Christmas letter and Picture

I sent this out to most of you...but I ran out of letters and stamps.  So here it is... sorry I'm such a cheap skate!

 Hello Everyone and how are you doing?  It’s been a few years since I’ve written a letter. I thought it might be time to finally do better. Where did the year go, you may want to ask…Well here at our house it went by too fast!

            2010 began with our baby turning 1.  You cannot believe all the damage she’s done.  Since she is mobile she’s definitely made her mark. On every wall, carpet and body part this girl shows her art.  Lauren is adorable and makes us all smile.  Between her budding vocabulary and hugs we think we’ll keep her a while.  She even loves her brother Benj who teases quite a lot.  She always gives him a sweet hug to show mad she is not.

            Benji is that brother she gives love and most of the time he is truly sent from above!  Finishing preschool and starting the big K, were his goals this year.  He’s done both, and only shed a few tears.  He is long and lean and almost too skinny.  Maybe that will change if he stops being soo picky.  Foffles like a desert and chips fire are his main source of food.  If you want to know what those are, just ask, its not rude. I won’t be offended and think I’m a bad Mom.  I know he’ll grow out if it and make up for the lack of vitamon.

            Emma Jane is our angel who is sometimes not.  She loved her drama camp this summer and practices at home A LOT!  She is definitely more emotional than the boys in the house.  However, she makes up for her crazy with cuteness. Which she gets from my spouse.  Her dimples are darling her hair is sublime.  The blue in her eyes totally sparkles and shines.  Her spelling is incredible, her reading is rare.  Most nights though you’ll find her hanging in the easy chair.  She loves TV, of that we are sure.  Between soccer, ballet and tumbling though, she deserves some time for her.

            Ethan is a tough guy who is 11 years old.   He leads our brood and is difficult to scold.  He teases and torments, but can also be sweet.  We find it almost impossible to hold fire to his feet.  He is full of enthusiasm for sports, family and computers.  Although at times he loves it too much, so he’s timed out from being a shooter.  The games are just part of the story. He is a writer and recently got some glory.  His sixth grade teacher said on a writing test Ethan is way ahead.  Of the school, of the district, and even his class. I guess it was worth kickin his …. Butt.  Payoff moment for Mom, I must admit.  Summer bridge every day wasn’t a hit.  His future is bright, his personality shines, hopefully next year he’ll go to bed at nine. (without giving us grief)

            Dan and I are doing quite well.  14 years married and you can hardly even tell.  He is happy and I am too, maybe it is something in the way we do what we do.  It helps that he left A.R.U.P.  A lifetime there is enough to kill a tree.  School Improvement Network is where he is now.  And although the work is the same, he feels changed somehow.  We had a great summer together and got a lot done.  The garage is a room now, and we all watch movies on the wall that are fun.  I am feeling the pinch of 9 years and six people in the house, but I love my friends and neighbors’ so moving is out. Real Estate for me this year has been bust.  If it doesn’t get better I may just give up! So send your referrals this way. A stellar agent should make everyone’s day.  All in all we’ve been extremely blessed. We have our health and each other, and with that, we still have one request:           

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!