"Christmas Letter" 2009

Merry Christmas to all!  The season is here again.  Once again we realize that while we are busy living life, another year has passed!  We would like to share some of the highlights and other significant events with you...

Matt is still enjoying his job at Shaw.  Aside from that, he's been keeping busy going to hockey games to watch the Flames play, and with odd jobs and renos around the house.  Even though we very much like this house that we moved into a year and a half ago, the list is long - it seems like as soon as one item is crossed off, another is added!  We put a swingset in the backyard for the kids this summer and inside we are enjoying some updates to the bathrooms, basement, paint, etc.  There is much more to do in the yard but that will have to wait until Spring now, since (a lot of!) snow has fallen and the ground is frozen.  Some of his fall work plans were put on hold after his carpool was rear-ended on the way home from work one day and he suffered some minor whiplash, minor but still painful enough to throw off any plans of heavy lifting or building this fall.  He's feeling fine now though after a few months of physio.  We are still loving our neighbourhood, it is very friendly and we have gotten to know a few more of the neighbors through walks to school, barbeques, a summer block party, and Christmas parties.  It is a very friendly place and it is nice to know we can help one another out too when needed.

I am still enjoying my time at home with the kids.  Aside from cooking, cleaning, organizing, laundry, playing, trying to work out, scheduling, driving, shopping, reading with the kids, helping with homework, gardening, laundry, volunteering at school occasionally, pretending to scrapbook, making a few cards, laundry, playing with my camera and, I admit, wasting time on the computer and watching tv...  I have also continued on as a Sparks leader in Jaina's group.  It was lots of fun last year and I really enjoy being part of an organization I got so much out of when I was growing up.  It can be busy at times but well worth it.  Some of our highlights from last year were a sleepover at the Zoo and an overnight camp in May.  This year my sister and I and other family and friends participated again in the Relay for Life for the Canadian Cancer Society, in memory of my mom.  We participated in Taber this year and it was a lot of fun at the smaller venue.  We were proud of our team's fundraising achievements, many thanks again to all of you who supported us and the cause.  (And watch out!  We'll be bugging you again soon as we plan to participate this year too.)  I've really been missing my mom a lot this year, day to day and especially at this time of year which was always such a fun time together.  Its still very hard not having her here with us. 

Jaina has started Grade 1 and is still enjoying French immersion.  It is amazing how much she has picked up now that she is in school full days.  She turned 6 in October and also lost her first tooth!  It was very exciting and we are amazed at how she is growing up seemingly so quickly.  She enjoys going to Sparks, swimming, and decided to try rhythmic gymnastics this year which she likes very much.  After much begging this fall she is also signed up for a session of "real" gymnastics this winter.  She enjoyed playing soccer this past spring too. 

Lewis turned 3 in August.  He is quite happy being at home, playing toys, drawing and colouring, playing playdough and having stories read to him.  He is now out of diapers (which, for the most part, is great!) and soother-free. He has a couple of friends on our street who are just a year older than him so he also enjoys playing with them.  He is also doing gymnastics which he really likes too and he wants to take swimming lessons like his big sister.  This fall we attended a 6 week session of storytime at the library which he really liked. We've managed to keep him out of too much trouble this year, not having broken any more teeth, narrowly avoiding stitches on the other side of his forehead and surviving a sprained foot... 

Some other major events of the year were:

A new nephew and new niece in the family!  My sister and husband welcomed their first child, Tim, in March.  They are in Calgary too so we get to see him often (but not often enough, he's such a cutie pie!).  Matt's brother and his wife welcomed Lucy to their family in June, and we are thrilled to have a niece.  They are in Edmonton now so we enjoy seeing them more often than we used to.  

Celebrating my granny's 90th birthday in May.  We had a wonderful gathering of family and friends for a dinner, and a tea at the manor where she lived,  and she loved every minute of it so much.  It was great to see family from farther away.  It was wonderful to celebrate her many years, together with her.  Sadly, a month later, she passed away shortly after falling and breaking her hip and having surgery.  We were so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate her 90th birthday with her in good health and great spirits.  We'll miss her very much.

A fun-filled summer, including taking a family vacation.  Matt, the kids, and I drove out to B.C. to visit some family.  We stayed with his aunt and uncle who live near Vancouver, and had a wonderful time visiting them and sightseeing around Vancouver.  We then visited with some of our favourite cousins who recently moved away from Calgary to Kelowna, first in and around Kelowna and then out to their family cabin near the Shuswap for a weekend of swimming (and some magnificent forest fire watching as well...) .  It was nice to get away this summer after the stresses of last summer.

Taking a family trip this fall (again) to Puerto Vallarta with my stepdad and stepsisters.  We all took him as a birthday gift as he celebrated his 60th birthday this year.  It was a great week of fun and relaxation in the sun.  The kids had a blast swimming and playing at the beach and we enjoyed spending time with everyone. 

We will be enjoying Christmas and New Year's with family and hope that all of you enjoy this time with your family and friends as well.  All of our family and friends will be with us, if not in person then certainly in thought, memories, and the spirit of the season.  We love you all very much and wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and year.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Michelle, Matt, Jaina and Lewis