Merry Christmas!!!
In an effort to be green and quite possibly save a tree I decided to follow the example of others and post our family Christmas letter online instead of printing up a ream of paper to mail this letter to all of you. To warn you from the beginning, it is long, but NOT boring (if I do say so myself) that is, unless you regularly keep up with my blog, then many of it will be a repeat. Which brings me to my next point, for those that are unfamiliar with the blogging world, when something is highlighted like this that means that when you click on the highlighted portion, it will take you to another post. I have done this throughout this Christmas letter for those that want more detailed info (and pics) about the events that have happened in our lives and to truly make this an interactive event :)
This year for our family Christmas letter I decided to ask my kids if they could write about what happened in their own lives so that we can see what was important from their point of view and not just what Mom thought was important. (and, it makes Mom's life easier, right?) So here they are, in their own words:
Allana:This year I got contacts in February. It turns out that I have astigmatism, which means my eyes were shaped like footballs. Also, in field day I got first in the dash and was able to go to districts. My 4X100 meter relay team got first in the district AND the regional meets and they weren't even close at either one. Over the summer my parents went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, WITHOUT me. So Janessa, Briella and I stayed with my aunt Erica and uncle C.J. for a whole week. It was so much fun. We swam in the pool everyday and we all got major tan lines! We all had a very fun time. Also, over the summer I, just me, went with Erica, C.J. and their 2 kids, Kamryn and Preston to California. We stayed at an absolutely amazing hotel, went to Knott's Berry Farm and rode like a hundred awesome roller coasters. One of the roller coasters was call the Excellerator and it went (I can't remember) like 80-90 mph and it ended in like 13 seconds! We also went to California Adventures & Disneyland. We saw a live show and went on lots more roller coasters. On our last day in California we went to Santa Monica Beach. It was insane how many people were there and how many people were in the FREEZING water. Since school has started I am now in the 8th grade. I am also in an advanced class called, project ideal. Every year the junior high students in this class all get to go on a huge field trip. This year we went to San Diego. In 2 days we went on a boat and caught sea creatures to check out in a touch tank, went to the San Diego Zoo, stayed in a cheap hotel, went to Scrips Aquarium and then to the USS Midway, La Jolla beach and then home. And did I say it was all in 2 days?!? I also got texting on my phone and I'm addicted. LOL. Most recently, I am on the National Junior Honors Society, but that isn't that exciting 'cause the teachers let everyone that had good grades and wrote the essay be in, but my Mom thought it was important so... I got in NJHS, YEAHHHH! Now to the really important thing about school...I'm on the softball team! I play 1st & right field. So far we are undefeated, granted we have only played 2 games so far. Right now, in my opinion, I'm getting good grades, but someone needs to tell my parents that an 89% is a good grade! Can't think of anything else to add, so Merry Christmas!
Janessa: This year I played soccer in the spring. Then I was on the school's cross country team this fall, it was exhausting! I had to run 2 miles every practice and 1 mile at every meet. The best I got was 4th place against 64 other 5th & 6th grade girls. The biggest meet had over 120 girls, but I still got 26th! My school has a race every year before Thanksgiving called the "Turkey Trot" and I got 1st in my whole grade, again. It was way easier than cross country because it was only 1/2 mile! This year I am in 5th grade and I am on the honor roll, 4.0! I am also in choir at school and the ward choir at church. I like spending time with my cousins. We went on a trip to Utah with my Aunt Sherena and her kids AND we spent Thanksgiving week with my Aunt Andrea & her family in New Mexico. It has been a great year!
Robert: I got to be on 2 different flag football teams this year. Our teams won almost every game! I got baptized this summer, now I get to go to cub scouts. I am almost finished with my wolf and have 6 belt loops! I am in 2nd grade and PE is my favorite part of school. My favorite PE game is capture the bean bag.
Briella: OK, since Briella just turned 3 this October I didn't make her write her own letter. Aren't I a generous Mom? But I won't let her out of it for next year :) Briella is still our little princess, but with her old age comes the wonderful attitude of most "princesses". Maybe we need to change her title next year! We have started her in a pre-preschool playgroup that meets twice a week and we take turns having it at each other's houses. (kinda like Joyschool but not quite so organized) She really looks forward to her "school" days and seeing her friends. Briella continues to keep us all laughing and loving her with her awesome personality!
