Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year (not to mention a festive baktun). We would much prefer delivering these details in person, but for now, you’ll have to do without the hugs and the high-def.
Gracie hired on in March, after completing a
40-week internship. She has rapidly expanded her skill set to include squealing,
laughing, rolling over, crawling, sitting up, clapping hands, pulling hair, eating
food, climbing stairs, and pulling herself up to stand against furniture. The
boys admire her play ethic, and she continues to receive glowing evaluations
from her immediate supervisors.
Jacob turned 2 earlier this year, though he is
bigger than most 4-year-olds, and speaks English nearly as well. He has made
many friends at library story time, the gym, and the church nursery. He enjoys
playing with just about anyone or no one at all. This year he learned to ride a
bike with training wheels, partially dress himself (mixed results), and somersault
with hands (as opposed to his earlier unsettling head-only method). He likes
books, and at times he pretends to read. He loves to sing, dance, hug, chase/be
chased, wrestle with his brothers, and make his baby sister laugh.
David is now 6 and in 1st grade, where
he’s reading like a superstar. He LOVES TO SING, and he picks up the lyrics to
most any song he hears on the radio (which creates many interesting teaching
opportunities for mom and dad). Along with Steven, he participated in a
children’s choir (2-part!) for the Stake Christmas program, and he truly seemed
to relish practicing each song. He played basketball this summer and swam like
a fish in our neighborhood pool. Early in the year, we put his training wheels
to rest, and it won't be long before Santa gives us reason to put his
now-undersized bike out to pasture as well. Just recently, he lost his first
tooth, but rather than sell to the fairy, he opted to wait out the market. He’s
growing so fast, physically and fiscally!
Steven and David also entered projects into the
school science fair this year. Ribbons aren’t awarded until 4th
grade, which the boys wished they had known before spending all that time on
grant proposals.
Shortly after his 8th birthday in
September, Steven, Jr. was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began 2nd grade this year, and
he also became a Cub Scout, where among other things he has enjoyed safety training,
rock climbing, and a visit to the police station (as observer, not
"guest"). In his first Raingutter Regatta, he won 2nd
place in his age division. He also played basketball this year, and his
interest in sports continues to grow. Sometime this year he chose (somewhat arbitrarily)
the University of Texas Longhorns as his
team. (David countered with allegiance to A&M, though neither is yet aware
that they're supposed to be mad at each other.) Steven continually creates projects
out of cardboard, duct tape, or whatever other materials are readily on hand. He
continues to wow his teachers with his general braininess, and he enjoys the
gifted/talented program at school. He also started taking a beginning piano
class this year, but he picked things up so quickly that the teacher moved him
to the next-level class.
Jenny spent the first part of the year putting the
finishing touches on Gracie (though Steven claims a production credit), and her
efforts won her a 3-month hiatus from Stake Music Chair duties at church. She
ran a couple of races this year, including a 5k obstacle mud run (definitely a
new experience, not to mention a new look). Due to ward boundary changes, she
was released from her calling as Primary chorister, and indentured once again
to the ward choir as director (a job very close to her heart). She’s read a
boatload of books this year, and she is always looking for new book suggestions
(especially good ones). She continues to teach voice, but most of her work is
centered on family, home, church, and of course preparing for the pending zombie
apocalypse.
Steven remains with the IT department at American National
Insurance Co. in Galveston as an applications developer/analyst. Aside from
programming, he continues to expand his knowledge of the insurance/finance
sector. Earlier in the year, he received a designation with distinction as a
Fellow of the Financial Services Institute from the Life Office Management
Association, along with several other associate designations. Steven still
serves as 1st counselor in the Young Men’s Program presidency at
church, where he feigns adulthood as a matter of practicality (mostly to ward
off the reproving grimaces of parents). In his free time, he enjoys reading,
learning, and walking, as well as singing/playing music with wife, children,
friends, or alone.
Jenny and Steven celebrated their 10-year
anniversary in May, yet the world’s great disciplines seem no closer to
answering the question “how did he
get her?” We couldn’t be more pleased
with how our kids have turned out thus far, and we are ever-grateful to God for
His preservation of our health, strength, and safety over the past decade.
We hope you and yours are well, and we look forward
to seeing you again someday as time and circumstance allow. Until such
opportunity, we wish you peace and joy in the next year and after.
With Much Love,
Steven,
Jenny, Steven, Jr.,
David,
Jake & Gracie
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