Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas everyone, it’s Christmas day and I’m finally writing this. We’ve had a great year. Paul and I have had our first big travel adventure (see previous post). We loved it so much we are working hard to go back this summer. The kids had a blast at my parents’ while we were there and didn’t miss us a bit (see pictures on previous post).

Apart from the usual bugs, there have been no major medical issues this year!! Paul continues to enjoy his job and has been with the company 11 years. He was released from his calling in the bishopric in the summer after serving for three years and is now the 11 year old scout leader.

My position as a Resource Teacher was cut in June, but they gave me an opportunity to teach grade 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have 18 grade one students and 5 grade two students, they are adorable and we have a lot of fun. It’s fun to see their growth at this age.

Our kids are growing way too fast, it’s unbelievable. It’s hard to believe we are getting that much older too.

A big highlight of our year was the dedication of the Vancouver temple. In January we moved into a beautiful new chapel alongside of the temple under construction. In May the temple was dedicated. It’s lovely to see the temple every time we go to church. Here are some links to some photos of the temple.

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Mormon+Church+gives+rare+glimpse+inside+luxurious+Langley+temple/2775268/story.html

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/vancouver/gallery/

Other highlights of the year include the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, a visit from Grandma Kay in April and a visit from the Holleys in family August. We unfortunately lost Billy Stone who died in February, he had been a beloved member of our family for 29 years. We have spent many moments talking about what he is up to right now and what mischief he is making in heaven.

Here is the kids’ turn:
Hayley

Hayley is too busy watching James Bond to write. Hayley has had a big year, she turned 13 in May and is becoming a teenager. She continues to dance and loves it. She is in three classes; ballet, jazz and lyrical as well as a twice a week conditioning class and “spins and leaps”. She enjoys spinning and leaping around the house. She continues to attend French Immersion classes at school and is now in grade 8 which is the first year of high school in Canada.

Summer

This year was a great one. A lot of fun things took place. The temple was finished this year and all the youth in the temple district gathered together to put on a show in celebration. It was called TYC (Temple Youth Celebration) and it involved lots of singing and dancing. It was a lot of work, but very fun. My parents went to Portugal this summer as well. My Aunt Maureen came to stay with me while my siblings went to my grandparents’ house. I’m glad that it worked out that way because I was able to stay and take care of my neighbours’ children while they worked. I made lots of money which really helped.

I’m in the 11th grade this year, which is kind of scary. I have to think about where I want to go after I graduate and what I want to do. I’m sure it will all work out in the end though. I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Spencer

The best thing that happened this year was that I turned eleven and got to go and visit Grandma in Maryland. I went to a baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland. I flew there by myself. I went to my Nanny and Grandad’s house when my parents were in Portugal. I rode horses and played Monopoly and rode quads. And I also saw tanks with Grandma and the Museum of Air and Space in Maryland. I went ice blocking at my birthday party at Redwood Park with AJ and Dalas. The hill hd lots of bumps in it so when you hit them it would make us fall off the ice cube (check out earlier blog posting for photos of his party).

Ashley

This year some things that I did were exciting. In May I got baptized. Jenna O. also got baptized on the same day. When I went to Hundred Mile this year, I got to drive the quad for a bit. I also got to ride the horses. I went to Hundred Mile House because my mom and dad were in Portugal. In October, my family got some exchanged students. Their names were Miho and Ayaka for Halloween they dressed up as witches. This year for the (ward) Christmas Party, I was Mary. I sang Away in a Manger, it was fun, that is my year.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and hope you have a healthy and prosperous new year.