Well, family and friends, it's that time of year when everyone sends out their Christmas cards, letters, and photos. I'm doing something different this year. I'm not sending anything out because I figure that a lot of times, people read the letter, put the picture on their little Christmas card stand, and then it gets tossed after Christmas anyway. So, here it is.
We had a busy year once again, but with four boys, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
Big Daddy still loves his job with Morgan Stanley and spent a lot of time on the baseball fields this spring and summer. He was Assistant Coach for Bubba's regular season, and also during Allstar season during the summer. He had a great time working with all of the boys and learning a lot more about how to coach the kids. He built a batting cage in his garage so that the boys can hit all winter to get ready for next season. He's a baseball expert now, and is a great coach and a very dedicated and most awesomest dad! He is serving in our church as Assistant Ward Clerk. He was also a huge football fan this past fall for both of our older boys.
Mama keeps busy everyday with four busy boys! Most of you know that I finished my first book this summer. I started a couple of years ago, but inspiration hit this past summer and I wrote almost the whole book. It has been a really fun experience. I never thought I would be a writer, though I always thought it would be fun. I hope to have the editing process finished before my next birthday in May. I also started working on the sequel. I'm about 16,000 words into it and having fun continuing the story of my characters. I got to put Lit. degree to use this year writing reviews for an internet company. I serve as the Compassionate Service leader in our church.
Bubba had a great year. Baseball season started in March and he got off to a great start. He worked hard after the previous season because he made the goal for himself to make the Allstar team during the summer. We were very impressed with his work ethic and his incredible improvements. He finished the regular season with the highest hitting average, and did a good job pitching when we needed him. He is a great shortstop! His team went to the championship game and only lost by a couple of runs. He got to go to Bill Buckner baseball camp and learned a lot there. We had about a week break before Allstar season started in June. He was the lead off batter, and hit a home run in his very first at bat! He had a two week break between baseball and football. He was a four back this year on the starting offense and had his very first touchdown, and several carries during the season. His team went undefeated and won their Junior Year Championship game. He is also still taking piano lessons and is learning to play bass in a garage band. He started middle school in the 6th grade this year!
JP also played baseball and football this year. He did a great job for his team and played 3rd base and left field. His team went undefeated and went to their age division championship game. They won in the 8th inning and we only ever play 6! What an awesome experience for him. He got to go to a summer baseball camp at our local minor league team's stadium. He got autographs of the players and instruction from them too. It was a fun experience for him. He also had a great football season. It was his first year of tackle football. He played defensive tackle and had at least one sack a game. He scored the most points on defense with 3 safetys (6 points). We thought he would be timid, but as soon as he put those pads on, he was a beast. His team also went undefeated this season (they don't have a championship game at that age yet). He started the 4th grade this year and already has straight 'A's!
Peanut played his first year of coach pitch baseball this year. He was the best hitter on his team. He's excited to start Rookie this next season and practices in the garage with brother's every night. I can't believe how hard he can hit the ball with his little 6 year old body! He is doing very well in the 1st grade and his teacher uses him as the good example in class. She tells everyone to look at what he's doing when they aren't sure how to follow instructions. He loves football and wants to start playing flag football next year. We'll see.
Coco misses his brothers during the day while they are at school. Mama is teaching him at home with some preschool activity books. He loves to work on them and has even started tracing numbers. He has a very large vocabulary-including the word, "sick" to mean something is cool. It's funny to hear a little 3 year old talking like a big boy. He loves to hit baseballs in the garage every night and can hit really hard off the tee with an aluminum bat. No little plastic bats for this big boy.
We also love doing things as a family. We spend time in the cage in the garage most nights and I love learning to hit too. We went shooting a few times, to Disneyland in February with Grandma Susan, the boys all went camping and fishing with dad several times, and got to visit with grandma on the farm for a week this summer.
We wish all of you a wonderful and blessed year. We love our Savior Jesus Christ and strive to be more like him. We hope that you all remember him this season and all year long.
