Joleyn Larson Photography & Design

 

 

 

Lots to tell you so sit down and have some hot chocolate and wrap yourself up in a fuzzy blanket and I’ll get started with our update.  We’ve been busy to say the least, blessed, but busy. 

 

Tracy Sr. is still an IT engineer with MDU resources, loving every minute of it.  He also coached the boys this year in football and basketball. I have to admit I loved seeing him with the boys like that. Melted my heart in so many ways. Continues to whoop up on the boys playing guitar hero too. As for me, my photography venture has been an amazing  journey. Keeping me very busy. I won a few awards too, which is always exciting for me. Still doing my Tuesday morning bible studies and loving each journey. I got to go to  a few women’s retreats too.  We have an introduction to the family this year…a new little puppy. A white Maltese named Marley…she was the runt of the bunch…weighing in at about 5 pounds now.  She is truly the sweetest little thing we could have picked out.

 

No major trips this year for Tracy and I, but we did take a family vacation this summer up to Red Lodge. The Bear tooth Mountains were again the main attraction for us all.  Thought we’d beat the “campfire ban” and went a little earlier…this time in June. To our surprise it was hard to find a lake that wasn’t frozen solid to fish in!  The kids thought we should have packed our snowsuits and  sleds. We visited Yellowstone Park as well. This time we finally got to see the elusive brown bear and three little cubs! Had tons of fun in front of the campfire, roasting marshmallows too. It was a wonderful vacation whether we were in shorts and flip flops or bundled up in gloves and fleece coats. It’s  beautiful country that we never get sick of seeing. Spent a weekend in Minot for the State Fair and the kids had a blast on the rides, so did mom. Also had some fun at the water slides too.

 

All the kids are in school now and doing very well. TR in 6th grade, Ryan in 5th, Alex in 2nd and Jhacie in Kindergarten. It’s been a transition period for me. So different being at home, and having all my kiddo’s in school, all day, every day.

 

TR our oldest (Seahawks fan), started 6th grade in the new Great Plains Academy. Definitely can be our shyest kid at times. He loves to draw, and is so into getting all the details just right. He played baseball and football this year, doing well in both. He sure has his Dad’s arm. He’s enjoying life as his blog would say. Yeah, he set one of those up, along with getting a cell phone, a my space, and an email account. Got to go to his first dance too. Man, 6th graders grow up so fast.  He’s quick to tell me too, how soon he’ll be driving, and then moving away for college. {sigh} 

 

Ryan (Go Colts!) our 5th grader is now the “upper class” at Lewis and Clark.  He’s still the athlete at heart—very competitive. Loves playing anything and everything.  His intensity brings goose bumps to my arms as I watch him.  He played baseball, football and basketball this year and is thinking about track for next year. He’s still really into reading, just like TR and you seldom catch him without a book in his hands. This is  a wonderful thing, until you find him awake at 2 in the morning trying to finish his newest book.  

 

Alex is in 2nd grade. {My little Wally…the Steelers fan.}  Loving school, loving his friends, learning to read. He celebrated his first reconciliation this December, and will celebrate his first communion this February. It was a wonderful experience that Tracy and I were able to share with Alex. He did a lot of tagging along with Dad to all the boy’s practices, just in case he got to help out or scrimmage. He loves it. Took up playing golf too. Still a cowboy at heart, loves hearing stories about his Bampa’s rodeo days. Saw the PBA when it came to Bismarck, and he was so impressed by it all. He’s quite the “crafter” too. Loves gluing stuff, cutting stuff, stapling stuff. You should see some of the things he’s created. Very creative little man.

 

Jhacie started school this year. All day, everyday kindergarten.   I could go on and on how that tugged on my heart strings, but I won’t. She is loving every minute of it being the social butterfly she is. I so enjoy sitting with her after school. She never leaves a detail out as she tells me about her day. She still has Alex as her full time guardian, and it is so sweet how he keeps an eye on her. They are two peas in a pod.  Jhacie learned to ride her bike this summer, played tball for the first time too. She loves shopping just as much as her momma, loves cuddling on the couch with a book, loves the cooking channel, and loves her back being tickled.

 

{sigh} I’m sure I’m forgetting so much that happened this year, but hope I got you caught up even if a little bit.  You can always check out our blog. I try to keep that up to date with lots of pictures as often as I get time too. 

 

May God bless you all this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Joleyn, Tracy Sr. ,TR, Ryan, Alex and Jhacie too!

 

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