First Day of School 2014

Well, lame as I am, I'm going to just take the easy way out and post just a group picture of the kids rather than individual ones.  Front L-R:  Isaac (3rd), Reese (5th), Georgia (8th), Back L-R: Megan (9th), Kaitlin (11th)
I honestly can't believe how grown up they all are!  I'm so blessed to have such awesome kids!
I don't have a picture of it, but Tuesday was my first day back at school too, only I'm there coaching PE.  Yep, I now work for our school district and coach PE for two elementary schools.  It's going to be a big adjustment.  I'm anxious about it (as usual) but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. :)
I hope everyone else is enjoying their school year so far!!

Rohde Holiday Wishes

So of course I'm very late with this...as usual.  Thanks for taking the time to check up on our family!  I asked each family member to write about their 2013 and they each have their own post below.  I know it's a little long, but break it up and read a bit at a time. :o)  (When you reach the end of the page, click on older posts to continue to view the kids' posts.) We hope you had wonderful holidays!  We send you our love!!

Georgia made this on her tablet

Ken's 2013

Ken Shooting

It's been an interesting year of adjustment for Ken. (He's the only one I allowed to skip the directive of writing their own year's experiences!)  He has now been the bishop of our ward for two years.  He got to perform three weddings this past summer--that was a unique experience for him.  I got to attend each one with him and he did a great job!

He is still working in cyber-security research.  He has decided to give up flying RC airplanes, but still enjoys shooting and reloading.  I think reloading ammunition is kind of cathartic for him.  He enjoys teaching the kids to shoot and joining a couple of friends in shooting events.

He loves to race autocross in his Camaro, but his enjoyment was lessened by the worsening motion sickness which he has been experiencing over the last few years.  It got severe enough that he would get motion sick just being a passenger in a car driving around town, so he finally decided to see a doctor.  To make a long story short, this eventually led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

As far as we can recall, his first symptoms appeared over three years ago, and as we searched our memories we recognized multiple relapses that went unrecognized for what they were.  His MRIs showed 10 times more lesions than the typical patient recently diagnosed with MS.  This, combined with the frequency and severity of relapses that have happened in the last year, have us a little worried about how far this disease has progressed and what might come in the future.  There is no definite prognosis, since MS cases vary from person to person, but we are praying for the best and have faith that the Lord is in charge.  We are grateful he is still able to work and still has the majority of his physical abilities.  It has been an adjustment for him and for our family, but he has handled it admirably and continues to do everything he can.

Swimming with the boys

Leading Megan's hike at Girls Camp

At Disneyland

Miriam's 2013

Studying on my computer...as usual

The majority of this year was spent being a taxi driver for the kids and their activities and keeping up with my on-line schooling.  I was in class all year, except for the month of August.  It was exhausting!  I am happy to say, however, that I've worked really hard (Ken might say too hard) and averaged over a 99% in all the classes I've taken since starting back in the Fall of 2012.  I have one last class to take this Winter Semester and then I will graduate in April with my Bachelor of Science in University Studies with an emphasis in communication. It's been a long time coming (20 years since I graduated with my ASA in Family Science!) but it is something I've always planned to accomplish.

My last basketball team (w/Reese and Isaac)

I retired from coaching youth basketball after last winter's season.  It wasn't the easiest decision, but I have loved just watching my kids play!  They learn a lot more (after all, they never really thought I knew what I was talking about) and it's a great opportunity to experience another coaching style.  This next couple of months will give me plenty of opportunity to be a spectator, as I've got Megan with two games a week, and Georgia, Reese, and Isaac each having one.  I love that they like to play ball!

I get to do the music in Nursery at church.  We've got a lot of 18 month-3 year olds and we have a great time singing songs, dancing, and pretending.  You'd probably be pretty amused watching me if you could be a fly on the wall each Sunday. :o)  In fact, I've sung Popcorn Popping so much in the last year and a half that it became my inspiration for our Christmas treats for our neighbors this year.

