Sunday, December 18, 2016

Christmas Letter 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It has been a great year for our family.  

We spent most of the year in Alabama but moved to New Jersey in August as part of Derek's Honeywell rotation program.  Right now he is more in an FP&A role vs a controllership role.  (This basically means it's less accounting and more reporting and analyzing.  Plus his new office building is modern and lots bigger and has a sweet cafeteria.  So life is good.  Also he's lots busier.  And he's totally rocking it. Go Derek.)

Of note:
-Kaylie ran a half marathon in March, and pushed Kennedy for a lot of the training in the stroller.  (On runs longer than 8 miles Kaylie always ran alone)
-Kennedy has some words, loves drawing, loves dancing, is 18 months, loves to read books, loves animals, loves to play outside, is starting to enjoy her time in nursery
-Trip to Harry Potter World with Derek's sister Jessica in February.  Uh. Mazing.  So worth going.  It sounds kind of cliche to say it was magical but it definitely was.
-Many trips to the beach of Alabama and Florida.
-Trip to New Orleans (let's be honest...not our favorite city.)
-Trips to see Aunt Megan in Huntsville and going to Birmingham for temple.  We loved spending time with her!  And in the temple.
-Visit from Leslie in January, Jessica in February, Derek's parents in May.  So much fun!
-Derek work trip to Mexico while Kaylie visited Utah
-Kaylie kept up RN license through continuing ed. (yayyyyy!!!!)  Also yay for being able to stay at home with Kennedy this year.  So wonderful!
-Sad leaving friends in AL ward, happy making friends in NJ ward.  We've felt so blessed to be included by people wherever we go.
-Derek is ward clerk, Kaylie is in nursery.
-We are in such a fun location--so close to Kyra who lives in CT right now, close to Philadelphia, close to NYC, Boston, Washington D.C.  We're trying to do as much exploring as we can
-Kaylie has been teaching piano lessons in both NJ and AL
-We've been feeding the missionaries weekly and LOVE it!  They bring a great spirit into our home and they are seriously some of our friends.

We are so blessed and so grateful for the Savior this Christmas season and the hope and peace He brings to the world.  Oh come let us adore him!







Home again

Visiting home is the happiest thing. Beautifully done up for Christmas and so much bigger than our little apartment.  Every corner of the house has memories, and it's the same as I look outside.  This morning I held Kennedy's hand as we walked into the kitchen and it was just good. One of those hallmark moments, haha.  I hope I can make my home as special, sacred, and happy for Kennedy as this one was for me.