Christmas Letter 2011

Greetings Family and Friends!  The big news of 2011 is that I am no longer a distraught, over-scheduled working mom!  In September, I traded in my Blackberry and long work days for library story time and after school snacks.  It became clear to us over the last year that the Lord was calling me home to be present for my kids and husband rather than pressing on toward professional burnout.  I love being able to focus on Kai during the day, going to the girls' school for various activities and the slower pace being at home has afforded.  Eric is working part-time for a friend's document storage company, selling advertising for a local magazine and actively seeking full-time employment/income.  Although it is a difficult lesson in trust and humility, we relying fully on God's provision and plan for us and we are at such peace with this decision.  Wow, what will the 2012 Christmas letter say, I wonder?

We were able to take a few memorable trips this year.  In Feb., Eric and I visited my sister Amy, her fiance Brian and their new baby Stefan in Seattle.  It is such a cool city and we had a wonderful time with them.  Then we began our tour of the East Coast beaches...in April, we enjoyed a relaxing, special week long trip to Edisto Beach, SC for Spring Break.  The last time I'd been to the beach for a full week was college Spring Break--needless to say, this was a drastically different experience!  We also took short trips to Seabrook Island--a favorite spot, Holden Beach and Springmaid Beach.  We went back to Indiana for a week in July because I was missing my sweet family too much!  It was great to spend time with them and see my old friends Julie and Tiffany.  Another memorable experience was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of both Rylie and Madelyn to see Taylor Swift.  When the rainy November day finally came, I think I was more excited than they were and she was awesome! 

Rylie is 8 1/2 and in the 3rd grade.  She took gymnastics this year and loved it, often sneaking in handstand and back walkover practice in the living room when she thought no one was looking.  The school pace is picking up, sometimes with three tests on the same day, but she's doing great.  Early this school year, she experienced the same shock many of us have felt when receiving a less than stellar test score.  Let's hope the math lesson in how many subsequent As and Bs it takes to recover from an F sticks with her!  Inspired by my sister Amy, Rylie and I took a knitting class this Spring; we both really liked it.  She spread the love by teaching her friend Emma (they have been seen knitting on the TOP of the monkey bars in the backyard, yarn hanging down to the ground); I've even sold a few of my wares to some friends.

Madelyn will be 6 at the end of this month and made a fairly smooth transition into Kindergarten this year after she learned the behavior expectations of the classroom, bus line and bus.  For the first 1 1/2 weeks we got notes, emails or calls almost every day about her!  Moving on, it has been so encouraging to see how her reading and writing skills have developed.  We are constantly finding little scraps of paper throughout the house with random words written on them as she practices.  She has her daddy's drawing talent, too.  After getting a kidney infection in Aug., Madelyn was diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux this Fall so she's experienced multiple imaging scans, trips to the pediatric urologist and an outpatient surgery to correct the problem.  We have a follow up appointment at the beginning of the year to ensure the procedure worked as expected.  Please keep her in your prayers. 

Kai is a cuddly, talkative and inquisitive 3 year old who keeps us laughing.  It is a wonder that we were concerned last year that his language skills might not be developing on track because he talks non-stop now!  He is the consummate man's man, loving to hang with the guys and literally jumping into male acquaintances' arms.  Yet, he can charm the ladies with his humor, charismatic smile and acts of kindness.  He often kisses me on the cheek out of the blue, brings me a Pepsi from the refrigerator (so that he can justify a juice box?) and sings his bedtime songs with me.  Recently when telling him we were going to see his "girlfriend", a neighbor girl his age, he questioned, "Which one?"

Eric is still passionate about deer hunting, sadly coming up short thus far this season but maiming two deer who are probably walking around with an arrow in their side and a permanent limp.  I still try to remain active with regular tennis matches, trying not to maim myself or anyone in the process.

In a few days, we are heading to Indiana for Christmas.  We are so excited to get all the boys in the family together (great-nephews Gunner and Kaiden, cousin Gannon, nephew Stefan and Kai).  We are historically a family of girls so "the times they are a-changin'".  We will greatly miss our nephew Erik and our niece's husband Justin who are both serving in Afghanistan.

Book recommendations:

• 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
• The Immoral Life of Henrietta Lacks
• Prodigal Summer
• Half-Broke Horses

We are so thankful for each and every one of you. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season full of the peace and hope only Jesus can give!
Love Always,
Eric, April, Rylie, Madelyn and Kai

Couple notes before the (somewhat famous) annual Christmas letter

Kai is downright hilarious.  He has such a wonderful sense of humor, excellent comedic timing, and often, he's funny without trying to be.  Also, it is so fun to watch his mind work and see what he picks up on about the world around him.  It is a wonder that we were ever concerned about his speech last year as he talks incessantly now.  Sometimes he talks so much it is hard to think!  Things he's been saying and doing:

• Very popular phrase he uses when he's trying to get his way: "The story says the boy..."  For example, "The story says the boy doesn't have to take a nap."  A creative negotiator!
• "After my nap and when the sun's awake" (meaning "in the morning")
• "On Friday" (this can refer to anything that happened in the past or may happen at a future date)
• "Whoa!  I did not see that coming" when tripped up by something.
• He's getting into superheros.  After his bath, he'll run around upstairs naked, except for his towel which makes a handy cape.  He talks about the "smoke on my back" which makes him fast.
• Loves to talk about poop and farts and will call anyone, friend or foe, "stank".
• If he wants you to stop reading or playing a game, he will decide where the pause button is on said book or game and push it.  You aren't allowed to unpause until he's ready again.
• I was heading to small group last week and he didn't want me to leave.  I said, "Oh Kai, you will be fine without my presence."  He exclaimed, "Yes, I want presents!"  Amidst my laughing, he continued, "Ask me what I want."
• Favorites: Mac N Cheese, color orange, Monsters, Inc. movie, SuperWhy TV show, playing on the iPad (Cookie Maker or Spy Mouse are faves)

Madelyn's reading skills have really picked up.  The first books she read from start to finish were Llama Llama Red Pajama and I Love Bugs.  She took them to school and read to the class.  Recently at bedtime, she asked, "Mommy, may I have the primbridge (privilege) of reading to you and Kai?"

Monumentous occasion: Rylie got her first pimple!  It was a sweet, tiny little thing on her forehead and I was very careful not to say anything until she asked, "Mommy, did you notice my zit?"  My baby is growing up!  Although, I don't remember getting zits at 8 years old...