Merry Christmas 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

We wish you a very Merry Christmas 2011.  We have so much to be grateful for-food, shelter, friends and family and above all the Savior.  We hope you feel His Peace as you go about your Christmas festivities and hope that we can all remember the wonderful things He has done for us.

Our update for the year:

Warren is still serving as bishop of our ward (congregation) at church.  He loves this opportunity even though it is almost like having another full time job on top of his regular job and fatherly duties. When we drop him off at the train station in the mornings he gives the boys a thumbs up and says: "We're buddies!" A couple of little thumbs go up and you can hear a chorus from the backseat echo him: "Buddies!!!"

Dorothea is still working with the Young Women (ages 12-18) at church.  One of her biggest projects was preparing a workshop for the girls on the topic of what it means to be beautiful and why and how to feel beautiful yourself.  It was a very meaningful experience for her and those that participated.  She is grateful to be past (most) of the pregnancy associated nausea and is extremely grateful to those who helped her during her months of sickness.  


Rebecca (8) was so excited to get baptized this past October.  She is doing great in 3rd grade, loves to paint and is a tremendous help to her mom.  She is a fabulous older sister and is best friends with her little brothers. She is kind and caring to those around her.  She has enjoyed starting Activity Days at church and is already diligently doing her "Faith in God" program.  She can't wait until she is old enough to babysit. 

Joseph (4) is enjoying his Pre-K program.  As he told me: "School is FUN!" He is a tender, sweet boy with a deep thinking mind and a big vocabulary.  He is enjoying his music class and goes around life singing.  His school teachers told me they have to tell him to be quiet because he sings while he works.

Theodore (20 mos) loves Little Einsteins, Shaun the Sheep, balls, babies, wrestling, and tackling his older siblings.  He is talking up a storm with new words appearing almost daily.  He is definitely determined to keep up with them.  He likes to tease Rebecca and bite her toes and he likes to mimic Joseph in a little game they play where he echos the sounds Joseph makes.  He is a joy. 

We are excited to announce that we are expecting a little GIRL, due the beginning of May.  Rebecca is especially happy to be getting a little sister. During the ultrasound we watched our baby's hand make the "I love you" sign with her tiny fingers.  She loves us and we love her and are excited for her arrival.

Although our life also includes trials, struggles and sickness as it does for everyone, we truly feel blessed to have the things that matter most, especially the knowledge that we can be together forever.

We love you and hope you are healthy and happy and know that we think about you and send our warmest greetings.

With Love,

Warren, Dorothea, Rebecca, Joseph and Theo