Annie and fam....

What a year 2017 has been for our family.  We have experienced many changes, highest highs and lowest lows.  I started out the year enjoying life as a working single mom, navigating independence and balancing work, home, kids, and dating again.  Although I wasn't looking for love, it found me.  Dale and I decided we wanted to start a life together and blend our families early in 2017.  We had a lot of logistics to discuss and work out which included introducing his boys to my girls, and deciding where we would live.  We all worked hard to get Dale's house in Denver ready to sell and get on the market in March; amazingly we had an offer the morning after.  Dale and I exchanged wedding vows May 19, 2017 in a simple ceremony with our children.  Kim, Rhonda, Katie, and Abbie surprised us by showing up as well.  I was so surprised! (Dale may have been in on the secret.)  We all moved into a rental house as we wait for our new home to be completed March 2018, and have been getting used to a household of 7!  It has been new, fun, exciting, different, and scary for all parties to get used to each other.


Brinley is a sophomore this year and doing well in her new classes and school.  She's keeping busy with stage crew tech in the fall, choir, and now swim team in the winter.  She is talented, funny, responsible, and sassy.  She is passionate to say the least!

Remi is in 8th grade, and loves history and sports.  He and Ben both played basketball in the spring, football in the summer, and Remi tried out lacrosse.  He loves anything spicy and is friendly, outgoing, and sensitive. 

Ben is in 7th grade and enjoying his new school with Remi.  He is sweet, kind, and polite.  He's always willing to help out and likes to cook.  I've loved learning about and getting to know these boys.

Meggie is in 7th grade as well, but at a different school than the boys.  She tried out volleyball this year and did really well.  She's also in choir and is becoming more independent and responsible.  She is really growing up into a bright young woman.

Robi is in 2nd grade and loves school.  She loves to read and learn.  She is loving, kind, silly, and makes friends easily.  I never get tired of her cuddles and hugs.

I moved hospitals during the summer to be closer to our new location, and am working full-time nights in the NICU.  I love my job and the babies and families I have the opportunity to care for and teach.  Dale is an industrial hygienist and works for the federal government in Boulder, and does some consulting work on the side.  He is passionate about safety and very educated and informed.  He makes me happy everyday and I'm beyond grateful for him in my life.  Through him I've found a love, passion, happiness and stability I never knew I'd have.  We are so grateful for all this year has brought us and are looking forward to continued blending, a new house, and joy in the coming years.

O'Neil's 2017

2017 brought a lot of change for our family. It started out perfectly with the birth of our third child, Indy Mae. Her sweet and calm personality is just what our family needed. Six short weeks after her birth we moved from our home in Springville to house-sit for my parents. 

This year Esme turned 6, "graduated" from Kindergarten and started 1st grade at a brand new school. She has done a great job adjusting and making new friends. She is still our little dancer and was able to take both dance and cheer classes this year.

Kyson turned 4 this year and wants to be Batman when he grows up. His favorite person in the world is daddy and will do anything for him. He tolerates me. ;) 

Brandon continues to work at Northstar Alarm as a UX web developer. He went from "AGuyWithGlasses" to a "AGuyWithSunglasses" thanks to Lazik eye surgery. The kids' favorite day of the week is "Daddy stay home day" a.k.a. Saturday. . .  I think it's my favorite too.

I am still a stay at home mom. This year I was able to run a couple of half marathons and hope to continue running with the new year.

We have been blessed beyond measure this year and are grateful for this Christmas season that we have the chance to reflect on the birth and life of Christ. Merry Christmas from the O'Neil's.

Merry Christmas from Around the World

2017 has been a fabulous year with many changes in our lives.  For Kim and I, the biggest change was retiring at the end of the 2016-17 school year after a combination of 65 years of public education service.  I retired in May with a total of 26 years and Kim officially retired the end of June with 39 years.  We've had a great career.  We have loved teaching and Kim has loved being a Principal.  It was a happy sad day when we said goodbye to many colleagues and friends and associates.

Starting July 1 when Kim was a free man, we took off and visited children and grandchildren in St. George, Utah, Castaic, California and Arvada, Colorado.  There's nothing better then spending time with the ones you love the most.  We also were able to make a visit to my parents in Coin, Iowa.

The middle of August took us to a two week training at BYU to prepare us for our 10 month teaching excursion to Xi'an, China.  We really had no idea what we were getting in to but we jumped in with both feet and have had no regrets.  We have now been in Xi'an almost 4 months and are quickly coming to the end of our first semester of teaching Freshmen (for Rhonda) and Sophomore (for Kim) college kids.  Our classes are mostly girls.  We both only have 2-3 boys out of 30 in each of our classes.  We have learned to love these students and their culture and this city.  We have also been able to explore many parts of the city.  We have traveled to the far west, Xinjiang Province of China and seen some beautiful country.  It's more barren and dry then Xi'an and much less populated.  Everywhere in Xi'an there are people.  People People People Everywhere!  We have had wonderful experiences that have changed our perspective and opened our eyes to the many children of God that exist in the world.  We would never give up this adventure.

Love to all our family and friends who we miss so very much.