Christmas

 Overall we had a good time. We spent time on Christmas Eve and Christmas with family, including Ben's Sister's family and his parents. We also had a great Christmas morning together. Sadly, these are the only pictures I took of Christmas: Our Harry Potter socks and Westley's new MIT shirt.

BYU Game

When we went to pick up Jenna for Christmas, we decided it would be fun to go to a BYU basketball game as well. I am also happy Westley came along to help drive. 

Elf

Charlotte was in Elf the Musical! She played Charlotte (the reporter at the end) and a bunch of other characters like store elf, office employee, fake Santa, and multiple special dance parts. She had a great time even though she doesn't normally like to spend so many months on Christmas stuff.

Ben's mom was visiting and got to come see her show

Math Competition

Westley and his team did great at the UMary Competition again this year. Westley won the 11-12th division, his friend won the 9-10th division, and his team won the team competition. Westley also had the highest lightning round score.

Jenna's First time in the Temple

Jenna was able to go to the temple over Thanksgiving weekend. She had a great experience and it was great to have a bunch of family there too.

Jr Cross Country

Westley had a great Cross Country season and improved a bunch. This was his third year of Cross Country and his third coach. She was our favorite coach, so hopefully she will coach again next year.

Westley and two of his running buddies.

Charlotte and Ben and State Cross Country. The temperature was in the 20s! It was also muddy and slippery by the time Westley ran. Three other groups had already run on the course by then.

Amusement Park

We found this fun little amusement park the other day. It had several simple rides and even a small roller coaster. We had a fun time until later in the day we were playing frisbee golf and Jill got stung by a wasp!

The Sound of Music

Charlotte was able to participate in a musical theater summer camp where they took classes in acting, singing, dance, etc, and also performed at a baseball game, a preshow, and the Youth Edition of the Sound of Music. Charlotte was Sister Margaretta (the nun who likes Maria). It was the first year of this camp, and she had a great time being a part of the original campers.

Trip to Utah

We were able to go back to Utah and visit old friends, see family, and participate in BYU camps this summer. Westley did both the math camp and Cross Country camp and Charlotte did the Young Ambassators camp. I am glad she had a great roommate too!

Charlotte's performance at BYU

We also spent quite a bit of time with family and friends.

Train at the park

A New Driver

Westley passed his driver's test and now is a licensed driver! He got his license at 16, right when he always thought he would get it. However, it feels like he waited forever since all the other kids in North Dakota are getting their licenses at 15. Because of the rules and when we moved here, he had to wait until 16 still, but he got to skip driver's ed.

Dance Recital

Charlotte mostly did dance at home, online, and with her sister this year. She did, however, take a class at one of the local studios. We thought the studio was good and next year she plans on dancing more there. It will be nice to have a dance studio again, after not having a studio home for the last couple of years.

Here is a video of her dance. Sorry about the quality. Ben is still working on how to video dances.

Track 2023

Track season went pretty well this year, if you ignore the first month when it snowed like crazy! Westley earned his varsity letter and improved his times. He even was able to run his first-ever indoor meets. I did not get any pictures but luckily a friend noticed him running and took a few for me.

Spring Shows

Charlotte was in the play Babette's Feast this spring. It was her first ever non-musical. The drama teacher wanted to push the kids to explore shows outside of the current popular repertoire and I am glad she got to learn something different. It was an older, slower show with lots of hidden meaning. Charlotte had a small part with a few lines and she did great. She also did great in her ensemble roles as well.

Charlotte also participated in a homeschool choir this semester. It was the first semester of the choir and I think it went well. 

Stake Prom

Our Stake holds a Prom each year. Westley's cousin helped him ask a girl to go and went with him in his group. He had lots of fun. It was the first date for both of them.

Speech

Something good about moving to a new area is learning about new things and trying new activities. Charlotte was able to try Speech this year. She participated in two categories this year: Serious Duo and EPR. EPR includes three rounds, one each of poetry, serious, and humorous pieces. You are given the piece one hour before and have to edit and prepare in the time before performing. She really enjoyed  Speech and was getting pretty good. She even got 2nd place at one of the last meets.

Most Read

The library had a Winter Reading contest where the winner could win a $50 Amazon card. Westley has not been much of a reader, but he really wanted to win. He spent most of the first few days reading and then most of his free time after that. In the end, it paid off and Westley won the Teen Category.

He also won a mini video game system in the ticket drawing.