It has been a long time since I said much about the family. Most of my posts have been political and/or my thoughts on current events. But the family needs some attention here. In fact, we’ll make this simple. We’ll post the family Christmas letter. Very interesting!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Well another year has come and nearly gone – I still don’t know how that happens! Since we have never sent out Christmas letters and we are missing you all, we thought we’d make an attempt. Do wish us luck – we will need it.
It has been a good and crazy year! Guy got a new job working for T-Mobile starting Dec 31, 2007 and came to Washington State ahead of us. Meanwhile, I worked on remodeling the house and getting it ready for sale (thank goodness for my cousin Charlie who came for a month to help with the tiling, landscaping and keeping my head on straight ( I am such a wuss!) and the kids finished their school year. We were finally reunited in the fall (nine months later) just in time to start the school year here. We do enjoy attending the Temple in our city as there was not one in Wyoming- so we are all ready for your surprise visit Mark! Don’t know where the nearest ski resort is though.
Guy works as an Application Support Analyst for T-Mobile. He says the best thing about the year is having us all together again. He also enjoyed getting to know Amy and Brian (my sister and Brother in law) and their family, while he boarded with them. Another highlight was seeing his sister; Amy (Guy’s sister) and her family on the way here. He loved becoming “Unkie Guy.” He enjoys guys night out with Brian once a month (aka “fight night with UFC” – Brian, you are a bad influence!) He also loves to read and write. Maybe this year he will dazzle us all with the book he’s been threatening to write for ages. My apologies in advance – just kidding!!!
Guy says to write about me now (the big baby). For me, moving here was the best by far because we are finally all together again – plus…there is someone else to do the dishes. However we still feel the loss of our ever dear Grandma Shirley and Aneda. I am still hoping to bribe you here with chocolate! Dearest Grandma, friend, aunt, neighbor, and family- you are forever in our hearts- thank goodness for the phone since you are both lousy letter writers. I work in the Seattle Temple twice a week and love seeing Amy (Christine’s sister) often who has made the move so much easier (okay – so I need her to watch Josh on Mondays). I think I am winning over her kids and love to see the little cousins get together. One more note of interest- I am as in love as ever with my ever faithful shadow – Tom; our Australian cattle dog. He still does his doggie duty and barks at everyone.
Our oldest child is Sarah, who is just turning 11. She also likes being together but misses her friends in Wyoming (Particularly her best friend, Camy, who uses up my cell phone minutes – good thing we work for T-Mobile). She likes her new school where she is learning to play the flute which she says she sucks at. I think what really sucks is not progressing as quickly as she thinks she should. At any rate, I enjoy hearing her play it. She also loves to explore the forest and botanical gardens across the street. She drives everyone crazy with her collections and crafts but no one more then the boy in the upstairs duplex that has a crush on her. She is at the top of her class and is turning into quite a beautiful young lady even though she is forbidden to turn 12.
Our next oldest is Nathan, who will turn 10 in February. While he misses Wyoming, he enjoys his new school where he is having his best year yet. He excels by far in science and wants to be an inventor someday- he has started his career with KNex machines, magnets, origami and the world’s best paper airplanes. He makes good work of materials around the house. He is also very active and has a collection of out door transportation including; a rip stik, bike and ramps, skate board, fusion scooter, and rollerblades. He amazes us with his abilities! (The rip stik is NOT easy, I should know, I sprained my wrist trying to ride the stupid thing!) He is also turning into a handsome young man and becomes quite mortified when girls have chased him down and kissed him. His best friend tells him his first mistake was to run. Oh brother.
Our darling Gabriel turned 8 this year and chose to be baptized. It was simple and beautiful. He has recently increased our family by 1 – a baby guinea pig named Chester. Gabe wants you to know that when a nasty cold went around the family, even poor Chester had to be on antibiotics. (Kids just don’t listen when you tell them not to “breath on the guinea pig!”) Gabe enjoys writing and illustrating stories. He won 2nd place in our school district for a fictional story he titled “Men of Many Legends.” It is a story of sailors who are all killed off by a series of mishaps. His teacher said he is the Stephen King of first grade. He said he’s going to have one of them survive – I guess that is a step up. Gabe is a co-conspirator with his brother Nathan in pranks and practical jokes and definitely keeps us on our toes. (He got up at 5:00 am on April fools day to put plastic wrap and tooth paste on the toilet seat to get at his older sister. Unfortunately, guess who was the next one to get up and use the bathroom? AAAARRRGGG) He has also joined Nathan in Cub Scouts which he loves.
Hannah, who will turn 7 in February, is an absolute princess- she says so herself. She has an angelic smile and amazing self assurance. We have decided that she definitely has her work cut out for her as a doctor. When it was time for school shots and blood work, amid all the cries and tears- there was Hannah, making friends with the nurses thinking the whole thing was just great. Her nurse told me that if she had given her the needle, Hannah would have drawn her own blood. Whose child is this anyway?!! Hannah is doing just great in school, but I wonder if the best thing about it isn’t a darling boy named Mark who is in the fourth grade. Hannah told me she still wants to marry him even though he accidentally pushed her down on the playground. Hannah loves arts and crafts, princesses, ballerinas, ponies, nurses, friends, makeup, and all pretty things.
Our youngest is Joshua who just turned 5. This year he introduced us to the wonderful world called “all the kids are potty trained.” I had always heard about it and, I must say, it really is great. Josh loves to be in the middle of the kid chaos in our home. He is one of the first to jump on the wrestle pile, burp at the table, and laugh at jokes. He loves to play; pop guns, bows and arrows, balls, paints, cars, and in parks. He especially enjoys playing with his cousins, “Krysty-coo” and Ronan. Josh is becoming a video game prodigy! When I can’t do what he wants me to he tells me to, “Just let me do it!” Even my baby knows more about electronics! He never tires of his favorite joke; “Why did the chicken cross the road?” and always giggles at his wit; “To escape the zombie chickens from Mars!” You got me again, Josh. I think one of my favorite things about him is his trademark he has held for 5 years running. When he cuddles in his mommy’s arms he never fails to twist her hair around his little fingers until he falls asleep. I think I’ll hold on to this one for as long as I can despite the most horrid knots he puts in my hair that must then be cut out.
I hope this gives you a glimpse into our lives. As always, we miss you all and hope to see you soon. Have the most happy of holidays! Our hearts and gratitude are close to our Savior and we enjoy celebrating His birth. We pray that you have many, many blessings, because we consider you one of our best.
Much love,
Guy, Christine, Sarah, Nathan, Gabriel, Hannah, and Joshua
This Is What Counts! 
