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2012 Christmas Letter


December 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems each year I scrunch up my font in an attempt to fit my whole Christmas letter on one page.  Either we are super busy or I am way too wordyK.  So, here goes…fewer words with all the important stuff! 

Russell is currently serving as a counselor in the Young Single Adult Stake Presidency.  His calling leaves us going to our home ward without him most weeks.  Mason asked me one Sunday which church Dad goes to!   He is still employed by Coldwell Banker.  When he is not working or churching he is taking care of us, cheering, coaching and supporting.  He is such a great husband and dad!
I (Jenny) turned 40 this past year and it’s not quite as old as it sounds!  With that milestone came my first dental crown and a few new aches but it’s all goodJ.  I am the Primary Chorister in our ward and enjoy being in Primary with Mason.  I live in a 4-yr-old world where I am commonly avoiding hot lava, giving passwords to proceed and explaining the ins and outs of super hero powers.
Douglas just turned 17 and is a Jr. at Cottonwood High School.  He is handsome, dating and the proud driver of the “Smurf Mobile” (2003 Hyundai Accent).  He worked at a snow shack over the summer and got all the free snow cones he could eat!  Cotton Candy/Pina Colada was his favorite creation. He shot his first elk in the fall and is enjoying the steaks every chance he gets.  Baseball is still his passion.  He took a ball to the face resulting in stitches (I’m certain “keep your eye on the ball” was not meant to be taken literally) and had hernia surgery over the summer.  He is such a hard worker and doesn’t let anything slow him down.
Stockton, at 12, is a 7th grader at Bennion Jr. High.  He made the volleyball team in the fall and is now playing on the Jr. High basketball team.  He is also playing Jr. Jazz and can’t wait for baseball to start!  He hit his first homerun this fall which just happened to also be a Grand Slam!  He had a great time at Bear Lake scout camp for a week and is working hard at school, in scouts and in sports.  When he has a free minute he loves to listen to music, play his IPod and shoot hoops.

Mason is our 4-yr-old super hero!  He loves Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars, The Avengers, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Gangnam Style and MinecraftJ.  This past year he broke his arm (fell from the monkey bars), learned to ride his bike without training wheels, played T-ball, soccer and spent hours at the swimming pool.  He is active, energetic and smart.
Our family got to spend time together in St. George, Las Vegas, Steamboat Springs and Disneyland!  One of our ongoing favorite activities is our Saturday lunch out.  We are having a wonderful holiday season and hope you are too.  We love Jesus Christ and this time of year when we celebrate him and strive a little harder to be more like him.  May you all feel of his peace and love as we do.
Love,

The Orchards

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