Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If this is the first time you've visited our family blog site, then welcome! I have to make a disclaimer right up front and admit that I'm not an avid blogger, but I have always been willing to "change" with the times and thought this would be a fun way to share our family update with everyone. When I first mentioned to my family that I wanted to use "change" as my theme for our Christmas letter this year, they all baulked - having thoughts of Obama and the political arena. But the phrase "nothing is as constant as change" is true. Some changes we welcome and some we don't. But we all go through changes in our life. We'd like to share some of the changes we've experienced in 2008:

Marci

With all the traveling Marci has done this year, she’s changed laundry and suitcases a lot. She was able to travel back east with us in April to visit family and sites in Washington DC as well as many other places throughout the year. She continues to teach business classes at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, advises their DECA club and volunteers at Make-a-Wish and Paramount Theater. One of the biggest changes in her life was moving her records to a family ward from the single adult ward. She teaches Relief Society.

Jeni & Kevin
The big change in their life this year was moving out of an apartment complex into a rented home in Pasco. They have a back yard for their growing family and a garage! Another big change was sending their oldest to kindergarten. Aubree (6) was very ready to start school. While she’s at kindergarten, Carter (4) attends a co-op preschool taught by mothers. Paige (20 mos) is learning to talk so she can hold her own. Kevin works as a state auditor.


Heidi & Kyle
They are glad that nothing much has changed in their life – what with the economy crisis, Kyle is glad he is still employed with a home development company. Heidi is enjoying the change that comes with 2 growing children and working 2 days a month as a dental hygienist. Kate (4) loves changing into dress-up clothes all day long as she pretends to be a princess, a bride, a teacher, a mom and a dancer. Preston (14 mos) is changing every day as he is growing up and learning to walk.

Jeff & Sadie
The biggest change this year was the marriage of Jeff and Sadie. They were married on December 20th in the Idaho Falls temple. Sadie is from Idaho Falls and recently graduated from BYU-Idaho as a Registered Nurse. She will work at the hospital while Jeff continues his education at BYU-I in construction management. They are very much in love and it has been fun to be a part of this big change in Jeff’s life.

Sara
Sara is going to find out what a change it is to live away from home when she starts school this January at BYU-Idaho. She was accepted on the winter-summer track and thought it would be the most miserable experience staying home until January when all her friends from high school left in the fall. But she managed to make the best of this change and got a job working at the middle school. It’s going to be a big change in our lives to not have her around – she’s been a delight.

Jared
You’d notice right off the change in Jared – either his height or his voice. As a freshman in high school, he’s playing sports and enduring homework. He’s not sure he’s ready for the change in our family – being the last and only one home.

Craig
Some things never change – and that’s good. He still provides for our family – working hard on the farm. He still plays early-morning basketball. He still coaches for the middle school. He still attends every high school sporting event. He still falls asleep in the chair. He still loves his family and his wife.

Vicki
After working for Wahluke Produce for 6 years, I made a big change and cut my hours back which led to a part-time position with Powercode – a company run by my brother John. I like working from my home and it’s been really fun working with my brother. I’m still teaching early-morning seminary and love having Jared in my class. Life is busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Like President Monson said, “the difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.” I’m just glad I’m marching along next to you!

We hope you know that our love and appreciation for you and your friendship never changes.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Love, The Sabin Family

Laughter IS the best medicine

See those black shoes? Well, they've seen better days. You can't tell, but the "leather" is peeling and they needed replaced. BUT, they were still comfortable and easy to slip on and so Saturday when I was cleaning house, I slipped them on along with my comfortable sweats and t-shirt and began the house-cleaning chores. Sara noticed my shoes and commented - "Mom, why are you wearing your dress shoes to clean in? I explained that they were getting old but they were really comfortable and easy to slip on." Well, it wasn't long before here comes Sara - also dressed in sweats and hoodie - wearing the high heeled sandals pictured above. She could hardly contain her laughter as she walked in with her dust cloth explaining that her shoes were "real comfortable and easy to slip on". We about wet our pants laughing so hard. I'm really going to miss her.... (She leaves for college in January.) Both Craig and I have been sick with sinus infections AND we both have sore backs. His was because he tried moving an auger from one grain bin to the next. Mine was because I'm getting old (I'm not sure what I did - but it's always the same place). We ended up going to both a chiropractor and doctor and our kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy. But we're starting to feel better. But, seriously, laughter really is the best medicine.

