I really dropped the ball on getting out our family Christmas card for 2008 but I wanted to still send out our love to all our friends and family. Here's an update on what's been happening with us!
We moved into our home a few days after Christmas in 2007 so we have officially been in our new home for 1 year now! And guess what! Our garage, my moms, and my mother-in-laws garage are still containing things that have never been unpacked, packed or even moved. I'm sure I'll get a grasp on things when it's time for us to move again. Which, by the way, will probably be never.
Christian and I are Primary teachers over the CTR5 class and of course we love it. We have 17 kids in our class this year! Christian is also a ward missionary and I'm the sacrament music coordinator. I hope I get to have that calling for a while. It's been really neat to help with the music for sacrament. Hopefully I'm doing a good job! Christian and I completed our Foster Parenting course, family and home inspection. We've prepared one of our rooms to recieve children when the time is right which I'm thinking is fairly soon! It sounds like everything has finally gone through the state and we've been approved. We started meeting with Casa de Los Ninos in April of 2008 so we've been working towards this goal as foster parents for a while now.
Christian works for APS and is doing such an awesome job there. He recently transfered to the Casa Grande office and is happy that his commute isn't as terrible as it used to be driving all the way up to Deer Valley. He hasn't had as much road rage which is always good huh??
I'm still trying to find my role in everything. Christian has been a good supporter of everything I've tried or decided to do. He just rolls his eyes at me when I tell him my latest and greatest idea. He's pretty patient with me though which is something that I definantly love about him. I was busy this year planning and holding several craft fairs. Some that did great and some that did not so great. This upcoming year I'm looking to keep myself busy but simplify a lot at the same time. I'll let you know in next year's Christmas letter how I did.
Melody has lost her two front teeth and it happened right before Christmas. We all had fun singing the appropriate "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" with her. She is such a help with Dane and even changed her first diaper the other day. It took a little while because Dane made her chase him around the room before she could get the diaper back on. She really loves her younger brothers and finds ways to help out and make sure they are taken care of. She loves to read books and write notes to everyone. And she has a picture collection taped up all over her bedroom walls of family, crayon drawings and postcard pictures of the Savior. I keep taking them down because I don't like things taped to the walls but she keeps putting them back up.
Aaron. There are just no words to accurately describe that little boy. He is hilarious and I am glad I get to stay home with him. He is such a cuddly boy with a funny giggle and has the most expressive face ever. He is such a ham and a very witty one at that. He has so much to say all the time and sometimes I have to tell him to take a breath and give my ears a rest for a while. I get a hug, a kiss, an 'I love you Mom', and a 'can I play the nintendo?', from him everyday. I forsee him choosing a profession as a lawyer because he always has an argument and a closing statement for you. Aaron really loves to be with his family. He says that's his favorite thing to do. Well that and playing the nintendo. Our two kitty cats, Dexter and Tucker, love Aaron and he takes really good care of them.
Dane is our little blonde headed boy and likes to be carried around everywhere. If mommy won't pick him up then Melody will! He is such a daddy's boy which I both love and hate. When daddy's around I don't seem to exist anymore but sometimes that's okay with me. He started going to nursery in November which has made teaching in Primary easier on Christian and I now. He loves car rides because he gets both Aaron and Melody's attention at the same time and we usually have to quiet down their loud laughter. Dane likes to mimic Aaron playing the Nintendo Wii. He doesn't care about playing the game but likes to make the same movements that Aaron is making which is always funny to watch.
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Then of course we have our family dog, Maggie. She is Dane's best friend. She and Dane are about 4 months apart in age and she is his protector, pillow, playmate and horse. Dane likes to sneak her food from his high chair so I have to keep an eye on those two around meal times.
We absolutely love our family and friends and always hope that everyone is doing okay. We hope you all know how much we think of you. Here's to a happy new year!!
Love,
Emily, Christian, Melody, Aaron and Dane
