Christmas letter 2012

Dear Family and Friends,
We hope that this holiday season finds you happy and healthy!  We have been so busy that we didn't realize that Christmas was sneaking up so fast, so we decided we'd better just do a Christmas letter electronically this year :) We have had a happy and busy year so here is the run down...we'll go youngest to oldest this time:
Lincoln: Lincoln is two years old and nearly potty trained! He’s been ready for awhile now, just waiting for mom to be ready too. He is so funny and makes us all laugh every day. He has the sweetest smile and says the funniest things. He screams loud and high….just like a girl. Link’s favorite phrases include “me do it myself” “snot me, it was Tracen” and “mom watch!” right before he tries a new stunt.
Tracen: Tracen is four and growing up fast! He started Sunbeams this year although he still would rather sit with mom at the piano. He also finished up a year of Joy School with his friends. This year he’s been learning letters and “doing school books” with mom and the boys. His favorite thing to do, though, is play outside in the dirt with his friend Addi. He has a contagious smile and a hilarious belly laugh. He can be a lot like his dad….aka mischievous.
Jesse: This year Jesse turned 10 has been quite the active guy. He has played soccer and basketball as well as going to Crossfit AMP (the older kids class). He has also enjoyed skiing and hiking with his dad. He earned his Bear award and became a Webelo. Jesse’s been honing his guitar playing skills (which he loves) as well as his piano playing ones (which is mostly because mom makes him). He decided to stay home and homeschool again this year. He is learning anatomy and US history this year as well as the normal stuff.
Tyler: Tyler has had a pretty big year, he received several scouting advancements and a few merit badges which puts him at a First Class Scout and on his way to his Star. He also turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood this past October followed shortly by shooting his first deer. Tyler didn’t enjoy skiing quite as much as Jesse, but he does love his campouts with the scouts as well as hiking. He is also in Crossfit AMP and loves doing that 3 days a week. He is very musical and continues to play both the cello and the piano. Tyler is also homeschooling again this year and is studying the same things as Jesse, but I think he’s most happy about being in a pre-algebra book that requires his mom to call Grandma from time to time for assistance.
SheriDawn: I constantly struggle with maintaining a balance between working and being a mom. I work more than I should and more than I want to but have a hard time telling people no. I do enjoy working in the ER and have also started doing a few shifts as the night house supervisor (aka glorified gopher/problem solver) and the occasional shift in the ICU. I love being the mom and the school teacher and have become all too aware that my boys are growing up and won’t be little forever. I play the piano for primary on Sundays and the organ every 5-6 weeks or so.
Josh: Josh continues to work for SUU Police and enjoys it there. He was able to go to a couple of fun trainings this year. Fun training to Josh = putting on camo, playing in the dirt and shooting guns. He is in scouts so in his free time he went to Lake Powell with them and has gone on a few campouts. He’s taken up reloading and still loves to go shoot his guns whenever possible.
Merry Christmas!
Josh, SheriDawn, Tyler, Jesse, Tracen and Lincoln
Here are few picture to make you think that our boys love each other all the time and ALWAYS get along :)