Merry Christmas 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

This year has gone by so fast.  Every year it seems that time speeds up and we quickly find ourselves at the end of the year and preparing for the next before we know it.  Per the norm for our family we have again failed to allow enough time to get a cute family photo done and then enough time to actually get it printed, to write on it to each one of you and then to get it to the post office.  Once again an electronic Christmas letter will have to suffice.

This year has kept us busy, busy, busy. 

In February Novalee and Wesley turned another year older.  This was that wonderful year for both Wesley and me where we said goodbye to our 20s and hello to no longer being cute, spunky (well Wes may never have been that) and alert after 8pm. 

  On March 2^nd we found out we were expecting baby number five.  We were elated and scared at the same time.  In March Jared started baseball for the second year in a row.  Wesley also started baseball after being roped into being the coach for Jared’s team.  Every Monday and Wednesday from then until early June was spent on a baseball field.  Wes was actually on the field and I only found myself out there when I had to chase after Kinsley who didn’t realize she was too little to play baseball.

 

We also spent Mondays and Wednesdays during that time watching Novalee improve her swimming skills at swim lessons. 

On May 25^th Kinsley turned 1! 

Also Novalee spent her first official night away from us not with family when she attended her first Girl Scout Summer Camp.

In June Novalee graduated from Kindergarten.

On June 25th we found out we could FINALLY use the name Hyrum for one of our children and began preparing to have him join our family. 

In July we finally finished painting the exterior of our house which was our BIG project this year.

On September 8^th we added a Labrador to our family and named him Trooper after Wesley’s SUV from his “glory days.”

On September 9^th our little Sadie turned 3!  And she decided the terrible twos probably would have been a fun thing to experience and made a resolve to make her horrible threes memorable for everyone. 

October came without anything too exciting happening except I turned 30…yeah not much to say about that.

November was much anticipated.  I impatiently awaited the arrival of Hyrum.  I’m pretty sure I whined, cried, whimpered and was an overall grouchpot until the 12^th when Hyrum was born.  He was born at 9:17am on 11-12-2013.  7 minutes earlier he would have been born 9:10 on 11-12-13.  He has proven to be our easiest newborn so far.  We aren’t sure if we are just pros now at the crazy, hectic, semi organized life we live or if he is actually an easier baby.  I’d like to think we just rock as parents.  

November also brought Wesley’s mother here for a week.  And for a whole week I was spoiled rotten.  I can’t remember a time since having kids when I’ve had to do so little.  It was lovely.  I’m currently racking my brains to come up with a plan to convince her that Oregon rain is lovely and that she wants to be neighbors with us. 

On the last day of November Jared turned 9 and celebrated his birthday, true to his style, with a Pokemon party with friends. 

And that brings us to December.  This magical time of year is such a cherished time for our family.  We love the Christmas hymns sung at church, the Christmas lights twinkling on homes and trees, watching our kids check each day to see if a new present under the tree is marked with their name and most of all we love the extra spirit of peace that settles in.  We as a family love our Savior Jesus Christ.  We hope each and every one of you is blessed with happiness, joy and peace this Christmas time and throughout the coming year. 

Merry Christmas!

The Crocketts