographic winches, and accommodations for up to 50 scientists. (The scientists left the ship in Dutch Harbor, and we took their spots in Juneau, Alaska.)

This 2nd picture gives you *some* idea how HUGE the Healy is.

The doors going in to the living quarters of the ship are all water tight ... the 8 "dogs" around the door cinch it down, and it is VORBOTEN to leave one of these doors open. There are eight levels in the interior of the ship, with mighty steep stairs which we climbed MANY times every day.

Standing in front of Mendenall Glacier in Juneau, AK. (Apparenntly it is the only glacier within city limits).
Most times it was extremely windy and cold on deck, so Mike loaned me his big, pouffy polar coat. It was VERY comfortable and toasty in there!

See my hair to tell how windy it was....

Inside....

I had the bottom bunk. I did like the curtains which helped block out the light from my roommate who kept much different hours! The second pic shows Mark in my "padded cell". The facilities are very functional but basic - nothing fancy, as evidenced by our shower - shared by 6 of us.



One of the 3 "straight up" ladders we had to climb to get to the Aloft Conn (which is in the mast). The ship can be steered from up here.