2009 in a nutshell

The real life version (for my own journaling)...

2009 was a year to remember for Jason! He started the year out with a bad back (recovering from a back fusion) and with the stress of keeping his construction company in business and providing for our family through the crazy economy. He made some deals happen literally by not taking NO for an answer that got us through the first part of the year. He decided that the construction company wasn't enough and stayed up all hours of the night, studying and becoming a licensed realtor and mortgage officer. By June he opened his own real estate brokerage and mortgage brokerage called Equipro. All the while still running his construction company. It was a brave and scary move considering the economy and every mortgage brokerage around was going out of business. Franklin was born in July, Jason took a couple of days off (kind of) and he has been going non stop ever since. He had a ton of construction projects going on and Kessler Hatch, Inc. ended the year huge by starting our own development! Equipro Realty and Mortgage are growing quickly with big hopes and prospects for the New Year. We are kind of pinching ourselves right now. It's been very refreshing to see some of our hard work start to pay off. Everyone asks Jason "how he did it?" I can tell you how... he works ALL the time, he's incredibly smart, not afraid to take risks, he's honest, and unselfish. I know he is being blessed for the countless things he does for others. Unfortunately, he will probably always deal with back pain and now he is already trying to figure out when he can take some time off this year to have a knee replacement!?

Me- I started the year out sick, sick, sick and pregnant with my 3rd child. I had a lifestyle change and had to start budgeting again (something I used to be good at but is hard to do after you get used to living a certain way). I watched my body expand and grow and then deflate in a matter of months. I had crazy "nesting syndrome" in my 3rd trimester and was constantly doing projects while Jason was busy working and opening his new companies. Franklin was born in July and he was best thing that happened to me all year! He is perfect and beautiful and such a blessing. Since Jason has been going non stop since Franklin was born, so have I. I haven't had a choice. I guess that is how I get so skinny! I eat I promise! I had some rough months adjusting. Weston was tough, Jason was working, and I was tired. I found great comfort and strength as I relied on my Savior, the scriptures, my patriachal blessing, and Mother's example of strength through her many trials. I know that the Lord is aware of each of us and he wants us to be happy! Now it's a new year, Franklin is 6 months (I think my hormones are getting back to normal), Weston is getting a little better, and I think I am adjusted. I can't seem to keep up but that's okay. I have 5 kids in my household. I've tried my best to support Jason in his business endeavors and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for my beautiful children. I'm truly trying to enjoy them because I know how fast they grow.

Baylee, pretty Baylee! She turned 17 this year. She is a Junior at Lone Peak Highschool. She gets straight A's with the exception of 2 A-'s last year. She plays basketball and softball for the highschool. She is super fast and has such a good attitude. She is a coach's dream and a parents! She has good friends. She is wise beyond her years and can see past the "highschool drama". She is the 1st counselor in her laurel class and the stake representative for the youth in our ward. She is very responsible and tries to help out as much as possible when she is home, which is rare. I am amazed by her daily!

Griffin. This boy gets the award for growth this year! I can't beleive how much he has changed! He turned 15 and is a 9th grader at Timberline Middle School. Griffin is funny and helpful. He gets good grades too, not straight A's but good grades (after all he is a teenage boy). He has good friends and they attended EFY together over the Summer. I loved watching Griffin's spiritual growth this past year too. You can always find a set of scriptures on his nightstand. He is the 2nd counselor in his teachers quorum. There is a waiting list to be an office aide at his school and he was chosen last semester. The office ladies LOVED him so much, they called and asked me if he could be the aide for another semester. The lady in the office said that she has only made that exception one other time in all of her 14 years of working at the school. Griffin never fails to make me proud!

Avaree is one of a kind! She is smart, smart, smart and witty. She is always trying to make someone laugh and trying to find ways to manipulate situations. She really is too smart for her own good. She turned 5 this year and attends Super Start Preschool. She LOVES learning and loves her teachers and classmates. She is always creating, coloring, cutting, taping, painting, or pasting something! She is a creative one. She loves her brothers and is finally starting to get along with Weston for more than 5 minutes. She is always up to some kind of mischief- good or bad. She is very strong willed. We have our moments but she is really trying to be obedient and choose the right. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't look at her in awe. I can't believe that such a pretty little thing belongs to me!

Weston, Weston. The picture of him on our Christmas card says it all. I've had a tough year raising this child! Of course, I love him with all my heart but he is a stubborn, particular one who likes things his way. I'm sure that comes with age (he turned 3 this year) but he is extreme. He has really grown up this year. He literally potty trained himself, which was awesome! He decided one day he wanted to go in the potty and that was that. He is a great big brother. He is always so loving and aware of Franklin. We made the change to a big boy room and a big boy bed! The hardest part about that adjustment was him fighting nap time because he still needs a nap even though he will tell you otherwise. He loves everything about his Dad and his favorite days are when he gets to go to work with Jason and ride in the "bobcat". We are already off to a good start this year... he will now let me clip his fingernails without a fight which is a huge improvement! I'm hopeful that this year will only get better. His golden blonde hair and brown eyes are irresistable!

And last the best of all (you know what I mean) sweet Franklin! He just turned 6 months and everything about him is precious! His smiles, giggles, coos and loves makes my day everyday. He is generally a happy baby. He sleeps through the night for the most part and he loves his family, each one of us. His face lights up when he sees any of us. He already has a little stranger anxiety and he does not want to take a bottle. He totally favors his left hand which is awesome because Weston is left handed too. It's crazy to think I've only known him on earth for 6 months because he already plays such a huge role in our family. I love his sparkling blue eyes. I'm so excited to watch him learn and grow this upcoming year.

That is that. Life has it's challenges and moments but it's good. One of the things that makes our life so great are our dear family and friends! Thanks to all of you for your examples and friendship. We love you and look forward to documenting another year of events!