Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

A few updates from our family this year:

Our eldest, Madelyn, turned six last May and finished kindergarten a month later. She started first grade in August and loves her teacher and classmates. We often find her writing sweet notes and drawing colorful pictures for her friends at school. She likes eating lunch at school now, since she is there all day this year. Her favorite subjects are math and handwriting. Madelyn recently started taking piano lessons and played at her first recital a month ago. She practiced her songs over and over beforehand, making sure the rhythm was just right. She performed very well and could be seen visibly counting out the beat of each note. She also ended dance lessons this past Spring and decided to try gymnastic lessons this fall. She looks forward to going each week and enjoys doing the beam the most. Madelyn is pure at heart and always looking for ways to help out with those around her, especially her family. She is also very good at making sure we are all following the rules.

Evan turned three in July and requested a Monster Truck birthday party. His love of monster trucks has recently changed to a love of everything superheroes, especially Spiderman. We catch him “making webs” all around the house to chase off the “bad guys.” Evan started preschool this fall and loves the singing and reading time. We hear him singing so loudly (and with a nice vibrato) lots of songs he has learned at preschool. Evan is a natural leader and loves to help out when needed. He is excited to start his Sunbeams class at church in a couple weeks and has made several friends in his class. He still loves to snuggle up with us and every night insists on telling us a few of his favorite things before drifting off to sleep.

Luke, our sweet baby, turned one in September and is such a joy to be around. He has a smile that melts anyone and everyone, including many strangers at the grocery store. Our favorite time is when we go to get him from his nap and he has the biggest smiles and giggles waiting for us. He is still not walking, but that is okay by us. He is a very fast crawler and loves to climb, though. We have to be very careful about watching where he is and what he’s doing now. He loves his big brother and sister and it is magical to watch them all interact together.

Jonathan is very busy with work, managing one of the busiest pharmacies in the valley. He does a wonderful job at keeping up with lots of clientele and staying very organized, while outputting orders quickly. He has some great employees and I’ve observed the respect and admiration they have for him. He is a great boss who is not afraid to work hard right alongside everyone else. Jonathan is also very busy at church, recently being called as Elders Quorum President. We had our last and final ward split in April, but he still serves around 88 elders in the quorum. With all that he has to do, he still makes his family his first priority. He is such a wonderful father, always excited to hear about the kids’ day and to get down and play whatever their imaginations come up with. He cares very deeply for their well-being and happiness. I am so thankful for all that he does for us and what a caring and loving partner he is to me.

I am very much enjoying this phase of my life of staying at home and taking care of my children. I know these years will fly by quickly, as I’ve already seen with Madelyn who is at school all day now, so I try to enjoy each moment. They teach me so much everyday and have such pure hearts, and are very patient with me. In my spare time I love to create things for them and for our home. It is one of my greatest passions that motherhood has really brought out even more. For the past two years I’ve also served in the Young Women presidency at church, with this past year specifically over the 12 and 13-year-olds. They definitely keep me on my toes and are so much fun to be around.

Life is good and we are very grateful for the blessings we have, including our many great family members and friends. We are especially thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, for His birth, His life, and mission. We hope you may feel of His great love and peace throughout this New Year.

Merry Christmas!!