Hello! and a late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! (And an early Presidents and Valentine’s Day!) Here is a brief recap of our 2008:
We’ve been working all year to renovate our home. We are making slow but steady progress. We (with Art and Sean’s help) tore out the whole basement and started over. We had new plumbing, duct work, and gas lines installed and 3/4 of the framing is finished. We cut two new windows into the foundation for bedrooms and installed those. For a while (too long!) we were living only in the upstairs which was a bit cramped. We’ve now moved the 2 older girls into a new (but only roughly finished) bedroom downstairs and we’re beginning to use the family room space even though it isn’t done. Next project- sheetrock and fixtures in the bathroom!
We got to go to Maine in June and see a lot of you! We went to the ocean, canoeing in Wilson Lake, and best of all to visit lots of family and a few friends. We even went to the old LDS Oxford Ward! Thanks for visiting and to Vaikko and Amy for letting us stay in their apt for a few days -which was a lovely retreat.
In July we had the opportunity to go to Philmont Scout Camp for LDS Stake Leader Training in New Mexico. That was a blast. We slept in a tent for a week but didn’t have to cook or do dishes at all! It was good trade. We each had classes and activities to attend, some individually and some as a family. It was really inspiring and fun. To be with so many people anxiously engaged in the same cause was wonderful. We even met up with an old friend from Tom’s mission and her family. We highly recommend going if you ever get the chance.
Tom went to Woodbadge Scout Leader Training in the spring and after completing his tickets earned his Woodbadge beads and certificate in September. He is an even better husband, father, and leader now!
Hannah took Lucy with her to Louisiana to see Justin and Lori married. It was fun to stay with Grammie, Amy, and Sage and see all of the other relatives that were able to make it. And it was really wonderful to see them married! Yeah!
Lili and Kate started gymnastics in September. They are both getting stronger and stronger and more graceful and agile- and they are having a great time doing it!
Hannah, Lili, Kate, and Grace grew their hair out together so that they could donate it to Locks of love. They finally cut it in November. Kate, Grace, and Hannah donated 10 or 11 inches and Lili gave 14! It was a fun thing to do together.
Homeschooling is really going well this year. Lili, 9, is doing 3rd and 4th grade work. Kate just turned 6 and is mostly doing 2nd grade work. Grace, 3, is just beginning to learn her letters and numbers and loves to play with clay during school time. Lucy, 1, has a fairly predictable nap-time so Hannah has been able to get lots of great school time with the others.
Lili has really gotten into origami this year- she is really good at it and she still loves to read, read, read! She has a head full of knowledge from so much reading! It is so tempting to push Kate in her learning because she is so smart- we just want to keep nudging her to see what she can do! We have to remember to ease up so that she still enjoys it. Grace is learning so much so fast- I can’t keep up! She has so much spunk and is a vibrant energy in our house! She is past the most mischievous stage (we hope!) so things just get more fun! Lucy is also learning to copy us when we talk and makes really funny imitations of us. We are having a great time!
This has been a wonderful year and we are very blessed to have wonderful family and good friends. We look forward to the new year and hope you all find joy and fulfillment in your lives this year too.
We Love You All!
Tom, Hannah, Lili, Kate, Grace, & Lucy
