2012 was a great year for the Paxman family.
Linc continues to spend his time at Sandy City Fire. He can also occasionally be found at Bluffdale and Lehi fire. He also spent a week at one of his favorite places. The National Fire Academy. One of the side benefits of attending the academy is its closeness to all the Civil War Battlefields for which he is obsessed. He really enjoyed his week there getting more in depth looks at Gettysburg and many other battlefields in the area. This summer he spent a lot of time in the garden, a favorite pastime of his. Also many day trips fishing, shooting and exploring with Benjamin.
I spent a lot of time with the Young Women of our ward, which also includes Brooklyn and I love that. A full week of Girls Camp at Heber Valley Camp. What a great time that was. I loved girls camp as a young woman myself and enjoyed it equally as much as a leader. That camp truly is an inspired piece of heaven on earth. I also enjoyed the yard this summer, reading many books and spending great family time. I especially enjoyed reaping the benefits of a great garden. This fall found me back to work at North Star Academy. I am sitting at the computer taking lunch numbers for two hours a day. It's fun to see Brooklyn interact with her peers. This little job will help fund the mission and college expenses at our house.
Bailee finished her sophomore year at Weber State University then moved to West Yellowstone, Montana to spend her summer acting at the Playmill Theatre. She performed in three great shows, "The Drowsy Chaperon", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", and "Annie Get your Gun". It is the first time she has been so far from home for such a long time. She learned a lot and made some great friends. She said she felt lucky to look out her front door every day and see a wall of pine trees. What a beautiful place. She is currently in her junior year at Weber State, dancing on the Institute Folk Dance team, Singing with the Institute Choir Choralaires, serving as the Social Co-Chair for AAT and serving as the First Counselor in her singles ward Relief Society. She will be performing on the Weber State stage in the spring with a role in "Will Rogers Follies". She is really excited about that. She enjoys her time with friends and dating ;).
Benjamin graduated from Riverton High School. He loved his time there and finished the year performing with the Musical Dance Theatre class in a great show called "Working". He then began a job as a CNA at Rocky Mountain Rehab. He loves helping other people and enjoys his job. He enjoyed his summer spending quality time doing what he loves most. Hiking, fishing, shooting and anything else outdoors. Benjamin spent a semester attending Salt Lake Community College taking some general education classes. On November 13th he attended the temple to receive his own endowment. It was such a great experience. After many years of preparing he turned in his mission papers and has been called to serve as a full time missionary in the Indiana, Indianapolis mission speaking spanish. He leaves March 13th. He is spending his time until then attending the Temple whenever he can, hanging with family and friends, working and saving money.
Brooklyn finished her last year of Elementary school at North Star Academy. She is glad to be moving on to middle school. She spent her summer babysitting (she is a great babysitter), hanging with friends whenever possible and attending her second year of Girls Camp. This year at Girls Camp she overcame a fear of high places and participated in a High Adventure activity. She was amazing. She is still dancing Ballet three times a week and has added Hip Hop classes which she LOVES! She also continues to take voice lessons and is becoming a great little singer. We really enjoyed her recital and listening to her sing. Brooklyn developed a new talent this year and learned to play the acoustic guitar. She really took to it quickly and is enjoying it very much. In the fall she started Middle School at North Star Academy and is loving the new format of school. She also made the principles list the first quarter. This is a huge achievement, it required her to have a GPA of 3.8 or better. She is really taking pride in her schoolwork and wants to succeed.
As a family this summer we took two family vacations to West Yellowstone to see Bailee perform and to explore Yellowstone National Park. We went for a five day trip in June and the another 4 days in August. While there we saw 3 bears at very close range, swam the rapids at Fire hole, shot a variety of fancy weapons and saw three great musicals. It was so much fun we plan to go again next summer even if Bailee isn't working there. We also spent 10 days of Christmas break in California. We saw Sea Word in San Diego, spent a great day in the San Diego temple together, a beautiful day at the beach, enjoyed 3 fun packed days of Disneyland and a day at Universal Studios. It was great to have ten days of family time before Ben leaves for two years.
We are so grateful for the blessings of the gospel in our lives, for the opportunities we each have to serve and for the love of our Savior. I hope 2012 brought joy and peace to you. We look forward to the coming year. 2013 looks to be a year filled with change, we look forward to all Heavenly Father has in store for us.
