Merry Christmas in 2009

Merry Christmas World! Listen to what an amazing year, full of love and wonders we each had.

Gavin. I grew up a little more this year. I started out not being able to do much of anything, but look at me now! I finally like to walk. I took my first steps at 15 months old and at 16 months I have finally decided to take on walking full time, though I am still a little shaky on my feet (which are so chubby I only have one pair of special shoes that fit). I can talk too. My favorite words are cracker, banana, mama, uh-oh, and ho-ho-ho... I am a great sleeper for my parents (12-13 hrs/ night), and love grandma to pick me up when she walks in the room. I think I am such a big boy and want to do everything my brothers do, and although Sophie likes to help me do a lot of things, I wish I could do them by myself. Meal time? Bring it on! I am not a picky eater, but when I am full I love to throw everything off of my tray onto the floor, and I really mean throw!! It always makes a big mess for my mom to clean up. And if she doesn’t get things like kiwi or peaches right away it can dry like glue on the floor!

Maxwell. This year brought big changes for me! I started the year in a crib, booster seat at the table, 5 point harness car seat, and with a binki. Just look at me now! I sleep on the bottom bunk in my room (although I like to get out occasionally and that drives my mom and dad crazy!). My dad cut the ends of my binkis off a few months back and since then I haven’t wanted them. I know I grew a little because I don’t need/or want a booster seat at the table. I like to sit on the bench between Sophie and Peter at the table. And I have noticed how cool Sophie and Peter’s car seats are and since then have refused to sit in my old baby 5 point harness seat. I will be 3 yrs old in a few weeks so my parents bought me my own booster seat for the car. It is so cool and I feel so big riding in it! I am also speaking so much better. My speech therapy earlier this year must have really paid off. I am finally catching on, and starting to form sentences in my broken English. It makes it easier to communicate with everyone, but I still rely on my mom a lot. She is really good at speaking ‘Max’. And don’t forget to hug and kiss me when you leave, it is very important to me.

Peter. Wow. I am so cool! I can’t believe that one year ago I was afraid to ride on any of the rides at Lagoon, I am mostly – ok partly – over that now. I have always loved drawing and my teacher says I am so good at it she has to remind me to stop and do my work, or stop talking to my friends – take your pick. And a year ago I couldn’t read at all, and now I am reading simple books (with big pictures) from kindergarten. But it doesn’t really matter to me, what I like is to play with friends 24/7. And I love to play the Wii at everyone else’s house. I am begging Santa for a Wii of my own for Christmas. Good thing Santa doesn’t have a budget!!! I got a bike for Easter – with training wheels. I think I will try to ride a 2 wheeler in the spring. I love to pick out my own clothes and don’t understand it when my mom says my clothes don’t match. It makes me mad when she makes me change before school. And you should see my hair. I have started doing it all by myself. And my mom doesn’t even redo it every day. Sometimes she says it is so good I can wear it like that to school! Knock, knock? Who’s there??? I can tell some great jokes. They always make sense in my head!!! I am an awesome soccer player and go after the ball with vengeance. I was born to play!

Sophie. I am the boss of my family, right? I think so anyway… But anyway, as an almost 7 yr old I am ready to conquer the world! I love my new charter school and am really excelling there. I am in 1st grade, but 2nd grade math (which I love) and advanced reading which I say I don’t like, but secretly I do. I am a great reader and am making my way through all of the American Girl books. They are just barely above my reading level, but I push my way through and often fall asleep with a book in my hands at night. I am a speedy biker, and love to play with my older neighbors (they are 9yrs old) and act as if I am their age. I LOVE tumbling and jazz (I am in those classes right now). I love to cook and have learned how to make ramen noodles, mac & cheese, pancakes (from a recipe), toast, and scrambled eggs without any help from my mom. She is totally impressed! I am a sweet girl and am always quick to help others (except my brothers sometimes, but I am quick to tease them!).

Heather. I have enjoyed this year. Some highlights for me? Rich threw a great surprise party to celebrate the last year in my 20’s. It was so fun! It was a feat for him to keep that from me, he’s not good at keeping secrets! I started school in the fall. Just a community college and I am going to be a massage therapist and work in Rich’s office. It will take me some time to get through and I should be done by the time Gavin goes to preschool (that is a scary thought!). I have watched my children grow and have bitter sweet feelings about that, it is happening so quickly. I love my family and they make me smile every day. Especially that great husband of mine! He surprised me by taking me along on one of his business trips to California. We took an extra day and went to Disneyland! It was so fun and amazing to be just the two of us for a few days. We haven’t done that for years. I hope we can do it again sooner rather than later. I was excited to get passports for the family and plan our long awaited trip to Canada for Christmas this year. I was also excited to get a new dining table. Rich and I worked really hard to save for it and we love it. It is something I have wanted for a long time. I am serving as a CTR 5 teacher at church and love my little kids. It is Peter’s age group, but he isn’t in my class. I think we have like 25 5yr olds in our ward at church! I have loved going on family bike rides this year and staying on top of laundry! And I didn’t mention the fact that I was in a lifestyle contest in the spring where we had to exercise every day, sleep 7 hrs every night, and cut out ALL sugar from my diet – all for 3 whole months!!! And you got points for these things. Well, I tied for first place!! I lost some weight and inches, and I felt so great and wish I could keep it up, but it is hard work!! But now I can say that I did it!!

Rich. This year has been filled with continued challenges and great blessings! I have enjoyed continuing to help patients daily as well as my great job as a husband and father! In September I went to a training on allergy elimination and have seen amazing results with a lot of people! It’s fun to see people get the results they are looking for. I have enjoyed spending time with my kids every Friday for “Daddy Day”. It’s fun to spend one-on-one time with each of my favorite kids! I’ve also enjoyed spending extra time with them while Heather is at school. Bedtime reading is really fun. We’re in the middle of book 3 in the Harry Potter series. (I think I get more out of it than they do. Yesterday, Sophie asked me who Hermoine was.) I’m still busy, busy serving as the Executive Secretary in the ward. All-in-all, life is great and I love what I do!

All in all we are happy and ready to start another year. I am so grateful for our blessings. Everything can be a blessing if you look at it in the right light. I know that my Savior lives and am grateful for this time of year to celebrate His birth. What a glorious thing. And how amazing our Heavenly Father’s plan is for each of us and all of us. I am thankful for each of you and glad to share this season with you, if only in our hearts. Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year in 2010…

Love, Rich, Heather, Sophie, Peter, Max, and Gavin