Big Air Man

Just going through pictures of Luke flying through the air. I tell you, it doesn't matter if he's on a bike, rip stick, scooter, snow board or skis.... he is always catching big air. Yesterday we went skiing and I took him down his first black diamond run. He was loving it... jumping off little cliffs and completely going for it. He's got no fear and a lot of talent to back it up. Anyway, here's a fun picture taken while sledding at Oak Hills Elementary. Our next door neighbor Brooklyn is in the background.
Love to all!!! And thanks for the updates!

Great to be Eight!

Wow it's fun to hear all the stories. Dave and Karen, Mom and Dad we're waiting for yours!!

So I had this realization last night that Parker will be eight in less than six weeks. By the way we are planning his baptism for Saturday March 13th at 10:00 am, and if you guys can make it we'd like Stewart and Dave to be in confirmation circle. Rich if you were here we'd want you too! Dad too of course.

Anyway it's a little overwhelming to think that he is old enough to be baptized. I'm sure you all wonder how Ben is old enough to serve a mission and Taylor old enough to drive and Sage is a year from YW!!

Is it just the oldest that surprises you sooooo much.? Or is it every child?

Eight just seems so grown up, out of that little kid stage. It's just a hard thing to fathom. There are times he seems so grown up and other times he is still just a little kid. It's just so crazy!

Time goes sooo fast!

Hey All! I guess its my turn to post updates from the Chase side of the world. Stewart is still serving as Stake Public Affairs Guy, I'm trying to get my head around serving as 2nd counselor in the Stake YW Presidency, Ben is serving as a ward missionary, Natalie and Emily are serving in the Laurel's and Beehive's presidency. So can we say meetings, meetings, meetings? :)

Other than wrecking our new car and dating a girl named Emily, Ben is still working and saving up for his mission. His plans are to turn his papers in sometime May or June. He'll be 19 this Friday. Where did the time go? Once he returns from his mission, he would really like to pursue a career with the FBI. It will be interesting to see how the next years will unfold.

Natalie is finishing up her last semester as a Junior. Again, where has the time gone? She is currently working on a violin piece for district and hopes to get a "1" so she can try out for state. She is taking lessons from her cousin Michelle Goodman and continues to excel and enjoy music. She wants to pursue biology with an emphasis in genetics and music degrees. She is taking some IB classes this year that have been quite challenging so hopefully she can keep her GPA up with all her extra curricular activities (hanging out at Stake n Shake, boys and going to the Mavericks hockey games)

Emily is loving Beehives and the whole mutual world. She continues to pursue the violin. She doesn't have the passion that Natalie does, but she continues to progress and is becoming a pretty decent player. She could be a great player if only she would PRACTICE! She is sorta looking forward to being in middle school next year. The whole locker and changing classes every period is a little intimidating for her. Other than next years fears, she really loves school and is a hard worker. She is playing volleyball for the community rec center and would like to pursue the sport in middle school and high school. She has the coordination for it and really enjoys playing.

As for Stewart he is officially a proud owner of a Honda Night Hawk. Does anyone want to trade it for a truck or buy it? He wants to sell the motorcycle and get a truck. Ever since his motorcycling camping escapade ended in a near death experience, we or it should be said I feel very strongly that he should pursue truck camping. Camping gear has a little harder time getting sucked up into a tire in a truck than in a motorcycle.

As for me, I have put off school for this semester and am trying to get used to this calling. It has been quite demanding so far and there is a lot going on. The plan is to pursue it a little more aggressively next fall. I am still working and loving it! The kids in my school have a lot of struggles economically, emotionally and physically. I have come to really love these sweet kids regardless of their struggles. I am starting next month to do interventions with a few third graders who struggle with reading. I am looking forward to helping these kids and learning a lot myself.

I hope all is well for everyone! All my love-

Michele

Showing Mom and Dad how to Blog

So I'm showing Mom and Dad how to Blog so that they can contribute.

Hi all you fantastic DeLaMares!

Amy here. I just wanted to say THANKS Meredith for starting this. Rich and I have wanted to get more in touch with all of you, and this will be a perfect way. We hope everyone will take time to share thoughts and updates on their lives at least once a month! Come on everybody, we can do this!

So, for a little glimpse of life in snowy Bountiful... At the moment we've got 1/2 the neighborhood (including Sage, Luke, and Ava) outside sledding in our yard. It is such fun to have a home that everyone congregates in. It is absolute chaos at times, and we go through a ton of food feeding everyone, but I truly love having a home full of kids having fun.

