June 2014 Update

The Newsom Family
Travis, Becca, Talon, Jace, and Rylee

An update – June 2014

As of now, the five of us live at 5017 Stumbling Colt Ct., Las Vegas, NV. We've been in this house for three years now. We previously lived in Henderson. In the Northwest of Las Vegas, it's less of a city atmosphere with a lot of horse properties, a giant orchard, and an animal sanctuary down the road. We are just minutes away from the exit to Mt. Charleston if we want to escape the heat. There's also the Clark County Shooting Range behind us. 
 
Our backyard isn't large and its dirt, however we keep three chickens, a play set, and a trampoline. When we want some grass, there's a park right across the street. We're good friends with our backyard neighbors who are also in our ward. We borrow everything from baking items to postage stamps. We just send a text to "meet at the wall." Their kids and our kids like to hang out at the wall and talk. We're lucky to have great neighbors all around us, and some even invite us to swim in their pools. A family at the end of our cul-de-sac has 3 kids the exact same ages as ours and they invite our kids to play all the time.

We brought home three chicks in March. They've grown a lot and we expect to start getting some eggs in the next few months. The names of the chickens, for now, are Snuggles, Sophia, and Luke (like Luke Skywalker…yes, it's a hen). We hold the chickens as much as possible. The kids dance around with them and they've been for rides on toy dump trucks and down our slide. They're super good pets, and it's good for the kids to help clean the coop. The kids also help to make sure the chickens have water and food.

Travis works for Clark County Public Works as a surveyor. It's a great job, and the hours he works are nice. He's home by 3:00 p.m. every day. We're blessed to have steady income and Dad around (he loves to spend time with the kids). Travis is also a ward missionary at church.

Becca stays home with the kids and is a primary worker at church. Her assignment is to help a 6-year-old who has autism, but the child's family hasn't been attending, so she helps in the other classes when needed. 
 
Talon is 8 years old and will be in the 3^rd grade. He is excited to get baptized and be a cub scout. He likes a game called Minecraft, Star Wars, Angry Birds, and Legos. He got the Art award and A/B honor roll at school. Talon is good at making the family laugh at his jokes and he's a great storyteller. He loves to explain things he's learned as well. He is also sporty, fun, and is good at swimming.

Jace is 6 years old and loves Angry Birds, stuffed animals, Legos, swimming. He likes to draw and make crafts. Jace is also funny, smart, and a good bike rider. He's learning to read better and better all the time. He's going to do great in first grade next school year. Jace said to say that he loves his mom!

Rylee is 3 years old. She is as rough as the boys, but definitely loves girl stuff too. She likes to pretend to be "Super Rylee" and a ninja, but she'll also play with dolls and her kitchen set. It's very fun to have a little girl around. Her last birthday was a Dinosaur party. She's already planning for her next birthday which she says is either Ninja Turtles or a Spider Man party. Rylee loves puzzles, crafts, swimming, and riding her "big girl" bike and scooter.

All the kids love to have a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It's their favorite thing ever because they get to "eat lots of sugar and stay up late!"

Our family loves to have family night on Mondays, go hiking, play the "sock game", have family dinner together, play monopoly, have a movie night, play with the chickens, and ride bikes together. 

Our favorite vacation is to our friends' cabin every summer where they see their chipmunk friends, ride the four-wheelers, do a zip line, fish, and eat smores.

We have our struggles, but we're glad we have each other to lean on. We hope our home can be a sanctuary where we can rest and find peace. Hopefully we are training future missionaries who love the Lord. 
 

Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." ―
Gordon B. Hinckley