In any case...here, without further ado, is our family Christmas message for 2011. Hopefully in the days & weeks to come, I'll get caught up on blogging.
Barrett Family Christmas Letter--2011
A great big Merry Christmas to all! We've had a big year, with many exciting changes. Our family is happy and healthy as we approach the holidays. We hope the same is true for you and your families.
2011 has been a year of “new” for our family. In February, we closed on our first “new” house! It's only two miles from where we had been living in Sahuarita (we're still in the same ward), so it was the most low-stress move we've ever done. We bought the home from Nathan's parents, so we had access to it for weeks before the actual closing date. So over the course of a month, we steadily moved stuff in. By the time moving day came, we only had a few big items remaining, and some wonderful friends showed up to help us move them.
Nathan started a “new” job in July. He is now a Senior Transportation Planner for the Pima Association of Governments (PAG). PAG is the forum through which all the cities and towns in the region coordinate their efforts on issues that cannot be contained by city limits (transportation, for example). Nathan prepares studies and reports which are presented to the Regional Council, which consists of the mayors of every city and town in Pima County. Nathan also stays busy serving on the Sahuarita Planning and Zoning Commission, teaching the adult Sunday school class, and playing with his little girls.
Adrianne got a “new” job as well this year—she was called as the Primary president for the Sahuarita First Ward, after the ward was split into two wards in July. Luckily, she has been blessed with wonderful presidency members and wonderful Primary teachers who help her out a lot. Adrianne's other “new” job involves part-time preschool teacher—she is part of a cooperative preschool for Celeste. She has also expanded her piano teaching (she now has seven students!), with two recitals a year. Whew! She also keeps busy taking care of the kids and cooking yummy food (when she has the time).
Lorelai has had many “new” experiences this year—she played on her first soccer team in the spring, got a “new” bike (without training wheels!) for her sixth birthday, and became a “new” first grader in the fall! She is our family clown; she always goes above and beyond to make Mom & Dad laugh. She is also an excellent reader and LOVES school (to the delight of her parents). She is a sweet, energetic, sensitive girl who tries her best to be polite & do the right thing. She is a joy to have around!
Celeste is the “new” preschooler in the family! She is doing a cooperative preschool with several other kids, and she is starting to learn her letters, seasons, colors, numbers...the whole nine yards! And, of course, she's learning her music & songs...Celeste has a wonderful memory and loves to sing all day long. She is our “girliest” girl, and she loves her dance class, her many dresses, and anything that's even remotely “princess-y”!
Since Aurora is still so little, most events are “new” to her! She learned to walk just as we moved into our house, and everything has followed rapidly thereafter! Aurora is our most cuddly child; she is happiest laying on stomachs, snuggling in laps, and planting lots of kisses on everyone who will hold still long enough! She is also quite the wandering soul; she loves to go far afield exploring, and she loves to run (usually away from an exasperated parent). She is just starting to speak, and her vocabulary is delightful; we enjoy hearing each “new” word!
We hope that 2012 brings many “new” and wonderful experiences for our family and for yours!
What a wonderful year you have had! Your girls are beautiful!
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