Rich is finishing up a talk he has to give tomorrow in Sacrament Meeting. Seth, who has had a digestive problem that we can't seem to whip is hanging out on the couch while watching Goofy. Elsa is sweetly sleeping. And I've been up to my eyebrows working on Primary projects. I'm the 1st counselor, and LOVE it! Our President is the neatest lady on the planet, and I feel so grateful to learn from her.

This winter has been a complete party for us. The best so far in our marriage (I just asked Rich if that was an exaggeration, and he agreed that it's been among the top). We kicked it off with a 12 day trip to Florida (over Thanksgiving). The highlight was 3 days on Sanibel Island, aka heaven. We were home 2 weeks to blitz on Christmas before Rich and I went to Spain for a week. He had to go inspect the stone that they are using for the current project he's on. He worked for the first half, and the rest of the time was ours to explore Barcelona. We ate the best food imaginable, walked our legs OFF, and had so much fun together without the kids. What a fabulous trip!!

Christmas break was lovely. Filled with skiing, sledding, indoor soccer tournaments, ping pong, air hockey, board games and lots of sleeping in. It was brutal going back to school and reality. But here we are in the thick of it all again. And we are actually surviving it much better than past winters. The thing that is keeping us sane is our frequent ski trips. My friend Jodi and I take our kids every Wednesday to Alta. They get out of school at 1pm. So we pick them up and head straight for the canyon. We also go every Saturday Rich is available. We just can't get enough. Even Elsa is zooming down the hill. I have a little backpack that she wears with straps. It's like a leash! And on the really steep areas she skis between my legs. It's so cute watching her. One of these days I'll remember to take my camera and snap some photos. But pictures or not, it's going to be a winter that we all remember with great fondness.

My dad tells me every time I'm with him to remember that "these are the days." I do believe that I will look back on these years with Rich and our young adorable kids as being the best days of my life. I love being the mom and I'm trying to cherish the time that Rich and I have with them. They are growing up soooo fast that it's scary.

Okay, I've got to sign off and start making hot chocolate for the snow bunnies trailing in. Love to all! We're looking forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks Daina for the update. You are in our prayers as you move and start your schooling. Accounting!!!! Hats off to you my dear talented lady. That is something my brain just doesn't do. We love you and can't wait to hear more!

The Only Thing That Stays the Same is Change

Well, Meredith you wanted some else to post so I'll do it. My news for the week is that I'm moving back to Missouri in April. For real.

This week has been ...um well, interesting is one way to describe it. Let's just say that this week helped me makes some big decisions about my life rather quickly. My lease ends at the end of March and by Friday we have to make a decision to stay or move. Neither my roommate nor I wanted to sign for a full year so we were looking at alternatives. I already had decided that I would move back to home to go school. It makes the most financial sense for me. But I wasn't quite ready to move back at the end of March. So we were seriously considered extending the lease until July which is the end of the fiscal year because we are coming into busy season at work. It helps that my roommate and I work at the same place.

However this week at work a situation occurred that made it very clear to me that it time to leave and move on with my life. So I'm going to stay through the Ball at the end of March and then I'm going to pack up my car and move back to Mom and Dad's. So the plan is to get a job and head back to school to get an accounting degree. After that I have no idea which apparently is the story of my life. But at least it keeps it interesting.

Music

What do you all think of the music? If there is anything you want me to add all I need is the song name and artist!

Someone else post something

Okay I will not be the only one who posts stuff on this Family Blog. So If you have something you want to share, a comment about something random or just a thought. PLEASE post!! Thanks to Amy for the picture!!!! Oh and if anyone has a blog that I don't know about that they want to add please tell me and I'll add it to our list. Diana don't you have one? Okay everyone I started it, now happy blogging!

More Joining the Fun

So Andrew and Amy are on Board too. Amy you should add some of the family pictures you took when you guys were here. I've been meaning too, they are just on the other computer so I haven't done it yet! I can't wait until everyone is on, this could be fun!

Oh I'm working on putting a playlist together and a gadget that plays music anytime you are on. So if you have some songs you'd like on the playlist let me know! Also if someone knows a better and easier way to do it let me know.

Dave Joined

Hey Dave thanks for becoming a contributor. I gave you admin priviliges, so now you have the POWER to change anything on here! Including kicking me off if you wanted too! Okay so now you have to post something. Pictures are good too or random thoughts and stuff. I hope everyone else follows suit!

So there's something on here

Okay I'm just posting so there is something on here. I hope you all look at this and think it's a good idea! Let me know