Merry Christmas and......
to the World.
Some of the highlights of our 2009.
Andre is now in second grade and loving it. It has been fun to see him grow. We were reminded just how big he has gotten when he informed us the other day. We were eating dinner and he said, "wow I am turning into a man. I am starting to eat more and my legs are getting hairy." After we tried hard not to laugh we realized, wow you are getting bigger. I am not so sure about the man thing just yet, but, non the less, it is way to fast. He is into lots of different things. This year he has expressed interest in music and is asking Santa to bring him a guitar. He loves to draw. Also, on his Christmas list is an art set. I think that I am sensing a path his life might take. He also enjoys sports. His favorite, I think, is basketball and golf. I hope that tennis might be up there too!!! He most recently started hockey. I was so impressed at how fast he caught on. He started not even knowing how to skate and within a few weeks was a pro, (well not really, but very much improved). He also learned to fish and shoot his first BB gun this year and loved every minute of it...Thanks Uncle Lance for your part in that. Andre has developed a style all his own. We now have officially hit the stage where we fight over what clothes he wants to wear. If I had my wish I would pick out his wardrobe until he is married and then turn it over to his wife. With his new style he decided to grow out his hair. It took all summer for it to look good. Then recently he decided to cut it. After it was all done he look at me and I look at him and I think we both almost wanted to cry. We miss his shaggy hair, but do love his signature style. Andre has also learned to We have also seen Andre's testimony grow. He loves to read his scriptures and inspires us to do better at reading ours. A couple of Sundays ago he wanted to bare his testimony, but being my little perfectionist didn't dare. He told me he had to practice it some more before he got up there. Andre is such a great big brother he loves his sister so much and is very good to her. Andre has always been such a nice boy. We are always being told by others that he is so nice. I hope that he keeps that. We love him and enjoy the excitement he brings into our home.
Kendyl just turned 3 and is going on 16. In her words, she is "a little bit big." She loves to sing and dance around the house. It is so cute to hear her sing "Part of your world" from the Little Mermaid. She knows it by heart and actually has a good voice. Maybe her and Andre will have a brother-sister band someday. She also practices her curtsy and passe all over the house. One of her new loves is princesses. On any given time in our house she is either dressed up like one, playing with one, or singing the princess songs. Kendyl, much like Andre, has developed a style all her own and again I have to battle with her on what to wear. She is learning to match and I am determined to make her a fasionista someday. For now, as long as it is a dress she is happy to adorn it. Another love of Kendyl's is shopping. She is very good at pointing out things she thinks are beautiful. I am training her well. Fingernail painting to frilly dress ups...she is 100 % girl. However getting her hair done is a task all its own. No matter how much I tell her princesses need to have pretty hair she still hates it. And forget about flowers or bows in her hair. A style all her own I guess. Kendyl has also became friends with three other girls in our neighborhood. They are there own little posse all the same age. We had a tea party with them for her birthday. What a cute little crew they are. Kendyl is such a happy girl. She finds fun where ever she goes. I hope she keeps that part of her personality. Kendyl is a real treat to have as part of our family.
Wes has had an exciting year. He is still the Sales Director at the Sports Academy, on top of running his sleep lab, Sleep Dx. This last week, the lab was bought out by a larger group from Colorado. It was bitter sweet. We were very happy and proud of what he built, but happy that life might slow down a little. He still owns Gobiltiy Mobility and is excited about some new products he has added. He still has a handicap of 8 in golf, so he says, and has managed to teach me without killing me. He has, with a little push from me, taken up tennis. We even entered a tournament together this summer, mixed doubles and then he did a men's singles tournament this Fall. It makes me a little bit mad that he has picked it up so fast. As long as I can still kick his trash, I will be okay. Wes is a great dad and has fun with the kids. He loves taking Andre to Aggie basketball games and golfing. Kendyl sure has him wrapped around her finger. She also loves to go to Daddy's work and work with him. She is the cutest little sales rep and probably if you asked Wes helped him with a sale or two. I can't wait to see what Wes puts on his plate for 2010.
As for me I am loving be able to stay at home. I have to thanks Wes for that. I volunteer in Andre's class helping with reading groups. It is fun to be in the class room seeing Andre in that environment. Yes, I make Andre kiss me when I leave. I have to torture him a little. Most of my days are spent with the spunkiest little girl. She makes me laugh all day. I am still taking pictures and for the most part love it. I, however, never want it to be a job. I met a man in Vegas once that said he was an artist who likes to take pictures. That is the motto that I want to live by. Once I have it become a job, I no longer enjoy it and find myself less creative. I am an artist and love all things that I can create, whatever that might be. I am still finding time to play the best game in the world, tennis. I have made many friends playing and enjoy the workout I get. I have loved working in the yard this past year now that I have an official yard. I have loved learning about plants and flowers. I love my family and being a mom, however cliche it is, is the best job in the world.
We are still loving our house and our great backyard. We have deer and pheasants that share it with us . We also have ducks that appear in the creek in our back yard, that seem to come back every Spring. Last year a robin made its nest on our patio and we got to see the little blue eggs hatch and the birds get big and all fly away. The last one left in the nest jumped out and scared Wes sending him running and screaming like a girl. I got a lot of great photos of the birds and some great ones of Wes trying to put the bird back in the nest. Who knew a neighborhood would be this field with nature.
As a family we have had some great times together. This year's family trip was to San Diego in the end of September (hopefully I will get a post done. I really want to document our time there). We also had a lot of mini trips to my parents cabin in Island Park and to Bear Lake.We had camp outs and bonfire's in our back yard. Wes and I were able to take trip to Playa de Carmen, Mexico for our birthdays. We have had a great time this year and hope that next year brings some much needed sleep and great times as well.
We are so thankful for the Christmas season so that we can surround ourselves with the Savior's love and sincerely think of the birth of Jesus and what that meant to all of us. President Monson said in a talk that there is one question that is universal among people days after Christmas and that is "What did you get for Christmas?" he then says if we change but one word the in the Question the outcome is vastly different. "What did you give for Christmas." Some one has said "We make a life on what we get, but we build a life on what we give." Thus bringing in the real meaning of the Spirit of Christmas. President Monson also states. "To catch the real meaning of the Spirit of Christmas, we need only drop one syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ."
We hope you have a joyful season of giving. We love you all. Merry Christmas
