Christmas Card 2009

Wishing you Joy and Happiness in 2010

Jared is almost all grown up to be a medical doctor, graduating in May. Between his busy hunting schedule, he was able to find time to fly all over the place interviewing and looking for just the right place for a residency program. We will find out on March 18th where we live for the next 4 years.
Jenny has heard rumors, and wonders how residency could be any worse than medical school. J/K! It has been a blessing to live so close to the school where good friends and memories were made that will be cherished forever.
Jace,9, doesn’t really like 4th grade. It’s too much work. But he enjoys his class in the Extended Learning Program and is currently working on a research project on the topic of his choice, cars, that he will give a 30 min. presentation about at the end of the year.
Lance,5, loves preschool. When he grows up, he wants to be either a police officer, piano cleaner, floor mopper, or dishwasher. His preschool teachers asked if he is this clean at home. Mom doesn’t know where got the habits.
Kyle,3, is about laughs and love. His cheerful disposition is contagious. He and Lance have become buddies, and if you come by our place in the evenings you can be sure to hear him and Lance giggling hysterically as they run up and down the hall with toys on wheels, dodging their little sister.
Camille Jane, almost 1, was born on Jan.6 of this year. She made it to the hospital (U of U, also Jenny’s birthplace) just in time to be born*, and was delivered by her Dad (His 2nd delivery – Kyle his 1st). She is now walking and continues to charm us every day.

As we celebrate our Savior’s birth this year, we ponder His profound love for us and the sacrifice that he made, so that we can live with Him again; even to be together as a family, with Evan someday. We know that our Heavenly Father loves us, and He continues to bless and watch over each of us.

Love, The Martins

* http://martinfam6.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-on-cami.html

Christmas Eve

We had Jared's parents over and had a great time, as you can see by these gleeful faces. I think the kids (in new P.J's) were excited for some reason. (More on Jace's glasses later - he loves them)

We did an impromptu Nativity while Jared's Dad read from the Bible. You can't see it very well, but that's Evan's photo in the star ornament, so we are, once again, united together in a photo (I'll post the other one after Christmas gifts are opened). Cami was exhausted and slept through the whole thing just like a perfect baby Jesus.

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve...

Santa came to say,
"Cami, with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

...After a meeting with the corner today. Then the song came on the radio! By the way, that's the corner.

Gettin' Into That Christmas Spirit

Lance has really gotten into the Christmas spirit. He has enjoyed doing services for his family and helping with things around the house. He requests to turn on the Christmas music. He even says, "I have the Christmas spirit!"

This year, the boys drew names for gift giving. (So much simpler!) It was fun watching the kids today as they wrapped their presents. I wasn't prepared for Kyle's reaction. I thought we were just getting the wrapping job done. (I guess I needed to get in the Christmas spirit) We were in the room with the door closed behind us, ready to wrap Lance's gift when Kyle said,

"I want that monster truck! That's my monster truck!"

I told him that this is the gift he's wrapping to give to Lance. He completely didn't like that idea. So I explained (in my best 3 year old terms) that Christmas is about giving and, as a bonus, his brother wrapped a present for him. I waited. He seemed to understand and finally put the tape on. He actually really enjoyed the mechanics of taping. I was relieved that it didn't take too much more explanation (can't imagine what we would have gone through if we had to wrap one from him to each of his siblings!). Afterward, he proudly walked down the hallway past Lance with his beautifully wrapped gift and Lance said, "I wonder what's inside my present?"

Kyle answered simply, "It's a monster tru--"

"Ookay! Let's take it over here and put it under the tree!" I spoke as loudly as I could. Lance was good with my pleading him not to ask Kyle what's in there.

In later news of today's fun, Kyle is continuing to progress in toilet training. He gets an M&M each time he goes. Today he decided to find his own candy once the M&M's were gone. I found an almost all eaten candy bar sitting where the M&M's go. So I asked him if he had eaten it. He nodded his head with no remorse. I asked him where he found it. After he told me, I explained to him that he shouldn't take candy from other people and he needed to go ask Jace if he could have his candy bar. Jace was reading a book when Kyle asked him so sweet and innocently, "May I please have your candy bar?"

Jace looked at it, then went back to his book and said, "Sure now that you've already eaten four-fifths of it."

That's the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Spirit

I needed this reminder. So sweet!

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