Hayley is 7 and in grade 2. She is loving her class and her teacher and was so excited to be able to ride her bike to school this year. She is becoming more and more independent which I love and hate at the same time, but I think I love it more then I hate it. Its just a little hard to watch your baby grow up, but we are so proud of the kind and generous little girl that she is. She is dancing again this year and is doing tap, ballet, and jazz, and is also doing a ballet duet for competition. She loves it so much and loves spending time with her dance friends. She loves spending time with her big sister and they still play so well together. She is so thoughtful and is always leaving us kind notes and pictures, and always tells us she loves us and gives the best hugs.
This Fall her and McKenna both got to audition and dance with the Moscow's Russian ballet in their production of the Nutcracker. It was such an amazing experience and both girls loved it. Hayley was a snowflake, and McKenna was a party child and the Chinese variation. We have also been reading the Harry Potter series together, and we've chosen a novel that I read with each girl separately before bed and it has become one of the highlights of my night.
McKenna will be 11 in a couple of months and is in grade 5. She is doing really well in all her school subjects, but especially in math. She's also involved in the drama club and has been enjoying that. She is a planner and loves writing everything in her day planner. She is always making lists on the weekends of what her and Hayley will be doing for the day and they'll check them off as they go. She also loves to choreograph dance routines to teach to Hayley. She is really growing and maturing into a beautiful dancer. She is involved in 7 group routines and a ballet solo for competition this year. I can't wait to watch both girls perform. She is so easy going and obedient and just makes my Momma job so easy. She also got full time contacts this year and loves being glasses free. I think the highlight of the year for her was going to Salt Lake for a week over Christmas break with her Grandparents to visit her cousins. She had so much fun.
Ty will be 12 next month and is in grade 6. He is so pumped that it is his last year in elementary school and is more then ready to move to middle school (so he thinks anyway). He's been doing some really neat stuff in school this year. He got chosen with 5 other people to run for Mayor and had to have a mini campaign and give a speech and answer questions, and he ended up winning and will get to have lunch with our Mayor and sit in his chair. He also made chocolates with another boy and then sold them in the school and then gave the $ to the school. They are learning some really great and valuable things (unlike math lol). He played Summer baseball again this year. His Dad coached his team and they took 1st in Prairie's. It was such an exciting win and he had such a good experience having his Dad as his coach. He starts basketball this week, is super active and loves to hang out with his friends. He is obsessed with Fortnite and can do a mean orange justice.
Nate just turned 14. What?!! He is old enough to drive. Now that is crazy. We downloaded the study guide on his phone but I'm not sure how much studying he has actually been doing. He is tall, dark, and handsome that one. He surpassed me in height a long time ago and is creeping towards Ryan. He is full force into basketball season and was so happy to make the SV team this year. Only two grade eights made the team. They have a really good team and are undefeated at the moment. He LOVES basketball and literally eat sleeps and breathe's it right now. He also enjoy's gaming and is starting to hang out with friends outside of school more often. He's still our favourite free babysitter and is becoming mine and Ryan's new game buddy. He has a handful of favourites that he'll play with us. He is also starting to care more about school and getting good grade's. He made the honour roll this past reporting period. He is learning the guitar but will not sing.
Ryan is doing more work in the office these days and his job has changed more into getting the projects started with estimating and budgeting and then he hands them over to the project coordinator. He is really liking the change. He hit a deer on the highway a few weeks ago but luckily he and his truck (after a lot of time spent in the shop) are okay. He did some coaching this last year with Nate's basketball and Ty's baseball teams. I think he enjoyed it but definitely enjoys just watching more. He really wants to learn how to play the guitar this year. We love doing puzzles and playing cards/board games together.
Its just Lily and I these days and I am really enjoying our time together. I love to read inspirational books and have found a new love for taking photo's. I also started a barre class this past Fall and really love it and will continue to do it once a week. I love being active and being outside in nature. I plan on doing a ton of hiking this year. I made an ultimate bucket list this year and am looking forward to checking a few things of each year. I love having goals and lists (I guess that's where McKenna get's it from), and just have to be prepared and on top of things all the time. I love being warm and drinking tea by the fireplace.
Well, 2018 has been fantastic. We are learning and growing and just love spending time together as a family. I hope you had an amazing year and that 2019 will be even more epic.
Lots of love,
The Olsen's,
Ryan, Kelli, Nate, Ty, McKenna, and Hayley.
Hahahaha, I hadn't seen that mustache picture before !
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