It seems like every December just comes and goes so quickly. This one was especially so. As my kids get older I feel like I am able to simplify so much more because they know the true meaning of Christmas and it is nice to just be together as a family and enjoy it. We were late again getting our letter out, but it was nice to be able to send a picture with Jordan in it since she flew in Christmas Eve. She missed her flight (I don't blame Kevin a bit, since this isn't the first flight she's missed), but still came in around 4. I guess I should back up a bit....
Jordan got engaged on Dec. 18. The same day her cousin, Beth, got married. Jordan and I had been talking a lot the previous month. Why didn't I tell her to run away and come home in March and stick with her plan. The first time I talked to Kevin on the phone for some odd reason, I knew it was going to lead to this. Heavenly Father knows me personally and knows my needs. I needed to be prepared for this so I could let go of my baby and help her to be able to let go of us. I have been more prepared for it because of the promptings from Him. What a comfort it is to know that Heavenly Father loves each of us in such a unique way. Congratulations, Jordan and Kevin!!!!
Pictures from Christmas:
We say that Jordan is pulling a Kevin in this picture!!!!
The day after Christmas (which is also Kodee's Birthday, but she needs her own post!) and Temple square:
I just love my girls.
And my boys, too!
This is what we do best:
Cute pic of Gary and his baby girl!
Our Christmas Letter:
Hey Everyone, December 2010
Well, this is Dakota. I guess my parents are too busy keeping an eye on me and cleaning up after me, that apparently they don’t have time to write a letter. So while my dad was cleaning up after me today, he said, “Why don’t you go write our Family Christmas letter?” So, here it goes…
Lets start with me! I am almost 3, which means I still have complete control of the day-to-day operation of what goes on in our house. I do not plan on relinquishing that power anytime in the near future. I am extremely cute, which makes it easier to do my job. I have become quite a good scooter rider and I am completely comfortable going just about anywhere I feel like, anytime I want, and wearing whatever I want. I have really enjoyed my nursery class at church and I am excited to go to Sunbeams in January. I am also quite an accomplished singer and I sing along with almost every song.
Now I will share a little about each of my siblings, or as I like to refer to them as…all of my Moms and Dads! McKenzie is a fun big sister who tolerates all of my antics very well. She is 6 and loves her kindergarten class. She is so pretty and has long curly hair. She is in a dance class and seems to really enjoy it. She is very easy going and is fine with just tagging along wherever the family goes. She has a great imagination.
Blake is now 9 and enjoys school. He is kind of a computer geek and will play on a computer, phone, iPod, or any other electronic device as much as possible. He also enjoys his skateboards and bikes and likes to pretend he is a daredevil. He has no fear. He has really enjoyed scouts. He likes to tease me as you would expect from an older brother, but I don’t back down to him.
Trevor is now 12 and is as tall as my mom. He has really enjoyed his second year in the A.L.L. program at his school. He is a good big brother and is very kind to everyone. He has been hard at it with his competition soccer and his team took first place for their division this past season. He loves playing all sports and is very social like his Dad. He really likes his scouting group and loves to camp and hike. Trevor is the Deacons Quorum President.
Sadie is 14 and is still 100% into soccer. She enjoyed a great season playing on the high school team and is looking forward to playing with her club team again during the winter and spring. She is working very hard to achieve her long time goal of earning a scholarship to play soccer while still maintaining her straight A’s. Sadie is a fun big sister but kind of motherly. She loves to go to the temple and tries to go every week, usually at 5:00 in the morning. Sadie is friends with everyone.
Brooke is 18 and a senior in high school. She is working at Costco and still enjoys soccer and weight lifting. She is now up to 445 lbs. on her dead lift and can out lift most of the boys. She is still trying to decide on where she wants to go to school next year. I like hanging out with her and she likes to do things with me.
Jordan is 20 years old and after spending a year in college and completing a 7-month internship at Disney World in Florida, she decided she wanted to go back to the East Coast and be a Nanny. She has been in Maryland since March and really enjoys it. Mom and Dad went out to visit her in October and enjoyed the sites and time with Jordan. She met a young man out there named Kevin and they are going to get married in April I think. I am really excited for her and to go to DC for vacation and a wedding. My parents cry a lot when they talk about her. I am not sure if they are happy or sad or both? Parents are so confusing! I miss not having Jordan around as much, but she will be home for 10 days at Christmas.
Mom practically lives in the car. It seems like we are always headed to or from something. She was released last February from being the Cub Master in our ward and now teaches the 16-17 year old Sunday School class. She is trying to fit crafts back in to her life and tries to keep up with our family blog.
Dad is still the High Priest Group Leader, which proves that he is old. We are praying that he doesn’t have another heart attack as we prepare for Jordan’s wedding and Brooke’s graduation! He still keeps busy at Costco, but loves to make DVDs in his spare time along with playing and watching sports.
We had a great year and hope you did too. May the Holidays find you and your family well and may you be blessed during the Christmas season and in the New Year. It’s crazy how time flies and how busy we all get but we sincerely hope to cross paths with each and every one of you again in the future!
