Our Christmas Card!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This year has been exciting!  We continue to figure out all the little nuances of central Pennsylvania.  We visited Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Lancaster to see the Amish, Hershey Park, Philly, New York City, Connecticut, Boston, and all of the places and states between those destinations.  We textured and painted the rooms of our house.  We installed ceiling fans where no overhead lighting existed.  We loved having both sets of grandparents at our home after Lizzy was born for a little visit.  We had some of our friends live in our basement bedroom during the summer.  It was great to have free babysitting!  We went camping twice.  Charles and Annette had their five year anniversary and went to the Pocono Mountains (with Lizzy) and saw the Bushkill Waterfalls.  We spent a lot of time at the park as well.  We enjoyed having the Elders and Sister missionaries at our home at least once a month for dinner.

Elizabeth 8 mo

Her big event this year was that she was born!  Since then she has learned to crawl, stand, climb up things, wave, clap, and eat solids.  She has five teeth and is a lightweight at about 16 lbs.  

Henry 2 yrs

He spent most of the year beating himself up and getting all sorts of bruises and gouges.  Henry really learned to talk through the year and now he doesn't stop talking.  He progressed from the beginning stages of learning to use a spoon to knowing how, but still preferring to use his hands.  Henry progressed from cuddling with my hair to loving used dryer sheets.  Henry has been potty training for about a month and is doing pretty well.

Charlie 3.5 yrs

He learned to potty in the toilet after nine long months of practicing.  Charlie bit his tongue half open this year as his big injury.  Charlie learned the alphabet and how to spell his name this year with "school time" we had at home for a few months.  Charlie enjoys throwing away diapers for a penny each.  Henry joins in at times, but still isn't motivated enough.  Charlie loves Sleeping Beauty and loves slaying the dragon to save the princess.

Annette 24.9 yrs

Her greatest accomplishment for the year was that she was pregnant and had a baby, that was a big accomplishment for Charles, too.  She enjoyed growing an herb garden this year and using it in her cooking.  Annette's scriptures ripped apart and has been in the large process of transferring all of her notes and markings.  Annette did a lot of sewing of clothes for herself and Elizabeth and home things.  Annette was the Compassionate Service Coordinator and is now a Relief Society Teacher at church and substitutes one of the two youth classes every week.

Charles 34 yrs

Three days after Elizabeth was born he changed jobs to a medical manufacturing company out here through a guy at church.  Charles went from being in the Young Men's Presidency to being the Sunday School President.  Charles bought a truck which Annette uses most of the time.  He has been doing most of the home projects of texturing and painting.  Changing knobs, outlets, carpet and floorboards.  Re-finishing the basement bedroom and deep organizing all of his tools in the basement and shed.  Charles has also done an excellent job taking Annette out on lots of fun dates this year.