2012 What a year!!!!

It's time for my yearly blog post.

We began 2012 in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and we are ending in Washington, UT.  We've had quite a  year.  Early in 2012 we got notice that Joe would be getting a new assignment. His new assignment would be at Camp Parks California. We began looking at housing and prices etc in California but not really liking what we saw.  Then sometime in March one of us (not sure who) had this crazy idea.  Since this assignment would most likely be the last, and because we didn't want to live with California prices and Jamie was tired of living in the city, why not have the family move back home to Southern Utah and Joe would work in California and come home to visit.

We flew to Utah for Easter to look for a house.  After a day of looking at all the houses the size we wanted and in our price range and rejecting them all, we found a neighborhood with exactly what we wanted so we signed the papers to have our very own new house built.

We had all of our stuff packed and moved out of Virginia in early June but our house wouldn't be done until mid-August.  So Jamie and the kids moved in with Jamie's parents for the summer.  It was fun living in a small town again. Life was a lot slower.  One day Jamie marveled that she dropped EmmaLee off for an activity, did an errand at the grocery store, played with Nathan at the park for 30 min., picked up EmmaLee and got back home in less than an hour!

Finally our house was finished and we moved in the end of August.  It has been an adjustment moving back to Utah but I think we are finally getting used to it.

Joe is working at Camp Parks California, near Dublin.  He lives in a rented room in Castro Valley and rides his bike to work.  He gets to come home to visit when he has 4 day holiday weekends or when he needs to take leave so we see him at least once a month.

Jamie is trying to get a new house set up.  Everything is unpacked but windows still need dressing and no pictures are hung.  (This may take a while.)  She is also homeschooling EmmaLee for 3rd grade and they are involved with a fun homeschool co-op.  Nathan occasionally joins us for homeschool.

KayLee graduated with her Master's degree in Social Work from BYU in April!! We are so proud of her.  She is currently working for a non profit organization.  Her husband, Joshua, earned his RN degree and is working at a couple of hospitals.  He is also finishing up his bachelor's degree this year!!! You can read more about them on their blog The Dunn 411

Benjamin spent Spring Semester in Mesa, Arizona going to MCC and working for the Alexandria Yellow Cab Company.  In June they called him and asked him to move back to Virginia to work in their office and they told him he could name his salary.  So he named a salary, they accepted it and after spending the 4th of July week here with us, he moved back to Virginia.  He is now attending Northern Virginia Community College and working (and living) at Alexandria Yellow Cab.

Darin is still serving his mission in the Arizona, Tempe mission.  He has served mostly in the Metro area, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek etc.  He loves the work and is looking forward to his return in February.  Due to our move and being in a couple of wards that split, by the time Darin gets home is missionary records will have been in 5 different wards.

Melissa is still living and working in Kansas.  She finished her CNA certificate and has been working for a home care company and also still working at the mailbox store.  She moved into an apartment and is loving being independent.

DeeAnn chose to go to Tuacahn High School for the performing arts this year.  It's 30 min from home but she car pools with her cousin who also attends there.  She made the madrigal choir and is busy performing with them.  They competed in Cedar City's Shakespeare competition where they took 2nd place and recently they performed at several venue's in Las Vegas. DeeAnn is really enjoying her Sr. year which is great as she has gone to a different school for each of her high school years.

Adam is also attending Tuacahn High School this year.  He is doing well after spending three years doing homeschool.  He has made a lot of friends and is taking percussion lessons.  Adam is still working on Scouts and is hoping to be able to attend the National Jamboree in West Virginia this July.

EmmaLee turned 8 years old in June and was baptized.  Since her birthday is close to the 4th of July all of her brother's and Sisters (except Darin) were able to attend.  It was a great day!!! EmmaLee is still doing homeschool this year.  She loves her co-op group and is making new friends.

Nathan is well...Nathan.  He is either super excited and happy or he is not.  Thankfully he is happy most of the time.  We love his exuberance!!!  He loves birthday's. He gets excited no matter who's birthday it is.  And he really keeps that little kid joy of Christmas in our home as every day he asks "Is it Christmas?"

Whew!!! I shouldn't have had so many kids!! But that is in a nutshell what we are doing this  year.

We'd love to hear from you!!

Love the Costello's