Christmas letter 2013

Christmas 2013

 Hello and wishing greetings of God’s love and peace to you!  It seems that it is time again to write to you, and send our love to you as well. 

Our vacation this year consisted of a trip toArizona by way of San Diego, CA.  We flew there first, and then drove the rest of the way to AZ and back.  We were able to be in Arizona for Greg’s parent’s retirement party, our nephew’s baptism, and Luke’s 8^th birthday.

Luke has been busy working on “projects” this year.  He’s been helping his Dad and Grandpa Somero build a sunroom on our deck.  He also is going to be painting his “new” dresser (which is quite beat up right now), as well as building & fixing other things.  He is enjoying archery with Dad, and is getting to be pretty good at it.

          James is your typical 6 year old.  He’s both excited and nervous about his first loose teeth.  He’s taking off with his reading, and quite thrilled with the world opening up for him by being able to read. (I love being witness to these adventures!) He spends most of his time upside down doing flips/kicks/headstands, and has an abundance of energy to burn on a consistent basis! 

Elise joins right in on whatever her brothers are doing.  She also loves helping Mom (washing dishes, sorting laundry, bossing her brothers and such).  She has started piano lessons this fall and loves to play the piano and sing.  She is quite excited about our new baby coming, and has things all planned out for when he/she arrives.

          Isaac keeps us laughing in 2 year old style.  He is learning new words each day, and has definite ideas on how things should and shouldn’t be done.  His names for his siblings are Du (Luke), Day (James), Dee (Elise) and Die (Isaac).  It’s a good thing we named them all with different vowel sounds!

          New baby #5 will be joining us in mid-February.    I’m so thankful for the ability to homeschool, so that we can adjust everything in our own time, rather than running by somebody else’s schedule when things get crazy.  (as happens on occasion with 4(+1) little ones).  Today I’ve been especially thankful for the days like today where we just stay home and work, school, play, exercise, nap and grow together.  Life seems so busy sometimes, and I’m thankful for the ability to slow down (when it’s so cold and rainy outside) and take time to enjoy the little things.

          May God bless and keep you ever in His loving care!