Halloween

I decided Halloween isn't the same when you're "old". My pumpkin is hollowed out but not carved. I feel like the decorations just were put up and I'm taking them down. I didn't have one trick or treater come to the door! And no one in our house dressed up. I thought this was what I was waiting for after all these years of stressful Halloween nights - trying to dress kids, making sure they were happy and not upset with their costume (or feeling dumb or stupid), feeding them dinner and not only getting to the carnival, but probably decorating or helping at it! And so now I got what I wanted - and I don't like it! I'm going to plan an adult Halloween party next year (maybe)....

October 19, 2008

I'm not as good at blogging as Heidi is. But I've been asked to update my blog so I finally did. It wasn't as hard as I thought. But I realized I need to be more conscious of the pictures I take. It's now fall. The leaves are changing colors. The crops are nearly harvested. We had a great farm year. Prices were good. Yields were okay. We can't complain. We're just finishing our buckwheat this week and we'll be done. Hooray! This farm year went by fast. Now we're heading into the busy season of holidays (and a wedding!). Jared is playing football. He's on the JV team but also plays on varsity - special teams. Today we had a taste of what it's going to be like without Sara as she was at the single adult ward in Moses Lake. Jared is a good sport to spend time with a pair of "old gullible parents". We're enjoying our fall - football games, visits to kids, farming, gardening and canning. Hope you are too!

October 2008

Sara turned 19 on the 5th of October. All she asked for was a pickup. So she got one.

Happy Birthday Sara! She has been a great sport this semester. She doesn't start school until January at BYU-Idaho. But she got a job working as a parapro at the school and has kept herself very busy. She attends institute in Moses Lake on Tuesday nights and goes to the single's ward on Sunday. She's starting to feel the life of a college co-ed. And we're starting to feel what it'll be like when she's gone....

Jared and Sara - best friends.

Here is Sadie and Jeff with Sadie's parents - Frank and Belinda Vandersloot at the BYU Homecoming Football game in Provo. We had a blast! You couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. This was the weekend that we "met the parents". And as busy as it was for everyone, it turned out great.

Sadie & Jeff Sabin at the BYU Football game. Do they look in love? Ask Sadie, she'll tell you how many days until the wedding....

Almost up to date!

Here is part of my seminary students for this year. This picture was taken during Spirit Week and it was "Decade Disaster" day. I teach the freshmen and sophomores and they are such a great bunch of kids. It's a blast - and a lot of work!

Happy Birthday Jared! He turned 15 years old on the 1st. We squeezed in a little birthday cake on his birthday - between seminary, school, Aubree's birthday, football practice and Mutual, it was hard to do!

Here's Jared's birthday present - a new pair of Fox goggles.

Jared with his group of friends - great group of boys.

l-r: Jared, Alberto, Tony, Francisco, Jordan

Craig's new bike!!! Don't ask me what it is. It's a K something. But he's pretty excited. He deserves it.

September 2008

During Labor Day Weekend, John, Dana, Gabrielle and Natalie came to visit my parents in their new home in Kennewick. It was fun spending time with them and sharing a few good laughs.

Here's part of the Sabin clan at the BYU vs Huskies game at the UofW football stadium. It was a perfect day and our seats in the nosebleed section were great. We had a good time watching BYU win in the last few seconds of the game. (Notice who Craig was rooting for!)

Here's Kate aka Fancy Nancy. She loves to dress up - can you tell? She's a blast to just sit and watch. I love how she literally bounces through the day. You're worn out just watching her!

This is me with all three of my brothers. Neat picture. Doesn't happen often enough. I went down the end of September to be trained for my new job. I'm now working for Powercode - John's company (he's the president). I'm working from my home and getting my feet wet figuring out what I can do to help his company. I've been working for the last 6 years for my cousin Del's companies - Wahluke Produce (potato packing/processing facility), Tatoes (farming operation) and Saddle Mountain Wireless (internet provider) and decided I needed to cut my hours back. That led to John's offer that I come work for him. It was hard saying no to helping out my brother.

IT'S OFFICIAL! On September 7th, Jeff proposed to Sadie and she accepted. They will be married on December 20th in the Idaho Falls Temple. We are so happy for them.

Sabin Family 2008

back row l-r: Jeff, Sadie, Marci, Kate, Sara, Jeni, Vicki, Preston, Craig, Heidi, Kyle

front row l-r: Aubree, Carter, Kevin with Paige in front, Jared

Cute family, huh?