Popcorn Snowballs

(sung to the tune of Popcorn Popping)

You look out your window and what do you see?

Popcorn snowballs from the Rohde fam'ly.

Winter brings us all a nice surprise--

Snowflakes falling from the steel gray skies.

We just took an armful to make your treat,

A white snowball that will taste so sweet.

It doesn’t seem quite so, but you really see

Popcorn snowballs from the Rohde fam'ly!

Merry Christmas!

Albuquerque with Dad

We loved being able to take a couple of trips this year.  I spent Easter in Utah at our friend's house with the kids since Ken was out of town for business. I took my girls to Utah for the 4th of July for the Stadium of Fire and a Kelly Clarkson concert.  We went to a Rohde Reunion in Silverton, CO which we followed up with a trip to visit my family in Albuquerque.  It was a wonderful trip and we loved being able to see everyone.  We got to visit the Rio Grande Zoo and ABQ Aquarium with my dad.  We loved it!
We got take the kids to Disneyland in December, which is always a lot of fun!

Rohde's in CO

We're the whole back row on Tower of Terror at Disneyland

We're not sure what this new year will bring us, but we have faith that it (and we) are in the Lord's hands and come what may we will be blessed.  We are so grateful for wonderful family and friends!  Thank you for your love, support, and prayers!

Kaitlin's 2013

Hi there! We're just gonna start, okay? Cool!

 

Early this year, I performed Skyfall by Adele in my school’s talent show. I sang, and my friend, Hannah, played the piano. I was also in the school district musical, Hello, Dolly!. (See pictures in a post further down) I was in the ensemble and really enjoyed the show. Over the summer I took a 4-H photojournalism class with my two sisters and entered a couple photos into the County Fair. 

Me and Hannah at the Talent Show

Waiting for Kelly Clarkson!!

I also have the coolest parents ever because my mom took me and my two younger sisters to a Kelly Clarkson concert in Provo at the Stadium of Fire on the 4th of July. It. Was. AWESOME. I've wanted to see her for years and so it was really super amazing and I loved it!!!

With our cousin Tessa, outside the Stadium of Fire

At Camp

I also got to go to Girls Camp with both of my sisters in August. It was a blast and I loved being there with my sisters and my Dad.

I started my sophomore year at Compass Academy this September and really enjoy it there. I tried out for the Idaho Falls High School women’s choir, Dimensions, and made it in as a 1^st Soprano. I really enjoy it. So far we have had two concerts and have also performed at the Festival of Trees. For Halloween I was Katniss Everdeen (surprise, surprise). My friends told me I was supposed to be something different than I was the other 364 days of the year, but I didn’t listen.

Halloween

I turned 16 on November 21^st and I had my birthday party a few days before. It was a HUGE project, and it took a lot of work, but it was awesome. I have really awesome parents and siblings that helped me a lot. It was Hunger Games themed, and we had a ton of activities. One of my friend’s mom has her own cake business and made my birthday cake, which was AWESOME. 

I had about 20 friends come, and it turned out great. On my birthday, Catching Fire came out and I got 8:00 pm premiere tickets. I went with my friends Sarah and Serena and it was a lot of fun. (THE MOVIE IS AMAZING.)

See the Mockingjay in my hair?!

A couple months ago I started taking voice lessons. I tried out for an All State choir, and made it as a 1^st Soprano in the Mixed Choir. I will be going to Nampa, ID in April for the 3 days of practice and the concert. I also sing in a rockband that is through the school (kinda) and it’s awesome. I love it so much. I have the coolest friends ever. They attacked my house multiple times and they go on adventures with me. They also introduced me to Studio C, the coolest comedy group ever. I also discovered Lindsey Stirling, who is one of the coolest people ever and who writes amazing music. Finally, I found the Disney Vault. They might want to shut down Pirates of the Caribbean again. 

Here’s to 2014!