Tales from the Motherboard: A Year in Review

At the beginning of every year I swear that I am going to get my act together enough to send out super cool Christmas cards. I actually even go through the motions of thinking about what I would put on said Christmas cards, planning the witty monologue that will accompany the beautiful photos of our adventures throughout the year.

Good intentions people. I has 'em.

About this time every year I realize I am a total and complete stress case and have again not done the stupid Christmas letter and if I want to avoid stabbing someone in the eye I have to start eliminating things off my "To Do List".

Like  Brag Letters Christmas cards.

Crossed off.

As I sat here feeling sort of like a big fat dork-wad I realized that there was no need for it. I still had time to create my little Brag Letter Christmas cards, I was just going to have to be a little more creative this year and use the technology that God blessed us with to mass produce and reach all tens of one of you that read my little ole' blog.

Here it is. The first ever, and I do mean ever (as in I have never in 20 years written a Family Brag Christmas letter) Tales from the Motherboard: A Year in Review.


Twenty-thirteen found Jefe doing the same thing he is super good at: Bringing home the bacon and frying it up in a pan. Both figuratively and literally. He's perfected our Sunday morning pancakes and bacon and it rivals any five star joint I've eaten in. Those pancakes melt in your mouth and the bacon is cooked just the way I like it. Quite honestly, I prefer his breakfast goods over most of the restaurants that we frequent.

He's still a partner at a local law firm, carrying large buckets o' money from one side of the room to another, helping people buy and sell companies and commercial real estate. He spends his free time (ha ha) watching the kids play sports and coaching Moxie's soccer team.

He is a dedicated Dad and finds complete joy in being present at every single practice and game that the kids are involved in. He doesn't want to miss one, single minute and I love him for that.

He still really digs fly fishing and I'm trying to talk him into ditching us for a week or so this summer to hit up the rivers of Alaska with a couple of his buddies.

I know. I'm totally nice.

Twenty-thirteen found me starting a new job with an airline. I have worked in the travel industry on and off since I was 17 years old and was thrilled to death when this opportunity presented itself. It was a little sooner than I had planned, but I am so glad that we bit the bullet and did it. I absolutely love my new job.

I started out in Reservations and worked exactly 9 shifts before I promoted to an internal support team. I'm in the same type of department that I was in when I worked for Morris Air Service back in the 90's and it absolutely feels like I have come home. I thank heaven above daily for the chance that I have been given to be back in the industry that I love.

Working from home is just the icing on the cake.




Jefe and I took off on a whim for San Diego for the day for our Anniversary and spent it riding bikes up and down Mission Beach, eating fish tacos on the pier and visiting four different beaches.

Seriously, I could not think of a better way to celebrate nineteen years of marriage than hanging out with my man in my favorite place on the planet, eating amazing food getting all zen-like together!

Jefe's only rule for our trip was: Plan nothing. And we didn't. We flew, literally, by the seat of our pants and it was the funnest thing we have done together in a long, long time. Completely spontaneous and an utter blast!


I was able to take the little girls to New Port Beach for a week of sun, beach and Disneyland. We bailed Utah on the first snow storm of the year and had a wonderfully warm vacation! We went with a couple of our friends and had a wonderful time playing and just hanging out.

We danced like fools on Route 66 in Radiator Springs, vegged on the beach, ate tons of fish tacos and soaked up all the sun we could. We made some fantastic memories and I can't wait for our next adventure!

Twenty-thirteen found Thing 1 finally graduating from High School.

Yes. She. Did.

She is all growed up, people, and thinking she should be an adult or some other stupid thing like that. She spent her high school days lazily working on the school magazine as an editor, whilst earning over THIRTY college credits. She graduated from High School with only 24 more credits needed for her Associates Degree.

Yes. The girl's got mad smahts.

She's decided she wants to serve an 18th month mission for our church and will turn her papers in to get her assignment in April. She will pay her own way for 18 months, living where she is assigned to live and serving the people in that area. Her Dad and I both went on missions and know the great benefits that come from learning how to serve without monetary reward. It's hard work and she will come home a completely different woman.

We are thrilled to death with this decision and just pray that she is sent to South Dakota. Or somewhere equally boring. AND SAFE.

Twenty-thirteen found Thing 2 starting 9th grade, playing not only outdoor football, but indoor football at the UofU as well. He was also on the track team and is CRAZY fast. He turned 15 this year and spends most of his free time either sleeping, listening to music, watching football or begging us to let him drive the car.

The last one is what nightmares are made of.

He's taking his first AP class this year and in Honors Math as well. We're thrilled that maybe someone in our family has some math sense, since it completely bi-passed his Father and I.

