Happy Holidays!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

This year has been amazing. We started the year off with a bit of a surprise when Jim received an offer to work for a 100 year old company that he has respected for many years. The only catch to the offer was that we would have to move again. He started his new job the first of February. He is now the Southwest Regional Manager for Telsmith, a heavy machinery manufacturing company. We moved to our new home in March.

With Jim busy at his new job, Crystal has been busy with the kids and church. She has gotten involved with the school this year also. She has been helping out in the kid’s class rooms and teaching the Junior Achievement program in Ryder’s kindergarten class. When she isn’t at the school she is at home having fun with Ella. I think the Tea Parties are probably her favorite!



Although she was sad to leave her friends Randi has done well here. It isn’t hard for her to make new friends and get involved. She is in 4th grade now. Her teacher, Mr. Rolfe, is apparently the best thing since sliced bread and we make some pretty dang good bread! She is in the school Choir and loves it! She loves to sing so much Jim hopes to get her into the church Choir next month. She spent the summer in swimming lessons, an acting class, and singing classes. She just can’t get enough. Randi broke her arm while roller skating on a Family Home Evening activity a few months ago. That was an adventure! She still reminds us every week that FHE is just that Family HOME Evening!



Ryder started Kindergarten this year. He goes to school all day! His Mom wasn’t too excited about sending him to school all day but it is working out pretty good for him. He loves school, he loves to learn, and he has made some good friends. He enjoys being outside. He is in a running club, enjoys riding his bike, rollerblading, and playing at the park. Ryder is very loving and brings peace to our home with all of his love. He enjoys being around all babies and is a loving big brother to Ella. He always worries about her and makes sure she is taken care of before he is.



Ella has grown from a baby to a little girl over the year. She amazes me every day with her new words and little things she picks up and repeats. Her favorites lately has been ‘Come On’, ‘Oh My Gosh’, and ‘That’s amazing’. Everything at our house is amazing to her. She thinks Randi hung the moon, no doubt where she got the ‘Oh My Gosh’ and “That’s amazing’. Ella always has a smile that is contagious, she loves to sing, and dance. She keeps the house singing her favorites all day. She loves nursery and is very impatient when she has to wait through Sacrament Meeting before she can go. Last week she stood in the isle and screamed “Come on!” Her favorite part of the day is walking to the bus to pick up Randi and Ryder although we usually don’t make it much past the playground.

Thanks for stopping by to see what we have been up to this year. Remember to leave a comment so we know you were here. Check back regularly to keep up on what is happening in our family throughout the year.