2014

2014 has come to an end and it was a great year for our family.  I felt like this year was full of just doing the day to day things that make our family happy.  There were lots of dance recitals, basketball games, and track meets to attend.  We enjoyed playing outside in our back yard all through the summer together,and working some more on our yard.  How we love our home and where we live!

We went on small trips together.  We went down to St. George in the winter to escape the cold weather.  Then in the Summer we took 2 trips up to Bear Lake.  Our favorite trip was going camping up in the Uintas!  How we loved fishing, hiking, and relaxing in such a beautiful place.  While camping there was no T.V phones, or video games.  We all really enjoyed this time away from all of that.

For the boys it was the year of fishing!  My boys caught me so much fish and it was awesome.  Jason and Mike have learned to love being in the outdoors together.

It was the year of finding treasures!  We got our Phinney Bible and the amazing temple work that has come from that.  We also found an Edison record player to add something different to our home.

Mike and I went on an amazing vacation to Paris, France and we enjoyed every second of that trip.  It was so fun to just be with Mike and to be in a different country.

This year Grandma and Grandma Schwitzer spoke at the MTC and the kids got the awesome experience of going there and eating with the missionaries.   We then listened to them speak and had the kids feel the awesome spirit that is there.

We welcomed 2 new nephews to the Young family… Briggs and Davis were born this year!

Our biggest change was Mike getting a new job.  After 11 years Mike left Medline to start work with Berlin Packaging.  We feel this was a good move for our family and are so grateful to Mike.

2014 was a year of living life…. and we lived it!!

I love my family so much and dedicate this to you.  I hope you can always remember these memories! When times are hard we can look back on these times to be stronger and find strength.

Let It Snow!

 We finally got snow on Christmas day!  The kids enjoyed playing in the snow over Christmas break.

I am so grateful to have a strong son to help around the home.  My back has been bugging me and each morning Jason would go out and shovel the walks and drive way.  He would do it without being asked and it made me so happy to be served by him!

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas!  We woke up to a white Christmas and it was magical to wake up to snow!  Santa came and brought the kids all the gifts they had asked for.  Lucy wanted a Doc Mcstuffins wagon and a dog house.

 Anne wanted the Virtual fashion show.

 Eliza wanted this flying fairy.

 Jason wanted this Lego set.

 We then opened presents from Mom and Dad!

 We finally got a Mike a good normal toaster!

 I got a fit bit to track being healthy!

 Grandma and Grandpa Young came in the morning to see what we all got and hang out for a while.

In the afternoon we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Schwitzers for more presents and Christmas dinner.  Mike also got this old Edison record player.  He has been looking on ebay for months and we finally found one for sale right here in Utah.  It is actually a really neat piece and it plays records from 1910.  We love sitting around and listening to it.

It was a great Christmas and we have so much to be Thankful for!

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve morning the kids wanted to open their presents to each other.   Lucy gave Jason a new baseball mit and balls.

 Eliza gave Lucy princess coloring pages.

 Anne gave Eliza a Crazy Loom.

 Jason gave Anne some crocheting yarn and needles.  They were all so excited to give these presents to each other.

 Eliza then had a special gift for Dad.  She wrapped it herself!

 In the box was her own money she had saved and given to Dad to help pay for Disneyland.  It was so thoughtful of her to think about Dad and the expense of going on vacation.  We love you Eliza!

 We spent Christmas Eve with the Young side this year.  We met at Grandma and Grandpa Young's for the Christmas talent show.  Jason and Anne both played and did great!

 We then opened presents and the kids all got new pajamas.  We then had a yummy Christmas Eve dinner.  After dinner, we did the Nativity as a family.  Lucy got to be Mary this year and she was so happy!

 Baby Jesus was baby Davis.

 This picture makes me laugh!! :)  It was a crazy Nativity!

 We finished up at Grandma and Grandpa's and came home to open more Christmas pajamas!  We love new jammies!  These kids were so excited and we put them to bed to dream about Christmas morning!

 Santa came that night!!

Christmas Adam

 This year we had school all the way up to the 23rd.  So, on Christmas Adam the kids had school for half the day.  So, during the day we were doing class parties and finishing up school.  The kids got home from school and we started planning the dinner for tonight.  That day my back had gone out so, Mike and the kids actually did all the work.  They made a yummy dinner and then we had thought about the Savior for the family.  We then had dessert to see who had the almond in their pudding.  Anne had the almond and so, 2015 will be her year!!  Way to go Anne!!

The family present this year is our trip to Disneyland!  The kids have known about this so it was not a surprise this year.  But, they each got a shirt to wear while at Disneyland.  We also got another family Christmas book.  We then finished the night watching the movie "The Nativity" which we all love!

Christmas Sunday

 We had some time before church and so, my girls were up for letting me take some pictures of them!  Seriously these are the most beautiful faces in the world!

 I love getting the kids pretty and handsome for Christmas Sunday.  These are the best kids and I love them so much!  Merry Christmas!!

The Nutcracker

Eliza was finally old enough to go to the Nutcracker performed by Ballet West.  I love going to Capitol Theatre during Christmas and the Nutcracker is just magical.  We took Grandma Young for her birthday and Auntie Jill came too.  We went out to lunch and then went to the Ballet.  Since both girls are in dance and are taking ballet they enjoyed watching the professionals do their thing.  I love this tradition and next time we will have Lucy with us to make it even more special.  How I love my girls!!

Davis Robert Young

 On December 16th we got a new cousin and nephew.  Davis Robert Young!  He is a beautiful baby and we are so happy for Joe and Jessica!  I went to the hospital twice because I couldn't get enough of him!  There is nothing like holding a newborn baby.  We are excited to have another member of the Young Family!!

Pecan Rolls

Every Christmas I get together with my Sister-in-laws and we make these yummy pecan rolls.  It takes all of us to get it done.  I had to get a new phone and loss a bunch of my pictures so, I have to snag a few from instagram.  We had a fun morning cooking and talking together!

Good bye Medline… Hello Berlin Packaging

This month came with lots of changes for Mike and our family.  Mike has been thinking about leaving Medline for years, but nothing seemed to feel right or was the right time for our family.  At the end of November an opportunity came up that we all felt good about, and knew it would be a good change for Mike.  So, after 11 years with Medline we said farewell.  It was a little hard to leave the company that has been with us through so much.  Most of our marriage has been with this company!  Medline has gone through changes, though, and they are not the same company they were 11 years ago.  Mike wasn't being treated fairly, and the stresses that came with the job were not worth any amount of money.

So, on December 15th was Mike's first day with Berlin Packaging.  He gets to work with Paul and it's something different and exciting!  This picture is his first day on the job.  We are so proud of Mike and all the hard work he puts in for our family.  I know this will be a good change and we can see the hand of the Lord working in our lives.  Go get em' sweets!!

St. Lucia

 We try to keep some traditions alive on the Young side.  We have our Swedish roots and love the tradition of St. Lucia.  We rotate through the grand-daughters to, hopefully, give them each a chance to be St. Lucia.  This year it was Eliza's turn and it was her job to wear the wreath crown and pass out the rolls.  She did a great job!

We had Family Sunday at our house and enjoyed being with everyone before Ryan and Erin left for California.