This year started with a Christmas trip to Europe during Ivan’s sabbatical (1 month of vacation every 5 years). It’s a good thing we didn’t put it off much longer because it would have been impossible much later on. We flew in and out Barcelona, and got to know the city a little.

We visited Germany and Switzerland but didn’t get to visit France because of a train strike. Luckily, we only had to spend one unexpected night in Geneva before we found a cheap flight back to Barcelona. We also spent a week in Budapest over Christmas. It was really fun to see how Budapest has changed from when we lived there, and to have some of our favorite Christmas treats.

We took a trip to Texas to see Rachel’s parents and on the way back our trusty minivan broke down in Monticello. Ivan’s brother, Loren, gave us a ride back and we ended up selling the old van and buying a new one. The kids were overjoyed about that since they had been wanting us to buy a new van for a long time.

Because of the van fiasco we had to put off visiting Ivan’s parents in Montana for a few weeks, but we eventually made it. It had been a long time since the kids had been able to see their Grandpa Andrus.

We took a few other little trips to Park City, Bear Lake and Big Rock Candy Mountain just so that we could get out of the house. None of us were huge fans of online school, and the kids got restless during the summer when they couldn’t play with their friends. We even went camping at Willow Park and a wind storm in the early morning literally blew the tent over on top of us.

Avery, Evelyn, and Hazel joined a horse vaulting team in the hopes of competing. Prior to that, they had merely been learning for fun. So far they haven’t competed, and we’re not sure yet when they’re going to. But they have been practicing like crazy and they still love it.

Ivan got a 7.5 inch gauge train car (big enough to ride on) that he can use at Shay park a few blocks away. Now he just has to convince Rachel to let him spend his kids’ college funds to buy a locomotive. Unfortunately, the city didn’t allow the club to give any rides this summer.

Rachel has been as busy as usual being a mom, and even busier being a teacher when the kids were doing school at home. She also lost her last grandparent. Her grandpa died in December.

Avery started Young Women’s and middle school. She likes one and not the other.

Evelyn enjoyed working in the community garden and was actually in charge of the children’s garden. She decided what to plant, how to decorate it, etc. She loves anything that lets her get dirty.

Hazel is in first grade, and has started Chinese immersion. She’s always saying things in Chinese and at this point, half our family understands.

Martin is being potty-trained and loves to yell announcing when it is going to use the TOE-LET. He’s just as cute and annoying as ever.

Love,
The Andruses
Ivan, Rachel, Avery, Evelyn, Hazel, Martin