Merry Christmas 2011…
Our family is wrapping up another busy and full year. As the years fly by we realize how important and life-giving our friends and family are. We are grateful to God for you, we pray you experience the love and joy of Christmas this year.
I’m enjoying being a full-time stay at home mom. I swing from feeling very overwhelmed to being completely content with the crazy chaos of my everyday life. I enjoyed running two half-marathons this year in Fresno. I love cooking and baking, catching up with friends over coffee, and the occasional trip out of town just Joshua and I (Napa Valley & Avila Beach this year). I hate doing laundry and if you come by unannounced you can tell.
Between family and work, Joshua doesn’t find much idle time these days. He loves spending time with the kids, cheering for Audrey and Elizabeth (very loudly, I might add) at their cross country meets, and helping them with their homework. In July, Joshua transferred to Lyles Mechanical Co. and was promoted to Vice President. He is enjoying getting to know his new colleagues, and the challenges of learning a new sector of the construction industry. When he does find a few spare minutes, Joshua spends it hanging out with friends, helping at the church, and working on projects around the house. He is certain that 2012 will be the year that he finds a hobby…(tune-in next year to see if he does).
Audrey is 10 and in the 5th grade. She continues to enjoy school even though her homework and projects keep her very busy. She is a driven, achievement-oriented, and helpful first-born child. She has some fun field trips this year, including a trip to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley and an overnight “ship trip” in the San Francisco Bay. She enjoys playing volleyball, running cross country, cooking and baking, holding babies, playing/walking our dogs, writing stories, playing teacher, and reading.
Elizabeth is 8 and in 3rd grade. She is shy, but has made some great friends this year despite her quiet demeanor. She also ran cross country and made it to the district finals. She hates being late and isn’t too fond of change. She loves playing outside, whistling, doing ballet, and reading (her favorite book this year was Soul Surfer). She dreams of going to Hawaii, learning to surf, and meeting Bethany Hamilton.
Olivia is 6 and in the first grade. She loves her teacher. She has an outgoing, magnetic personality but she also is very compassionate and empathetic. She loves anything collectable (rocks, Pokeémon cards, stickers, erasers, junk). She loves to jump rope, race against her big sisters to see who’s faster, climb trees, wear pajamas, and play house.
Grace is 4. She is a sweet, loving little girl. She and Joel are great playmates while the big kids are at school. She decided to cut her own hair a few months back, she told me, “Don’t be mad mommy, it looks pretty!” She loves to wake up early, dress herself, sing, and help mommy cook. Joshua was telling her the other day that he would like her to stay little forever, she very matter-of-factly told him, “Daddy, I can’t because Jesus is growing me up!”
Joel is 2. He is active, loves all things boy, like balls, trucks, monsters, swords, guns, masks, cars, destroying things, and dirt. He loves to sit on the couch with daddy and watch “ball games.” This summer he got his first haircut. He is adored by his sisters, but he can annoy them very easily by pulling their hair, kicking, or running off with whatever they are playing with. He loves playing outside, feeding the ducks, watching the trash truck, coloring, and reading books with mommy.
We are blessed;; we have so much to be grateful for this holiday season. Thankful for the hope, grace, and joy we find in Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,
Joshua, Laura, Audrey, Elizabeth, Olivia, Grace, and Joel