Brady: Truth be told, I asked Brady to write his own also, but if I waited until he did it this would be a Valentines letter instead of a Christmas letter! So from the words of his loving wife...here is Brady's year in review: Still Young Men's 2nd Counselor & Boy Scout Assistant Scout Master (over the 12 & 13 year old boys). He has lots of fun hanging out with the boys, going on lots of camp outs, scout camp and all the other grimy things that boys love. He is still coaching the kid's teams. He coached Robert in flag football both spring & fall and Janessa he coached soccer in the spring. They are both about to start volleyball after Christmas. A new sport! That should be fun! Brady also took me on a 7 day cruise to Mexico, we had tons of fun. But the biggest thing in Brady's life this year is that we have started our own business. It is called Skidmore Realty & Property Management LLC. And it is exactly what is says - a Realty company (we can help you buy or sell your home) AND a property management company (we can help you rent your home or find one to rent!) It is going well so far and business is steadily growing. But if you happen to know anyone in the Phoenix area that could use our help we would LOVE to add them to our client list. We even have a website skidmorerealty.net :) It is a wonderful business for us because Brady is able to work from home and is able to be around much more often than when he was climbing the corporate ladder.
Renee: My life is pretty much the same as last year (and probably the year before that too!) busy with chasing 4 kids to all their different activities, helping with the new business, church callings (Primary chorister & cub scout assistant den leader) and keeping up with my cyber-land life. I have this blog (obviously) that I like to TRY to keep current and follow a handful of other blogs (many of yours & if I don't know yours and you have one PLEASE leave a comment or e-mail me it so I can stalk your life too:)!!!) The only thing that is different in my life right now is that we are dog-less. In my attempt to simplify my life and take out any stress-inducers that weren't necessary (I couldn't get rid of my kids even though they are most frequently my biggest stress-inducers) I found a new family for our sweet Ali to live with. They just live around the corner and we get to dog sit her every time they go on vacation. But to tell you the truth, my life is WAY less stressful without the craziness that the dynamic of Robert and she created. Our cat, Phoebe, is also very much less stressed as well! We were able to go on a couple of trips this year, other than the cruise you heard about, we also were able to go to Utah for Great Grandpa Skidmore's funeral and be with lots of family, an insane camping trip that has made me a bit gun-shy to go camping again,we were also able to spend a fun Thanksgiving with Brady's sister, Andrea & her family in Albuquerque.
Well, thank you to those that stuck it out to the end of the longest Christmas Letter in history! Truly, you will be blessed for it (maybe not until the next life, but someday I'm sure). On a more serious note, we are very happy to include you as one of our dear family & friends and I hope that that friendship hasn't been tainted by this years Christmas letter. :)
Allana:This year I got contacts in February. It turns out that I have astigmatism, which means my eyes were shaped like footballs. Also, in field day I got first in the dash and was able to go to districts. My 4X100 meter relay team got first in the district AND the regional meets and they weren't even close at either one. Over the summer my parents went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, WITHOUT me. So Janessa, Briella and I stayed with my aunt Erica and uncle C.J. for a whole week. It was so much fun. We swam in the pool everyday and we all got major tan lines! We all had a very fun time. Also, over the summer I, just me, went with Erica, C.J. and their 2 kids, Kamryn and Preston to California. We stayed at an absolutely amazing hotel, went to Knott's Berry Farm and rode like a hundred awesome roller coasters. One of the roller coasters was call the Excellerator and it went (I can't remember) like 80-90 mph and it ended in like 13 seconds! We also went to California Adventures & Disneyland. We saw a live show and went on lots more roller coasters. On our last day in California we went to Santa Monica Beach. It was insane how many people were there and how many people were in the FREEZING water. Since school has started I am now in the 8th grade. I am also in an advanced class called, project ideal. Every year the junior high students in this class all get to go on a huge field trip. This year we went to San Diego. In 2 days we went on a boat and caught sea creatures to check out in a touch tank, went to the San Diego Zoo, stayed in a cheap hotel, went to Scrips Aquarium and then to the USS Midway, La Jolla beach and then home. And did I say it was all in 2 days?!? I also got texting on my phone and I'm addicted. LOL. Most recently, I am on the National Junior Honors Society, but that isn't that exciting 'cause the teachers let everyone that had good grades and wrote the essay be in, but my Mom thought it was important so... I got in NJHS, YEAHHHH! Now to the really important thing about school...I'm on the softball team! I play 1st & right field. So far we are undefeated, granted we have only played 2 games so far. Right now, in my opinion, I'm getting good grades, but someone needs to tell my parents that an 89% is a good grade! Can't think of anything else to add, so Merry Christmas!
