Sadly, we are not sending out Christmas Cards this year. I simply ran out of time. So, thanks to the internet, you get a digital one! And hopefully next year I can plan better :-)
I don’t even have a word to describe how crazy this year has been for us. But we have enjoyed every minute of it. Well… most minutes. First we moved. Yay! We are no longer renting, and bought our house. We love it! The Boss and I took a trip to Palm Beach, FL where we enjoyed being lazy, swimming in the crazy warm ocean, eating good food, riding jet skis, and making new friends. We took our annual Utah trip, where my brother blessed their first little baby... we just love him to pieces. And we have spent this Holiday Season doing lots of fun family things; Apple Hill, Columbia, Six Flags, The Polar Express, The Oakland Temple… lots of memories had.
The Boss is still working for Eli Lilly & Co. He is doing very well and hopes to continue to do so. He recently got called into the Bishopric. While this keeps him much busier than his last calling, we are happy we get to see him at church every Sunday. He enjoys working with the youth again and being a part of our ward. He continues to enjoy basketball when he can fit it in, and always finds time for his daily run or bike ride. He is still serving on the BYU Alumni Board and was able to attend a basketball game while we were in Utah. Go Cougars! He mostly enjoys wrestling with the kids and taking them on “bike rides”, which consist of walking around the block while they very slowly ride their bikes.
I entered the year in full swing dance festival mode. This was honestly my life until June 11th. It was a ton of fun and an experience I will never forget. I was the dance captain for our ward (it was a tri-Stake Dance Festival), but ended up performing in it also. I forgot how much I absolutely LOVE to perform. I served on the board of my 10-year class reunion, which was a lot of fun. While facebook keeps us pretty in touch, there is something better about interacting and seeing everyone in person. It was a great blast from the past. I’m now serving as the Relief Society Activities Chair, which is slightly intimidating, but I’m enjoying it. I teach two joy schools which has been a lot of work, but so much fun. I stink at updating our blog, finding time to read, scrapbook, exercise, and craft. But those are all things I love to do, and hope this next year will allow me a little more time to do them. Right.
Big Brother turned 4 this year. He is into his last year of Joy School and next year will start kindergarten. He is still a more quiet, calm, observer of sorts; cautious about life. He LOVES Joy School and learning. He especially likes writing his name everywhere. He loves to watch movies and would sit in front of the TV all day if I let him. He is still a picky eater and eats pretty much the same things every day. He says Mama's Boy is his best friend and doesn’t like sleeping in his room when he isn’t there. He has a love for learning and is such a gentle soul. The conversations we get to have with him now that he is getting older are so fun.
Mama's Boy turned 3 this year and started Joy School. He likes to go, and depending on the mood he is in will decide how much he will participate. We finally grew out of the biting thing, although he is still quite aggressive. He likes to tease Big Brother and Queen Bee and sits in time out often for it. He loves to play outside and get dirty. He is obsessed with trucks and trains still. He is always asking me, “mom, can you build me a train bridge?” He learned how to use the toilet and sleeps in a bunk bed with Big Brother. He is still quite the momma’s boy (literally) and doesn’t usually venture far from my side. He is full of love and energy and we enjoy the crazy silly things he does and says.
Queen Bee just turned 2. She is certainly the girl in the family. She loves purses, shoes, hair, makeup, dresses and skirts. She doesn’t like being dirty, and remains dainty and lady like most times. She loves to follow her brothers and wants everything they have, and wants to do everything they do. It’s very endearing. She is talking pretty well, not quite in real sentences, but she will group 2-3 words together. She especially likes to tattle on the boys. She loves her Grandpa. We all come second when he is around. She has really been such a fun little girl to have around. She is so independent and strong willed, nothing like the boys. Its funny to have that dynamic. We just love her!
My time has run out. I have little people crying all around me.
We hope this holiday season find you all well. We have recently taken some steps back from our crazy lives to enjoy more sacred family moments. As our children are just coming to a real understanding of Christ, it has made me reflect on our simple testimony of Him as a family. We love Him. We are grateful for ALL that He has blessed us with. May you experience something similar with your friends and families this Christmas and year to come.
We love you all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