Craig & Vicki - taken at the Space Needle overlooking Seattle.

Our cute little grandchildren: Kate, Carter, Paige, Preston, Aubree

Jared's first day as a high school freshman. Our last one to leave the nest....

To top off the end of our summer, we attended the Ellensburg Rodeo during Labor Day Weekend. It was a perfect day and fun time.

Summer of 2008

Happy Birthday Marci!

We helped Marci celebrate her birthday on July 30th. She shares that day now with her nephew Carter who turned 4 on that day as well. She was a great sport and went to Chuck E. Cheese for Carter's birthday party before going to Outback for dinner.

Happy Birthday Carter! He turned 4 years old and wanted to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese.

Here are my parents in their new home in Kennewick. We actually moved them in June, but I didn't take this picture until July. After 25 years in Yakima, they were hesitant to move, but they find they love it in Tri Cities. We love having them in the same town as Jeni & Kevin and the temple.

I'd like to introduce you to Sadie Vandersloot, Jeff's girlfriend. She came to visit us for a week in August. We picked her up in Seattle, toured the town, visited at Marci's and took her to our little town of Mattawa. Sadie is from Idaho Falls. Although she's familiar with sagebrush and farmland, it's still a little different driving through Mattawa. She was a great sport and we had a blast showing her the sites, spending time at Silverwood (in the rain) and introducing her to family and friends. When she left, we hoped she'd return.

Sabin Family Reunion

The Sabin Family Reunion was held on July 14th this year. We had a great time swimming, eating, playing games, reminiscing, eating, and visiting.

Boulder Resort

Welcome to Boulder Resort! Here is just a few activities we've done this summer. Roasting marshmellows around the fire pit.
Slip and slide (Carter, Jared, Kate, Sara)
dressing up (Carter, Aubree, Kate)
swimming (Marci & Paige)
Lounging in the pool (Preston - so cute)

So if you need a break this summer, just give us a call!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Jeff, Sara, Marci and Jared
On the weekend before Jeff's birthday (17th of June) everyone but Marci went to Rexburg to celebrate Jeff's birthday. Marci was still teaching school. We spent the day at the sand dunes near Rexburg and had a blast. Here is Carter, Aubree and Kate enjoying the water like only kids can!
Here is Jeff zooming through the water.

Other than getting terribly sunburned, we had a wonderful time. However, Sunday morning I woke up in the motel sicker than a dog. Luckily, no one else got sick. We had a wonderful time sharing the weekend with Jeff, visiting his roommates, meeting Sadie (his girlfriend) and spending time at the dunes.

We've Moved!

After about 25 years living in Yakima, my parents decided to make the hardest decision to leave all that they were familiar with and move to Kennewick. They moved on June 10th and moved into a beautiful 3 bedroom "condo" that is simply a home on a cul-de-sac that has someone doing the yard and outside work for them. They love it. And we love having them in Tri Cities where it's closer to visit and convenient since Jeni & Kevin live there too.

Graduation!

Sara with her parents following her high school graduation from Wahluke High School. She has been accepted to attend BYU-Idaho.

Jared "graduated" from 8th grade. They have changed this ceremony from a graduation or promotion to a "celebration" so the kids didn't think they really had graduated! Jared has been accepted to attend Wahluke High School this fall as a freshman.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Kate turned 3 on May 29th and we held her birthday party here. A special guest appearance of Cinderella (aka Sara) surprised everyone. A picture truly is worth a thousand words, so enjoy this little video. We had a lot of fun sharing in the excitement of a 3 year old as she celebrated her birthday.

Washington DC Trip

Here is a quick upate on what's happened in the Sabin Farmily!

During spring break (first week in April), part of the Sabin family went on a trip to Washington DC., Williamsburg and Virginia. Marci, Sara, Jared, Craig & I flew to Baltimore, rented a car and then drove to Richmond, VA where Craig's sister and her husband live. They graciously welcomed us in their beautiful home and spent the week escorting us to all the historical sites. It was a most memorable trip.

Here we are at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just at sunset.

Jared, Marci & Sara in front of the Washington DC temple.

The Girls: Jacquie (Craig's sister), Marci, Paula (Craig's sister and her kitchen), me.

Happy 52nd Birthday

Happy Birthday to me! I'm 52 years old today. And I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT!!!