"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien.
"If you wish to be happy, think not of what is to come nor of that which you have no control over but rather of the now and of that which you can change."
Oromis, Brisingr, Christopher Paolini.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

2009 Holiday Letter

Christmas 2008, Jamaica

This year we traveled to Australia to visit my relatives. We rented a small motor home and made a loop from Sydney out to Warren to see my aunt and uncle and then over to Port Macquarie to see my grandparents. It was a very easy way to travel with the children. My sister Coralie and her family were visiting Port Macquarie at the same time, on vacation from their mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was lovely to spend time with them.


We continue to enjoy camping in our popup trailer. This year we spent many fun weekends in the Sierras, some with my ILs, and a full week in central Oregon with my parents. We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with a camping trip to Eagle Lake, California.


DS Fall 2009

DS is 9 and is in the fourth grade honors program at school this year. He continues with his piano and weekly swimming lessons. In June he played in his first piano recital. This November DS received a school award for his academic grades and a prize for Art. He is fascinated by space and aircraft, and spends many hours building with Lego and drawing.


DD1 Fall 2009

DD1 is 7 and is in second grade. She is working hard at swimming lessons and has nearly caught up to her brother; they are now in the same class! This is DD1’s fifth year studying ballet. She did her primary level Royal Academy of Dance exam in May, and danced in a wonderful “Snow White” routine in the June recital. DD1 began piano lessons in June and Brownie Scouts this fall. She has fallen in love with horses and has asked Santa to bring her one for Christmas.


DD2 June 2009

DD2 is 4 and enjoys preschool. She is still taking Spanish at school, and continues with art and swimming lessons. She is a very strong swimmer for her age and swims in a class of 6 year olds. This is DD2’s third year of ballet. We all enjoyed her “Rockabye Baby” dance in the June recital. She is not as passionate about dance as her sister, but has a great time, especially since her best friend from school is also in her ballet class. DD2 still loves giant pandas, and has decided that she wants to be a “panda vet” when she grows up.


The kids and the Bonanza

DH added a glider rating to his private pilot certificate this year, and in January bought into a partnership in a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. He has flown us away for some fun trips this year; up to see my parents in Washington, to Bryce Canyon National Park, and to various spots in California. DH is planning to fly us all to Indio, California for Christmas with both sets of grandparents. He still enjoys playing guitar.


Muddy October 2009

I still help breastfeeding mothers as a volunteer La Leche League Leader. I am also studying Web Development and helping in the classroom at school. I have devoted much of my time this fall to training and socializing our new Chesapeake Bay Retriever pup, Muddy.