The Family Christmas Letter.....

Merry Christmas!!!

Season's greetings to our friends and family. This year has been full of excitement and adventure for our family.

Randy is still the scoutmaster and hopes to remain so for a very long time. We realized just how much he loves those boys when one passed away in March. It was hard on all of us. Work keeps him busy and I look forward to the day when "things slow down." Although his project was completed on deadline (yay, Randy!) there is never a shortage of work. He continues to be the favorite parent as he takes the kids backpacking, plays 'monster' with them, pitches baseballs, builds snow forts, and jumps them on the trampoline.

Christie found herself in the position of PTA President at the kids' elementary school. It hasn't been too bad (knock on wood) and she really enjoys the people she works with that make her job easier. After a year in the Primary Presidency, Christie is back in the Cub Scouts with Tyler. Once a scouter, always a scouter. But her dream came true when she was asked to be the Assistant Stake Girls' Camp Director. She looks forward to spending a week in the mountains with 150 12-18 year old girls! Blogging, crafts and digital scrapbooking continue to be her creative outlet.

Casey entered the world of junior high. If you are wondering if he enjoys it, the answer is yes- maybe a little too much! ;) He works at home in the morning on his online core classes. Then Christie drives him to school each day for lunch, band, art, and drama. He discovered mountain biking with his dad, and officially joined Randy in scouts. He takes pride in the fact that he is the one and only deacon in our ward. Thus, the president, first counselor, and secretary...by default! He started piano lessons, and loves playing the drums. It seems to have come naturally to hims as he taps on everything constantly and his mom hopes someday it might help provide for him....and somehow make it all worth it!

Hailey is in fifth grade. She loves school as well, and the friends she has there. She is a great babysitter and looks forward to the day people start calling her for jobs. She is full of patience when it comes to her little brothers and sisters and provides her mom with relief on a regular basis. She tried her hand at softball this past spring and found she was quite good at it. It was a tough call when her softball games conflicted with her soccer games. What is a girl to do?

Tyler is in third grade. It is hard to believe he was baptized this year. It was a memory like no other! We flew the family to Hawaii and he was baptized in the ocean at sunrise! All so grandma and grandpa (who were serving a mission there) wouldn't miss it. ;) He still loves to be creative and dreams of his very own 'craft room' stocked just like mom's. He loves baseball with his dad being the coach and he is an incredible big brother.

Hannah started school all day. Being a night owl, it is all she can do to get there on time. I have driven the kids to school more this year than any other, just so they wouldn't be late. ; ) A puppy joined our family this summer so Hannah (and her dad) could have their fix. The puppy grew fast, and now Hannah wants a little dog. Hmmmm, we'll see. She is a good kid and is nice to her friends and animals. She loves to play with her brothers and sisters and wishes she was the oldest so she could babysit like Hailey. She shares a room with Emma and even picks up after her.

Nathan is in preschool. I have given up the fight of what he'll wear to school. Being the dead of winter, he still wears shorts every day because pants "make him hot like the burning sun." How can I argue with that? He idolizes his big brother, Tyler and wants to do everything just like him. Down to the cereal he eats at breakfast. Nathan loves pirates. He wears the same pirate shirt every day and asks for the same pirate story at bedtime.

Emma is a funny two year old. She can ham it up like the best of 'em! She knows what she wants and has found her place as the baby of the family. Including, but not limited to: staking her claim to what is rightfully hers, keeping up with kids two and three times her size, and giving the best hugs and kisses around. She is still 'momma's girl' and I am enjoying every bit of it.

We hope 2008 has been good for your family and we wish you all the best. May you find peace in the true meaning of Christmas and rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ in the coming year.

Love, Randy, Christie, Casey, Hailey, Tyler, Hannah, Nathan, and Emma.