Family Letter For 2020

 I usually try to write a family letter for the end of the year even though I never send it out. I  think its a good way to sum up the year and where everyone is at that point in time.

2020 was quite the year for our family. We started off the year by moving to a new house. We are still in Longmont, but we bought a home that gave us more space to be together. We have gotten to know some of our neighbors and fellow church members even though it is/was a bit tricky with COVID. However, those we know are so great and we love where we are at. We enjoyed some much desired family time. We didn't travel quite as much as usual although we still made one trip to Idaho in the summer and another in October. I also travel to Arizona with the kids in the summer and we went as a family in November. We have had family visit a few times this year and those were wonderful occasions. Over the course of 2020 we have done fully online, hybrid, and 4-days on and Friday asynchronous learning for school. It has been quite the roller coaster and there were ups and downs through all the different school types. Even though it has been so crazy having the Spirit help us with our decisions brought so much peace to the turmoil of the year. As a family, we have grown closer to each other, become better at being consistent with "Come Follow Me", learned a little of our family history, and lived. 2020 wasn't a perfect year, but I feel we have been blessed through it all. Here is a little person by person update.

Gaupo-Gaupo is still working at the Longmont Library. He never really got to stay home during shut down because being an IT guy he thought it was the perfect time to run the updates he needed to and change software and stuff like that. However, he only worked about 20 hours a week for about 6 weeks. It was so great. He would go to the office and then be home to play. I could get use to that. Alas, it didn't stick forever which is really how it should be and now he works his normal 40ish hours at the library. He loves what he does and enjoys the people he works with. He currently serves as Elder's Quorum Secretary and coordinates the moves in the ward. He really likes working with those brethren. He rides his bike quite a lot, still loves computers and videos games, he always makes the kids laugh, and everyone looks forward to when he is home from work.

Adventure Girl (Me)-I am still a stay-at-home mom and couldn't be more grateful for that opportunity. I currently serve as the Girls Activity Day leader in our ward, and I actually really like it. I was honestly afraid I would hate it. However, it is really fun. I love going to the park, taking walks, biking, going to the river or other water place, and all other kind of activities. I still run for exercise and enjoyed having my kids around all summer to work out with me. 

Kylee-Kylee turned 8 this year and was baptized in March right before the world shut down. She is learning to love to read and still loves being read to. Her and her Oma read every day together. She played soccer this fall and really had a good time. Kylee loves crafting. She loves to make things out of paper. She has had quite a few challenges to overcome with school but she keeps moving along and improving. She also really enjoys music and dancing. Music is almost always on at our house if she is home.

Tia-Tia turned 7 right at the end of the year. This little girl loves school and playing with her friends there. She is trying to hard to learn to read and do math and is continually trying her best. She did swimming this fall and enjoyed it quite a lot. Back-stroke is her favorite because she doesn't have to worry about breathing. She is a great big sister to the twins. She always tries hard to make sure they are okay and have everything they could possibly need. Tia is still a mover and a goer.

Kade-Is so smiley. He thinks all of his sisters are great and doesn't want to miss out on anything. He loves to build with Duplos, play in the cuddle swing, play chase, and help me cook. He is learning to talk although most of it is still with single sounds. He loves to be outside even when it is hot or cold. He is constantly trying to keep up with the big girls and doesn't know what he would do with out Abby.

Abby- Is quite the little girl. She does things when she wants to. She is the biggest tease to her brother, but also his biggest fan. She is always looking out for him. She loves her big sisters and loves to play pretend with them. She has really grown in her speech this year and is getting pretty good. She loves her dad and isn't afraid to go ask him for anything. She is quite the little gal.

Its kind of short, but we have all grown this year in ways that are hard to write down. We sure love one another and feel blessed to be together. 2020 isn't what we would have chosen, but it has given us everything that was really important to us. Well, on to 2021.

Abby, Kylee, Tia, Kade, Me, and Jason
Photo credit: Jessica Ajeman photography