Christmas Letter 2011

I know as we get older the faster time passes by us, but this is ridiculous!
This year came with lots of laughter and some tears, but over all we had a pretty great year.
Robert has been busy with work with Aspire design. It is nice to have him home by 4 everyday. He is serving as the Scout Master and has loved every minute of it. (BTW- He has STILL not spoken in church yet! What is up with that!!!) He has had a few fun adventures this year. He spent a week at scout camp, 2 long weekends at Wood badge, 1 week in Ohio at a birding symposium, plus is business travel to AZ. His birding hobby is evolving into a more active obsession. He turned his blog into a multi author blog and has a lot of big names in the birding world participating on it. He is constantly getting free books and apps to review and invites to movie premiers. I am just the lucky +1 that gets to go with him. He is currently working with the ABA (American Birding Association) with finding and promoting the bird of the year. Robert is a super busy guy, but is always making time to help the kiddos with their homework, read to them kids nightly, and take me out on a weekly date! (Hurray for date nights!) We love him so much and think he is worth keeping around.
I have been hanging out with miss Claire this year. With the 3 kids in school and no car to go anywhere, we just hang out at home or when she would rather be alone, I get a little crafty. I was able to go to Girls Camp this year and had a blast. It was so fun to get to know the Young Women in our ward as well as the leaders. I was then called to be the RS Quarterly Activity leader. I've done this before, but it was monthly and called Enrichment, so I was super excited to get my hands on another Super Saturday. The bishopric asked me to plan our wards Christmas party and that was a fun learning experience. I have never done an event that big, so it was good to dive in and do it. Luckily we had no beard pulling or depantsing of Santa and the talent show was filled with great acts. At Easter time, my grandmother pasted away. Whenever I drive close to where she lived I have to remind myself that I can't just stop in and see her. It makes me a little sad, but I know she is happy and waiting for the time when we see her again.

Isn't Santa's expression hilarious!

 Mr. Kyle (aka Mr. Mortensen and Mr. Magoo) is growing way to fast! he is fastly approaching teenage-hood and I am not happy! He is a great kid, though still a little shy, and is willing to get in there and help when needed. We recently had a huge wind storm that knocked down a ton of trees and he was out there with all the men working hard. He is in the 5th grade and is doing really well (we are still working on procrastination). I am constantly told by his leaders and moms of his friends of what a great kid he is and I just smile and say thanks, but I had little to do with it. He has a great example in his dad and I just feed him. We have been giving him more responsibility around here and he has risen to it. (he also loves the extra money it brings too) We are so grateful and so blessed to have him in our home.

Anne asking Santa all about the North Pole

 Miss Anne is a joy! She is constantly thinking of others. On the rare occasion she chooses to be selfish, she feels guilty about it. She has always been this way, so I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am. She really loves to read and has a huge imagination. Now that she is in the 4th grade, she can participate in the school's play that casts the 4th -6th graders. This year they are doing Beauty and the Beast and she is a townswoman and a wolf. We are working on procrastination with her as well. She gets "distracted" so helping her focus is a goal we set together. She loves going to Activity days and is a great example to me. A few Sundays ago I suggested a shirt to wear to church and she told me that she didn't think it was "church appropriate". I said that she was right and let her choose a better one (It was actually the shirt she is wearing in the picture). It is nice to have her here and remind me to keep to the path.

Victoria thinking of the biggest thing she can ask for

 Now our little Victoria is a spit fire of a girl! We just love her full personality! She is so great at expressing herself and sometimes it is down right hilarious! She is such a great helper and is doing so great in 2nd grade. She is reading really well and loves to be doing stuff. She loves to poke her head over the pots to see what I am cooking and if she can help. She just isn't quite tall enough to give her cooking lessons, but soon she will be. Right now she just helps me poor the ingredients. She loves playing with her friends and if they aren't available then she is great to play pretend with Claire. She and Claire share a room so instead of going to bed, they stay up playing. 2 nights ago they woke up at 2am and started playing with their barbies. (They thought it was Christmas already) She is growing up so fast and acquires new freckles monthly. we love our not so little anymore, Toria!

Claire isn't so sure she wants anything to do with this big guy

Finally our little caboose, Claire. She really loves being home with just me all day. She loves to stay in her pajamas and she loves to scare everyone! Every time she hears someone coming she hurry's to duck down and then pops up for a dramatic "BOO". Sometimes she succeeds in giving us a really good scare. She laughs and giggles while saying "I just can't help myself!". She is almost 5 and we are all excited to have her go to school. She is already really good at sounding out words and writing 3 letter words. With her being the only one home that needs me, I have found that I have spoiled her... Oops. Maybe that is just how it is with the baby of the family. (hopefully kindergarten will straighten her out... fingers crossed) I have really enjoyed this time I have had with Claire. She is a lot of fun and I am so blessed to have her and all of my kids with me.
Next year will bring lots of changes/adventures to our home. Mainly, I will join the moms with no kids home club. At least for half a day anyways. I just don't know what I will want to do with myself.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!