We only send out a Christmas letter to our friends and family who are far away, but this year I decided to post it on my blog as well. Nothing terribly new or exciting here, but it has been a while since I posted anything so I cheated :). I hope you enjoy it and that everyone has an exceptional Christmas and a New Year full of wonderful new adventures.
Family and Friends
Didn’t we just do this? I have had such a hard time getting this letter written, in part because I feel like I just finished last year’s letter. After all of our changes last year this year has seemed pretty uneventful, but in these times we could not be more grateful for uneventful! Rich is still wholesaling Mutual Funds in North Carolina and training for various running or biking races in his “spare” time. After 13 years of marriage and watching him get up day after day to exercise, he is finally starting to rub off on me. I’m in no shape to run a marathon, but am working towards getting to the end of our street without losing a lung and then who knows where I’ll go! This year our family travels took us to family in Boston and Omaha, as well as a relaxing trip to Aruba for spring break and an awesome trip with some dear friends to Disney World in the fall.
Both Rich and I have enjoyed every stage of our kid's lives, so far, but we agree that we would freeze where we are right now. We are down to one booster seat in the car after a decade of car seats. We no longer order our kids food for them in a restaurant or feel like we have to ride our bikes with them around the block. It is bittersweet, but so worth the wait. What a joy to watch these little people become independent, responsible kids.
Gwen turned 10, yes you read that right - 10! She mourned momentarily the fact that she will never be single digit age again and then gladly joined the ranks of the double digits. Along with 10 came pierced ears and a new pet. Freddy, the smelly, but cute hamster, joined our family a few weeks ago and they are inseparable. Gwen's social calendar is mind-boggling. I think she considers school merely the tool that allows her to spend 7 straight hours with her friends. If only it weren't for that pesky work... She continues to be an absolute joy and we are so proud of the beautiful young lady, both inside and out, that she is becoming right before our eyes.
When Jack turned 8 he told us he was so glad to turn 8 since he prefers being an even number rather than odd – Carpe Diem Son! What a funny kid! This year he is in the 2nd grade and continues to make it look easy. He is still playing soccer and we think this was the year that it became more than a means to a snack at the end. He prefers being a forward, but as long as he can stay focused on the game at hand and not the one going on next to his, he’s a pretty good defender as well. He still LOVES LEGO’s and is focused on his future employment goals of becoming a LEGO designer or working in the toy section at Target. Jack is an awesome kid and so much fun to converse and hang with .
Big man Luke turned 5 in May. I went through a momentary sense of loss whenI lost my partner in crime to Transitional Kindergarten (TK) this year. Nodoubt Luke was socially ready for Kindergarten at birth, but we decided that an extra year of “prep” would probably be good for all of us. Being in this sweet class of 10 has really boosted his academic confidence and all of us are so happy we decided to wait. Luke is our “life embracer”. He literally lives, laughs and loves! He adores his siblings and his independence equally. He started soccer and karate this year. He proudly wears his little white belt whenever he can. What a fantastic little boy!
As we remember with awe the sacrifice that our Heavenly Father made for us, we hope this beautiful season that celebrates His son’s birth is one of both joy and peace for each of you.
All Our Love,
The Callinan’s
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