Merry Christmas 2019 From the Barretts!

Merry Christmas From the Barrett Family!

 

We hope this message finds you well! Our family has had a busy 2019, with all of us trying out new things, adjusting to new schedules, and generally going a little crazy but still having fun. 

 Probably the biggest "family event" for us this year (beyond our normal routine) was our first-ever family trip to the east coast. We visited my brother Ray and his family in Massachusetts at the end of June for our Nash family reunion. It was great to catch up with our extended family! 

 We also got to sight-see a bit: we visited a lot of historically significant places (Lexington/Concord, Boston, Salem); learned a little more about our family history (at the Fairbanks House, an old wooden house built in the 1600s that belonged to one of Nathan's distant relatives); and also got to have some fun excursions (we went whale-watching and visited Wingaersheek Beach). 

 

We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to take this trip; we hope we can make it up to the Barretts by visiting that side of our family next summer!

Here are our family's vital stats for the last year:

Nathan: Our pater familias is still working for Pima Association of Governments; he got a promotion and new job title this summer! He is also taking classes at PCC to get certified in human resources as a boost to his job skills. Nathan was (sadly) released as a seminary teacher, after four and a half years teaching. He loves his students but was getting a bit burned out. Happily, he has been able to attend a lot of graduations, temple endowments, and mission farewells for many of the amazing kids he has taught. His new calling is as gospel doctrine teacher and he loves it. Whenever Nathan can manage it, he plays computer or board games, solves Japanese logic puzzles, and listens to audio-books.

Adrianne: She’s the one trying to hold it all together. She continues to teach music part-time at Great Expectations Academy, teach piano lessons from home, and wear many other hats besides (band mom, soccer mom, drama mom, cook, taxi driver, etc.). This spring, Adrianne registered with the Tucson Music Teacher’s Association, and she will be taking a few of her piano students to a city-wide ensemble festival next year...including Lorelai & Celeste! When she has time, she hangs out with friends and reads as many books as she can get her hands on.

Lorelai: It's been a big year for our big girl. She played in a Tucson-wide piano festival in March; served in student government (she was student council president in 8th grade); graduated eighth grade and said farewell Great Expectations Academy; began her high school career at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita; made 2nd-chair trombone in the high school jazz band as an incoming freshman; learned how to play sousaphone for marching band; appeared in one play (Mary Poppins) and was cast in another (Into the Woods, coming February 2020); turned 14 at the end of summer; and oh yeah…also completed the Personal Progress program for the LDS church. She can be quite the “teenage girl” sometimes, but we love her anyway and we are proud of her hard work and determination...and we love her delightfully bizarre sense of humor.

 Celeste: Our big-hearted middle child just turned 12 but has been in “big girl” mode for a while already. She loves hanging out with friends, shopping for clothes and generally being silly. She is definitely the "social butterfly" of the family, making new friends wherever she goes and always lightening up the room with her cheerful disposition. But she has also grown so much (literally...she got MUCH TALLER this year!). This fall, Celeste started middle school (6th grade at Great Expectations Academy), and has become a leader in her class, despite being a little overwhelmed initially. Within the last year, it’s amazing to see how mature Celeste has become; she has a new sense of responsibility and order and she has been excelling in her classes as a result. She still loves performing most of all (she was in two plays this year, Mary Poppins and Aladdin, and she will be appearing in Frozen in March 2020); she plays the alto saxophone in jazz band; and she also joined a community youth choir this fall. We love her and are grateful for the happiness she brings to our home.

Aurora: Our “baby” is about to hit double-digits in age (next month…yikes!). She is still the most affectionate family member; like Olaf, she “loves warm hugs.” But her sunny exterior conceals a tough-as-nails competitor and a fierce drive. She has played a whole season of soccer in a higher age division, and was just invited to join a tournament team with girls years older than herself. Aurora started fourth grade this year and also started beginning band; she is enjoying playing the trumpet so far! She also enjoys performing; she was in Mary Poppins and was cast as Young Elsa for the school’s upcoming production of Frozen next spring. In her downtime, Aurora loves playing with our beloved dog Coco and playing computer games.

We love you all and wish you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Best wishes, health and happiness to you all in 2020.