Christmas Letter 2009

Dear family and friends,

Many blessings to you this Christmas season.

We hope that you and your family are happy and healthy.

Kelly continues on well at BOCES, although they switched him and his colleagues over to Genesee Valley BOCES. He now covers school districts as far away as Romulus and Seneca Falls. His office is in Palmyra instead of Fairport so the commute is only a bit longer. At least the mileage checks are good! He has been trained this year in performing lead tests, asbestos tests, and fire inspections. This June he took over as Scout Master for Tay House Troop 19. You may or may not know that someone in our family has been with the troop almost since its beginning 90 years ago. The troop did have a wonderful celebration and open house for the 90th anniversary.  For those of you who missed a bit last year, Kelly tore a piece of cartilage off the bottom of his femur.  Here are the magnified pictures (ew).  Also a scrapbook page of Kelly and Rebekah.  She really is daddy’s little princess.

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Julie has been enjoying her days home with Rebekah while working part-time on the weekends. She started the year working for Swarovski and has since returned to Brookstone. She has launched her online art shop at Etsy; the shop name is tidbitsandscraps. She has also become an independent consultant for Close To My Heart. This company sells rubber stamps and scrapbooking/art supplies. Julie also hosts workshops and demonstrations for groups. In November she turned 30!

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Timothy finished 1^st grade with flying colors and has soared right into 2^nd grade. He has been reading chapter books including Boxcar Children books and Pet Trouble: Runaway Retriever. His favorite parts about school are math and science among others. He is learning computer skills in technology. He likes dodgeball in recreation. Just this month he followed in his parents’ footprints and got his first glasses. He picked out the blue frames and transition lenses himself. He is quite handsome. In November he helped Grandma Lynn create this gingerbread old-fashioned fire truck with horses. It is on display at the George Eastman House as part of the Sweet Creations fund-raising auction. He is already planning next years creation.

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Rebekah has been talking up a storm including a few full sentences. Here are some favorites: “Daddy bit Harry.” = “I want daddy to read a bit of Harry Potter.” “no puter” = “Stop playing on the computer and pay attention to me.” “jammies all day” = “I want to wear my pajamas all day.” “i-milk” = “oatmeal” Her favorite person to play with is her “bro’er,” “Ti’o.” She likes to eat moeney (bologna), eggs, bread and butter (toast-bu’er), and empty ice cream cones (i-cone).  She went to a wedding with us and danced the night away with hippo.  She loves to play tea party and will be getting her own tea set for Christmas.

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We took a few day and weekend trips this year.  We went to Ithaca in the late summer to visit Kelly’s college friend, Tom, and his family which included 4 boys.  We stayed all day and played and ate homemade grilled pesto pizza.  We saw Taughonnack Falls.  We did some bird watching at Montezuma Wildlife Refuge.  We saw osprey nesting and about a dozen other species, including this Northern Shoveler.  Julie and the kids visited family in Pennsylvania over the summer.  We got to swim and play on 3 different playgrounds and cousin Shannon came with us everywhere.  In February Kelly, Julie, and Rebekah went to a wedding in Pittsburgh.  The groom is Julie’s best friend David.

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We love you and pray that God will bless you and all of your loved ones.

Kelly, Julie, Timothy, and Rebekah