Some of the highlights for us from 2008 were:
-In March, Philip and the older kids went intertubing in the mountains. They had a blast.
-In May, Philip's mom came for a wonderful visit with us. Later that month, we visited our old neighborhood and friends in Carnation.
-Throughout the summer, we REALLY enjoyed our pool and hammock :)
-In August, Jill and the kids went to the Aquarium in downtown Seattle. In Sept, Jill and the two little ones had a fantastic visit with family in Colorado. Dad had fun at home with the older ones.
-In October, the kids threw a Halloween party and it was a lot of fun! For Thanksgiving, all the kids had parts in a play Maranda wrote.
-In December, we had a great visit with Jill's folks. But while they were here, we got just inundated with snow. Pretty sure it broke all kinds of records. The pile next to the driveway was about 4 feet high. The kids LOVED it.
Philip continued working two jobs this year. While he was away a lot, the extra money did allow us to refinance in January (just before the housing bubble burst!) - and that eliminated our debt!! He built the cover for our patio, the lower patio and a beautiful round deck. We had just started the octagonal picnic table when the weather turned cold. He also built a set of picture frames for Jill's birthday.
Jill continued homeschooling and had a great time. Her eyes have done well this year and she's looking forward to a great 2009.
Maranda became our first teenager this year! She's a kind, caring big sister with a voracious reading appetite. She earned her babysitting certificate! Her favorite subjects are science and history.
Lydia turned 11 this December and took a lot of pictures. She really enjoys photography and is also an avid reader. She enjoys waking up early and getting her math done before anyone else wakes up. She's a great help around the house.
Alexander turned 8 this year and is finally finding the joy in reading. His progress has been wonderful. He spends a lot of free time creating with Legos. He's an active, helpful guy.
Sophia is 5 and is eager to participate in school. She loves learning! She's a talkative, inquisitive, princessey girl.
Peter grew wonderfully this year and is just two months shy of his third birthday. He's a joy to have around and has quite the personality.
With hopes and prayers that you have a blessed 2009 with your family! Please keep in touch as you find the time. We’d love to hear from you.
For a slideshow of our '08 pic's, click here
– Phil, Jill, Maranda, Lydia, Alexander, Sophia and Peter
