Ty and I have been married for 18 years & have 6 kids- Cort is 17, Gretel 15, Trey 12, Pace almost 10, and Daphne 7. And we adopted 5-year-old Cash this year! Ty is a family practice doc. and I get to be home (?) with the kids! I am promising to (hopefully) be less uptight this year!
Instead of a Christmas letter I just direct people to the blog. At least you followers of my blog know I will update it once a year! We have been in our lovely home in Heritage Ranch for 4 years and 8 months and love it here! Our new chickens are laying like crazy, we also have a couple parakeets. Got rid of the roaming goat because it was annoying the neighbors and replaced it with a kitty named Milly who eats all the mice- yay! Jeff the turtle died and don't tell Pace, but he's getting a chameleon for his birthday in Jan. We love it here because the kids can pretend the horses out front are theirs. (Also the very nice neighbors and lack of cars driving by!) Hello to all who stop by the blog and hope this finds you well and happy! Come visit! Love- Stace.
this looks like the cover of a superhero movie! They are super!
Let's begin with Ty
Ty is down to 3 jobs and that is probably where he will stay! Yes! His private practice at Westside is going well and this year was his first time doing the Christmas party as the "boss" haha! He sang a funny 12 days of Christmas with his guitar about the funny things that happened in the last year. He also still does Research and Redefine Weightloss and Lifestyle is still helping people a ton! Wow! He is amazing and I love running into his patients and hearing them rave over him! Ty has found a new love in Crossfit and is sad if he doesn't get there at least 4 times a week! It feeds the competitive side of him :) He also and tries valiently to find time to help kids with homework, take them skiing, coach their teams and take me on dates ....still serving in the Stake Presidency and loving things like Camp Helaman- on the countdown to release :). His biggest frustration is trying to get people to understand the importance of scouting in a young man’s life. What a wonderful guy! We are a blessed family indeed to have him taking care of, playing with and supporting us in all we do!
Stace.
I LOVE being a ward organist ...even though I have no idea what most of the buttons and knobs do! :) I also get to play the piano in primary. Teenagers are very hard...just like everyone says...but I also think no one talks much about the very fun things! We love that our kids still like to hang out with us...sometimes.. and they are very fun to be with. I am still delighted with the new house and I really enjoy entertaining, so please feel free to call if you will be in town & want to stop by to see us! More than ever, I am obsessed with golf and got within one of beating Ty and Cort this year... they both played really bad that day and tied at one less than me (i played amazing haha) I am also still lifting weights 3 mornings a week at the Iron House gym and love getting stronger! It's hard core! Ha!- no, it really is! Still the same main goal as last year... try and find joy in everyday and not get so caught up in the mundane that i forget to enjoy those little magical moments (of which there are many when i remember to notice!)
Our first high schooler!
Cort
Cortie- he will always be my Cortie!
Cort is still Mr. Well-rounded. He has focused even more on music this last year in addition to playing on the fremont golf & soccer teams and running cross country. He is in both audition choirs at fremont and still spends hours every week in his "recording studio" aka downstairs cleaning closet that he paneled and got equipment for. Cort layers his voice and does AMAZING 5 part recordings that are all him. He beat boxes and adds in piano and ukelele as well! Check him out on youtube under cort dixon! Cort is a fabulous pianist and is teaching piano lessons. He has 13 students who love him! And with all of this… he still had time to stay on the honor roll! He is a wonderfully fun & interesting son and we are so proud of his strong testimony and ability to bounce back from challenges! Can't believe that he will be on his mission at this time next year!
Gretel 15 years
Gretel Kate
I didn't think it was possible, but Gretz gets more beautiful every year! She made the Fremont soccer team this year and is getting very good at the piano. She tried out for Peter Pan at the school and is cast as Mrs. Darling. She enjoys young women's and is a sweet friend to all around her. I am amazed at how responsible she is and I often have to remind her to be a kid! I embarrass her just a little all the time… all part of growing up I guess! But I love being with her. Who else would appreciate cute things and fun home decor with me? She is so sweet and thoughtful...with some teenager coming out often.. :) Her room got a makeover for her birthday this year-- much more grown up haha! Glasses have also happened for her in just the last couple weeks and she rocks them! We couldn't ask for a better daughter!
T-bone
Trey-boy
"T" is such a handsome boy. :) We are so thankful that he still shows no symptoms of Spherocytosis and know it is a miracle from Heaven! He is getting good at piano and is also enjoying tennis. Trey-boy warms my heart and I am so glad to be his mom! He is such a crazy guy! Best gift receiver I have ever seen:) his reactions are priceless! He is loving music and is in a singing group and was thrilled to be cast in the school musical (peter pan) as Michael- is so excited to wear footie pjs! I wish he could see how wonderful he is and believe in himself more. He is so funny and we love his silly, off-the-cuff rhymes he makes up! The kids at school all love his fun personality and I am so proud of the way he tries to befriend everyone and stick up for the kids that get picked on. JR high is going great!
PD
Pacers
Pacers is getting used to having to deal with girls. He has had "girl" primary teachers for two years now and even sits ...near them sometimes! Trey and he have many a wrestling match and there is usually crying and bruising, but hey, isn't that what having a brother is all about?! 4nd grade is, I’m sure, a much more lively place with Pace around! He is such a loose cannon and I'm not sure I understand him... :) But he is so FUN and loving and definately makes life more interesting! He is my best kid at doing his chores and obeying! He is a lot like Cort, in that, when you think he isn't listening...he definitely is! He has a sweet singing voice and I hope he will always sing. He still gets mad in piano lessons if he can't have a song perfect in the first 10 minutes! It seems strange, but he loves to snuggle! When he gets hurt, he just needs a fast hug and he is fine!
Daphne Anne
Daffodill
Baby Girl
Daphne is in 2nd Grade! She loves it, but is a little shy- like Gretel was. I swear, those two are like “Pete and Re-pete!” I can't believe my baby will be baptized in March! Daph is doing tumbling, dance & cheer and rocked the soccer field this year! One of her favorite things to say is how pretty and wonderful a mom I am... makes me feel guilty but also makes me want to try harder! She is still very adamant about what she wants to wear and if her room is clean she gets to pick out her own outfit :) 10 Inches from her hair was just donated again from locks of love (did it in kindergarten also) She lOVEs to teach her imaginary students in her school (bed)room. Piles and piles of school supplies and books adorn every nook and cranny! She is angelic and sweet, darling and precious!
Cash man
our surprise addition
cutie pie
We adopted this beautiful boy in May and it is going... good... :) There are a lot of hard things and things he does that I don't understand, but overall I would say it has been easier than I thought it would be. Throwing things and hitting and scratching himself are his preferred means of expression when he is angry which is hard to deal with, but he forgets his anger quickly and is usually an easy going silly, cute boy. He likes to sing and memorizes songs so quick! This year he learned all 13 Articles of Faith songs! I LOvE his high, darling voice. We are winning him over I think, and he is starting to trust us & understand that he never has to leave, but still asks if he has to go away
So cute, I LOVE fall!
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