Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas 2012!!

Wow, this year has flown!  We celebrated one year in our new house on the 20^th and we can’t express the gratitude we feel for the blessings that have come to us during our short time here. 

Lance started working his private practice full time in January and we have been blessed so much as his practice has grown.  He also finished his dissertation this summer and graduated in August from BYU with his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy!  We are thrilled to have a doctor in the family!!  We had an awesome old jeep over the summer and he enjoyed taking the kids 4-wheeling and going shooting with friends.  He did not start any fires!  Although, we were in the group that was evacuated because of the dump fire and he & I donated many hours helping our neighbors clean the mud out of their homes after the mudslide.

Shiree volunteered to be the PTA president at Sage Hills Elementary and has spent many hours over at the school helping with all the various activities.  She has enjoyed getting to know the staff at the school and has loved working with all the amazing people she’s met through PTA activities as well as all her neighbor friends.  She & Lance also were called as Primary teachers, until the ward recently split, and loved teaching the 8 year olds—yes, Shiree admits that she was wrong to be so scared of primary.  It’s actually really fun.  She was also fortunate to have her new sister-in-law, Bri, live in the spare room until she married Joe, which was very helpful in helping her adjust to the move. She went to Oregon in October for the wedding and had a marvelous time!  When she’s not doing PTA stuff and running the home, she helps Lance with all secretarial work for his business, no wonder she’s tired a lot.

Jenny is 11 and so grown up!! She started 6^th grade this year and has enjoyed being the oldest in the school. She has met some really great friends, and is looking forward to Young Womens.  She just tried out for the school play and made the part of a Bird Girl in Seussical the Musical!! She loves to read and create games.  She loves cats of all kinds.

Alex is 9 and loves to read and write.  He has enjoyed having his own room and meeting new friends.  He also tried out for the school play and got the part of the Mayor of Whoville.  He got his wolf badge in May and has been working on his Bear, which he has almost achieved.  He loves scouts and he can’t wait until Christmas.  He discovered the joys of rollerblading and he borrows Shiree’s blades every chance he can get.  We love having him in our family!

Daniel is 6 and is in 1^st grade.  He loves his teacher and has learned to read this year!  We also discovered that he has severe hearing loss in the upper levels in his right ear.  After a horrible experience getting an MRI we found nothing to be worried about and he got a hearing aid.  He is very good at wearing it all the time and it has really helped him progress in school.  All that time he couldn’t hear!  He still loves sports more than anything and is always bouncing or throwing any ball he can find.  He is a sweet boy who loves hugs and is so very great to have around!

Becca is our little princess.  She is 3 and she runs the house.  Many days she dresses up like a princess with a crown and her brothers are her guards who protect her from all the bad guys.  Jenny is fabulous at playing games with Becca too, and they all have such a great time together.  Becca started a tap/ballet class in the fall and loves to dance!  She also goes to a neighborhood preschool with 3 little friends, and really enjoys learning with them.  She keeps Shiree company on the days when everyone else is in school and knows how to make everyone smile.

 We feel very blessed this year and are thankful for all of our family and friends!   We are thankful for the life and example of the Savior and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!