Janessa: This year I played soccer in the spring. Then I was on the school's cross country team this fall, it was exhausting! I had to run 2 miles every practice and 1 mile at every meet. The best I got was 4th place against 64 other 5th & 6th grade girls. The biggest meet had over 120 girls, but I still got 26th! My school has a race every year before Thanksgiving called the "Turkey Trot" and I got 1st in my whole grade, again. It was way easier than cross country because it was only 1/2 mile! This year I am in 5th grade and I am on the honor roll, 4.0! I am also in choir at school and the ward choir at church. I like spending time with my cousins. We went on a trip to Utah with my Aunt Sherena and her kids AND we spent Thanksgiving week with my Aunt Andrea & her family in New Mexico. It has been a great year!
Robert: I got to be on 2 different flag football teams this year. Our teams won almost every game! I got baptized this summer, now I get to go to cub scouts. I am almost finished with my wolf and have 6 belt loops! I am in 2nd grade and PE is my favorite part of school. My favorite PE game is capture the bean bag.
Briella: OK, since Briella just turned 3 this October I didn't make her write her own letter. Aren't I a generous Mom? But I won't let her out of it for next year :) Briella is still our little princess, but with her old age comes the wonderful attitude of most "princesses". Maybe we need to change her title next year! We have started her in a pre-preschool playgroup that meets twice a week and we take turns having it at each other's houses. (kinda like Joyschool but not quite so organized) She really looks forward to her "school" days and seeing her friends. Briella continues to keep us all laughing and loving her with her awesome personality!
Brady: Truth be told, I asked Brady to write his own also, but if I waited until he did it this would be a Valentines letter instead of a Christmas letter! So from the words of his loving wife...here is Brady's year in review: Still Young Men's 2nd Counselor & Boy Scout Assistant Scout Master (over the 12 & 13 year old boys). He has lots of fun hanging out with the boys, going on lots of camp outs, scout camp and all the other grimy things that boys love. He is still coaching the kid's teams. He coached Robert in flag football both spring & fall and Janessa he coached soccer in the spring. They are both about to start volleyball after Christmas. A new sport! That should be fun! Brady also took me on a 7 day cruise to Mexico, we had tons of fun. But the biggest thing in Brady's life this year is that we have started our own business. It is called Skidmore Realty & Property Management LLC. And it is exactly what is says - a Realty company (we can help you buy or sell your home) AND a property management company (we can help you rent your home or find one to rent!) It is going well so far and business is steadily growing. But if you happen to know anyone in the Phoenix area that could use our help we would LOVE to add them to our client list. We even have a website skidmorerealty.net :) It is a wonderful business for us because Brady is able to work from home and is able to be around much more often than when he was climbing the corporate ladder.
Renee: My life is pretty much the same as last year (and probably the year before that too!) busy with chasing 4 kids to all their different activities, helping with the new business, church callings (Primary chorister & cub scout assistant den leader) and keeping up with my cyber-land life. I have this blog (obviously) that I like to TRY to keep current and follow a handful of other blogs (many of yours & if I don't know yours and you have one PLEASE leave a comment or e-mail me it so I can stalk your life too:)!!!) The only thing that is different in my life right now is that we are dog-less. In my attempt to simplify my life and take out any stress-inducers that weren't necessary (I couldn't get rid of my kids even though they are most frequently my biggest stress-inducers) I found a new family for our sweet Ali to live with. They just live around the corner and we get to dog sit her every time they go on vacation. But to tell you the truth, my life is WAY less stressful without the craziness that the dynamic of Robert and she created. Our cat, Phoebe, is also very much less stressed as well! We were able to go on a couple of trips this year, other than the cruise you heard about, we also were able to go to Utah for Great Grandpa Skidmore's funeral and be with lots of family, an insane camping trip that has made me a bit gun-shy to go camping again,we were also able to spend a fun Thanksgiving with Brady's sister, Andrea & her family in Albuquerque.
Well, thank you to those that stuck it out to the end of the longest Christmas Letter in history! Truly, you will be blessed for it (maybe not until the next life, but someday I'm sure). On a more serious note, we are very happy to include you as one of our dear family & friends and I hope that that friendship hasn't been tainted by this years Christmas letter. :)
1 comment:
What a fun Christmas letter! Your family is amazing and you are a wonderful organizer of it all. Merry Christmas!
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