Hello to my friends in the blog world! I honestly don't know how many of you creep through our blog unnoticed {feel free to come out of hiding!!}. But since you're a part of our lives, I wanted to share our Christmas letter with you and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! How did 2011 come and go so quickly? I am certain that we’re getting older because not only are the months passing by quickly these days, the years seem to be picking up pace as well! In March, we welcomed sweet little Olivia Noelle into the world, and we could not have been blessed with an easier, more contented baby. It still amazes us that we really do have four little girls running through our home on a daily basis! Seriously, though, the piles and piles and piles of pink laundry don’t lie.
At the beginning of April, Josh was promoted. While learning a new job is rarely an easy task, he has certainly stepped up to the plate and has worked diligently since moving positions. Josh’s hunting season has been extremely successful this year producing two nice bucks, three does, and a bigger freezer from Sears. Two of the does were shot while on hunts with both Claire and Meredith, and we snagged the freezer online during a Labor Day sale.
My year has been anything but the norm. January 31 landed my very pregnant body in the hospital with the flu, and two weeks later I was admitted again with pneumonia and round two of the flu. Needless to say, February was pretty much a miserable month. I was more than ready to welcome Olivia and wish good riddance to my waterlogged legs. After Olivia’s birth, my life was begging to be simplified. I obviously couldn’t part with the girls. And because of his excellent ability to “bring home the bacon” {both literally and figuratively}, Josh ended up making the cut, too. That left my business. September brought the sale of the business, and I couldn’t be happier with the new owner and the ease of transition. People keep asking me if it’s been bittersweet. It has been a tiny bit bitter, but mostly just sweet. It feels like such a load has been lifted from my shoulders, and I love not having to plan my 2012 life around weddings.
Claire {8 ½, 3rd grade} is growing up too fast for our liking. She is typically good at jumping in where needed, and other than continually self-appointing herself as the “person in charge” among her siblings {firstborn trait!}, she is a fabulous leader to the sister-clan that follows behind her. Claire loves reading books and is very excited to be studying the Wright Brothers at co-op this winter. She wants all of you to know that she loves to sew, and she’s currently finishing up a doll for her cousin, Eden, that will be a gift along with a small pillow that she made last week.
Meredith {almost 7, 1st grade} is, in a word, passionate. {Read: full of love, hugs, and creativity; also at times, full of stomping, screaming, and door slamming.} She’s not half-hearted about much, and I do count this as a great character trait when it’s travelling down the right road. Meredith loves being a big sister to Olivia and can be found playing with her often during the day. Drawing, creating works of art, and writing are some of Meredith’s favorite things to do {while Olivia is napping, of course}, and she is also an outstanding reader. She wants all of you to know that she loved going on her first deer hunt with Daddy, she has really enjoyed our Advent calendar this year, and she likes strawberries and jumping rope.
“A for Amelia” {3 ½} is the social bug of the century. She seriously does not know a stranger, and she will easily convince you that you’re her favorite person in the whole wide world after just one conversation. Amelia has perfected the art of giving compliments…“I just ‘wuv’ your {insert here any random thing that you have or may be wearing}!” She loves peanut butter and honey on a tortilla and would eat it every single day if I let her. She wants all of you to know that she likes Care Bears, her stuffed animal pig, and five deer. {On a side note, she likes “five” of everything.}
Olivia {9 months} is absolutely sugar sweet. She can officially crawl, has four sprouting teeth in her gummy little smile, and likes to rattle off “dadadadadadada” in a soft, sweet voice. Eating has become one of her most beloved pastimes. And, as they say, “The proof is in the pudding.” But between you and me, the proof is actually in her chubby little thighs {which you will find me happily squeezing on a daily basis}. Olivia would like you to know that she loves kicking her legs, being held, and pulling on lamp cords. She would also like the nickname “chubbers” to be dropped by the time she’s a teenager.
Josh and I are looking forward to logging some fun grown-up memories in 2012. I’m tagging along with him on a business trip to Florida in January, and we’ll be vacationing somewhere warm this summer with some good friends while celebrating our 10 year anniversary.
We are continually humbled by the blessings we’ve been given and the grace that has been shown to our family. We pray that you and your families have a fabulous Christmas season and join us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Much love,
Josh, Jackie, Claire, Meredith, Amelia, and Olivia
Christmas 2011
“Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him, oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”
Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful
