Dear family and friends,
It has been a busy year for the Weston family! Life just seems to get busier and busier each year. In February they redid the boundaries for our stake and added a new ward in West Linn, which led to us being moved into a different ward than we had been in for the last 8 years. It has been quite an adjustment to change wards after that long, and we have been trying to build connections and friendships in our new ward all year.
This summer was especially busy for our family. Juliette’s dad ended up going into the hospital due to choking – and he eventually contracted Pnemonia (He is now in a nursing home still recovering). Juliette headed to Utah at the end of June to spend time with her dad. Toby and the kids came out a week later. During our time in Salt Lake, the kids enjoyed seeing lots of church sites, including Temple Square, BYU, the bishop’s Store House, the Church History Museum, and more. In mid-July we headed out on our annual roadtrip after leaving Salt Lake, starting with a visit to Arches National Park. From there, we headed east to Colorado, visiting friends in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, and spending time at Rocky Mountain National Park. After that, we headed through Nebraska and eventually reached South Dakota, where we visited Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Jewel Cave, and many other amazing places.
After leaving South Dakota, we headed into Wyoming (stopping at Devil’s Tower on the way) before spending a few days at Yellowstone National Park. We were so impressed by the amazing features of this park and the incredible wildlife. On our way back home, we visited friends in Boise and floated the Boise River. By the time we came home from our trip, Summer was almost over! August was consumed by summer camps, Toby replacing our roof, and a couple of last camping trips to Sunset Bay on the Oregon Coast and to Mount Rainier National Park.
Toby is still teaching Orchestra in Vancouver and loving it. His program has grown to about 115 students now. At church, Toby is the cubmaster for all three wards in West Linn. This summer Toby replaced our old shingle roof with a brand new metal one. It was a huge undertaking and dragged out through the fall, but he is finally finished and very proud of his work. This Christmas Toby is directing a church production of the Messiah (highlights only). He has been working hard to help the orchestra, choir, soloists, and pianists to all be ready. We are looking forward to the performance on Dec. 18th. Nathaniel will be playing violin for part of it, and Juliette and Mary are singing in it.
Juliette is still working as a Resource Room teacher (half-time) and really enjoys her job. She continues to teach part time online for Ashford University, too. When she is not working, Juliette is coaching Nate’s grade level team for Oregon Battle of the Books, running the kids to lessons, arranging playdates, keeping our house in order, cooking, etc. Juliette has been substituting as our ward organist this fall as our permanent organist battles some health issues. Juliette also teaches senior primary. In May Juliette and Toby took a pre-anniversary trip to Anchorage, Alaska where they explored, hiked, rode bikes around the peninsula, and took a day-long Glacier Cruise.
Mary turned 7 this year. She enjoys horseback riding, doing ballet, playing legos, making creations with Rainbow Loom and Perlor beads, playing soccer, playing with her stuffed animals, and reading all the time. Mary is now in second grade and is looking forward to being baptized next March. Mary is also learning to play the piano and the violin. Mary and Nathaniel both participated in their school play this fall and had a lot of fun. Mary played the part of a Vagabond.
Benjamin turned 10 this year. He is now in 5th grade. He loves reading, listening to books on CD, playing Pokemon (and Pokemon Go), drawing, playing soccer, scouting, and playing piano and cello. Ben has been challenged a lot this school year with more homework and harder math. He and Nathaniel are both in Yearbook club and Battle of the Books.
Nathaniel is 9 years old. He is in fourth grade and loves to mess around with lots of different things – such as playing with flower sticks, making music with boomwackers, doing magic tricks, reading, going to cub scouts, and playing piano and violin. He plays in the Marylhurst Youth Symphony (along with Ben), and he is taking private violin lessons now, which he loves. Nathaniel really loves learning new things and taking up new hobbies. Nathaniel played soccer this fall, with Toby coaching his team.
As this year ends and we prepare for a new one, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you and your family enjoy a safe and prosperous new year! – Love The Westons – Toby, Juliette, Benjamin, Nathaniel, and Mary
This summer was especially busy for our family. Juliette’s dad ended up going into the hospital due to choking – and he eventually contracted Pnemonia (He is now in a nursing home still recovering). Juliette headed to Utah at the end of June to spend time with her dad. Toby and the kids came out a week later. During our time in Salt Lake, the kids enjoyed seeing lots of church sites, including Temple Square, BYU, the bishop’s Store House, the Church History Museum, and more. In mid-July we headed out on our annual roadtrip after leaving Salt Lake, starting with a visit to Arches National Park. From there, we headed east to Colorado, visiting friends in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, and spending time at Rocky Mountain National Park. After that, we headed through Nebraska and eventually reached South Dakota, where we visited Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Jewel Cave, and many other amazing places.
After leaving South Dakota, we headed into Wyoming (stopping at Devil’s Tower on the way) before spending a few days at Yellowstone National Park. We were so impressed by the amazing features of this park and the incredible wildlife. On our way back home, we visited friends in Boise and floated the Boise River. By the time we came home from our trip, Summer was almost over! August was consumed by summer camps, Toby replacing our roof, and a couple of last camping trips to Sunset Bay on the Oregon Coast and to Mount Rainier National Park.
Toby is still teaching Orchestra in Vancouver and loving it. His program has grown to about 115 students now. At church, Toby is the cubmaster for all three wards in West Linn. This summer Toby replaced our old shingle roof with a brand new metal one. It was a huge undertaking and dragged out through the fall, but he is finally finished and very proud of his work. This Christmas Toby is directing a church production of the Messiah (highlights only). He has been working hard to help the orchestra, choir, soloists, and pianists to all be ready. We are looking forward to the performance on Dec. 18th. Nathaniel will be playing violin for part of it, and Juliette and Mary are singing in it.
Juliette is still working as a Resource Room teacher (half-time) and really enjoys her job. She continues to teach part time online for Ashford University, too. When she is not working, Juliette is coaching Nate’s grade level team for Oregon Battle of the Books, running the kids to lessons, arranging playdates, keeping our house in order, cooking, etc. Juliette has been substituting as our ward organist this fall as our permanent organist battles some health issues. Juliette also teaches senior primary. In May Juliette and Toby took a pre-anniversary trip to Anchorage, Alaska where they explored, hiked, rode bikes around the peninsula, and took a day-long Glacier Cruise.
Mary turned 7 this year. She enjoys horseback riding, doing ballet, playing legos, making creations with Rainbow Loom and Perlor beads, playing soccer, playing with her stuffed animals, and reading all the time. Mary is now in second grade and is looking forward to being baptized next March. Mary is also learning to play the piano and the violin. Mary and Nathaniel both participated in their school play this fall and had a lot of fun. Mary played the part of a Vagabond.
Benjamin turned 10 this year. He is now in 5th grade. He loves reading, listening to books on CD, playing Pokemon (and Pokemon Go), drawing, playing soccer, scouting, and playing piano and cello. Ben has been challenged a lot this school year with more homework and harder math. He and Nathaniel are both in Yearbook club and Battle of the Books.
Nathaniel is 9 years old. He is in fourth grade and loves to mess around with lots of different things – such as playing with flower sticks, making music with boomwackers, doing magic tricks, reading, going to cub scouts, and playing piano and violin. He plays in the Marylhurst Youth Symphony (along with Ben), and he is taking private violin lessons now, which he loves. Nathaniel really loves learning new things and taking up new hobbies. Nathaniel played soccer this fall, with Toby coaching his team.
As this year ends and we prepare for a new one, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you and your family enjoy a safe and prosperous new year! – Love The Westons – Toby, Juliette, Benjamin, Nathaniel, and Mary