He's quite the hot commodity with the ladies. And you can see why. He's quite the boss with his posse. He has good friends and I'm proud of him for the example he sets for his friends and the level of Integrity I see him displaying. He's a good boy.

Twenty-thirteen found Thing 3 joining a Competition Soccer team. She was playing AYSO soccer, and even with not having any sort of practices the kid had some crazy mad skills. She was doing stuff that most of her teammates couldn't do, and her keeper skills were off the charts. Jefe found a competition team for her to practice with and she was invited to join them because of how amazeballs she is at being the Keeper. She sacrifices her body in ways that most 10year olds don't, and she is fearless. I watch the kid play and my heart swells with pride. She is good. She's really, really good.

She is in 5th grade now and along with being a natural athlete, she is also a natural artist. She can look at things and draw them and does a fantastic job. She has such a fun personality and sense of humor. I love listening to her tell her funny stories about her day. She loves to read and the travel bug has bit her as well. She went with me to New Port Beach for a week and we are already planning our return trip to Disneyland so we can check out all the things we missed this last time.

Twenty-thirteen found Moxie starting Kindergarten, and to quote her she "freaking hates school." At least she did for about the first 2 months. It was dumb, they don't feed you, you don't get to eat lunch there, her teacher steals things out of her backpack and kids follow her around trying to do the same things she does.

It's taken quite a bit of coaxing and reasoning to get her to understand how Kindergarten works, that her teacher isn't a thief and it's OK that she doesn't get to eat lunch at school. Home lunch is WAY better.

She plays soccer, too, and also started skiing this year with her siblings. And, the kid is a natural. She took to skiing like a duck does to water. She also came with me to New Port Beach and Disneyland. She and I spent our time chasing characters and getting our picture taken with as many as we could possibly find. She has been sufficiently bitten by the travel bug as well.

Twenty-thirteen found our little family getting a long better, laughing more and over all being happier. We've had our bumpy roads, but this past couple of years was full of lots of healing for us, growing and changing.

 I survey my little kingdom and find myself exhaling a deep, peaceful sigh and thinking: "My Word. This must be what heaven is like." My children are all happy, getting along with each other and actually LIKE each other. I sit at my desk while I'm working and I hear them laughing, chatting and loving each other and I nearly die from happiness.

Twenty-thirteen found us saying goodbye to our favorite mischievous boxer dog, Zoe. She spent 12.5 years with our family. She moved three times with us and was our constant companion. She kissed our hurts away and kept us company when we were lonely.

She died on Mother's Day weekend at home with all of us around her. She waited until all of her kids were home and could say goodbye to her before she left us.

Our family has a big, empty hole in it with her gone. I didn't realize how much of a companion she was until she was gone and I was left alone in this big empty house. She helped us all to feel safe and protected. She did her job, and she did it well. 

We talk about her often, and the funny things she would do (like jump up high enough to see over the fence at what the back neighbors were doing). We all miss her. She filled our home with a lot of love and made our family complete.

Twenty-thirteen found us being invaded by a new critter. The new neighbors have a super cool golden/lab mix dog that Jefe says is the perfect Zombie Apocalypse dog. You will see lots of posts on Instagram of this little critter with the hashtag #notmydog. 

Because she's not our dog. Although she is trying very hard to convince us otherwise. She has convinced most of the neighbors, including the dog catcher, that she belongs with us. I suspect her owners would be super sad if she moved all the way out. This is the perfect relationship: We foster her during the day and at night she goes home to her "other family."

She follows us when we go for walks or bike rides;  she lays by the front door sunning herself, waiting for someone to let her in the house and occasionally  I find her peering in my office window, wagging her tail waiting for me to come outside and play fetch.

She roams the 'hood like The Godfather, checking on everyone and everything, making sure all is well in Zion. She owns this turf and will take on anyone or anything that dares to challenge that ownership. Once she has decided you are "safe" she watches over you and your people diligently protecting you from every mail man, delivery man and bus driver around. 

She has filled the sad void that Zoe left in our hearts and is the bearer of happiness and cheer. Her happy personality is contagious. You can't help but smile when Amber comes to pay a visit.

The Winds of Change blew fiercely in Twenty-thirteen and it's been for the better. Life is about changing and learning how to accept and embrace it. This past year has been a good one. A full, happy life filled with wonderful memories. May this next year bring us all just as many changes, adventures and growth! 

We love you all and hope Twenty-fourteen brings you all the happiness you desire!

 Follow our adventures on Instagram so you can see what we are up to on a daily basis!