Saturday, January 8, 2011

Christmas Letter 2009!

Hello Everyone! I am writing this at 6:30am while there’s a snowstorm raging outside. I can’t believe its that time of the year again. It came so fast, but I guess it always does. Looking back over the year is always fun, though I don’t think we had much change or drama this year…lol. The biggest news this year with our family is my Dad’s engagement! It wasn’t a big surprise for me, and we’re very happy for my Dad and excited to get to know Penny better. She’ll make a great addition to our family. They will be getting married in May, so we are looking forward to the big celebration!

Nate is turning five next week. I really can’t believe it. He’ll start kindergarten next Fall. It’s exciting to watch him grow up but sad at the same time. I think I’ll have a hard time letting him go. He’s really sprouted up this year and is looking so much older. He’s getting a lot braver with people and coming out of his little shy shell. He’s becoming quite the performer. He loves to sing for people. I was so proud of him because he got up in front of the whole Shurtz clan (about 30-40 people!) and sang “I hope they call me on a mission” when my cousin returned off his mission, and he got up in front of our church to say his part for the presentation that the Primary kids put on once a year. He’s usually quite shy so these are big steps for him. He is in love with Rock Band right now. We have one at my Dad’s and he’s gotten really good at the drums. He loves the Beatle’s and Carrie Underwood, and is always drumming along on his own when their music is playing. We’ll have to get him into lessons soon. He can sit and read and do quiet activities, but he also has this really hyper side of him. He and Ty can have so much fun playing together and both have big imaginations. He’s been learning to write his letters and numbers this year, and is doing really good. I’m hoping to get him reading a little bit before he starts school. He’s really looking forward to Christmas and his superhero birthday party, which we’re having later today!

Ty will be turning three in January. He’s been potty trained for a couple of months now. He took to it quite quickly and has been doing really well. It’s so nice only having one little bum to change now. He is a bundle of personality! He talks to anyone and everyone…and I mean TALKS. He barely stops talking. I guess he gets that from his Mother! He is so charming and really knows how to make people smile. He is so funny and is always making us laugh! He’s starting to catch the Rock Band and singing bug from Nate and can sing a mean “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood. He’s starting to do and say such big boy things and always has to do everything BY HIMSELF. He still loves helping us do anything and everything, and loves to spend time with his Auntie Ginger. He’s quite an emotional little guy and still loves to cuddle with Mommy and Daddy. He usually crawls into bed with us in the middle of the night where I then transfer him to the little bed that we’ve made on the floor. He is also really looking forward to Christmas and asks me everyday if Santa is coming yet!

My little Miss McKenna is getting so big! She’s becoming less and less of my baby everyday. It’s so sad but fun to watch her become this little person. She will turn two in February. She’s just the cutest little thing with the cutest little high pitched voice, which she uses a lot. She is talking so well. We can pretty much understand most things she says. She is becoming a little entertainer also. We had Ryan’s family over the other day and she just entertained everyone and made us all laugh for a good half an hour. She loves playing with blocks right now. She’ll line them up and then pile them into a tower and knock them down. She loves to color, but only if she can use Mommy’s markers. She loves running around with her brothers, but also loves to sit on our laps and read a book. She loves to watch “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Dora the Explorer” and is really into the Mickey Christmas movie we have right now. She is quite a feisty little thing and will let you know if she is not happy with you by yelling at you for a good 2 minutes straight. She hates to be told she can’t do, or get into something, and throws the biggest fits. She also loves her Auntie Ginger and will even get mad if her cousin Bella goes anywhere near her. She’s starting to understand the world and makes us smile and laugh all the time.

Ryan is working hard as always. He really enjoys his line of work and working for the company that he does. We are both in charge of teaching the 3 year old nursery class at church, and will move up with them when they start Primary in January. We are really enjoying it, especially because we get to do it together. We just got an elliptical machine and both want to get into shape this coming year. We just celebrated our Six year Anniversary at the end of November and were able to get away to Calgary for the night. We love spending time together and try to get out on a date once a month. We have the most amazing babysitters ever! Thanks guys! You all know who you are! We seriously have like 5 people that we can rely on anytime and it has been a huge blessing to us. I’m still working at the clinic two nights a week and am loving every minute of it. We’re working really hard at getting out of debt and can see a light at the end of the tunnel. We are almost there. What a great feeling that will be! This will be our second Christmas without my Mom. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her or miss her, but I’m greatful for the example she will always be in my life! We love living so close to our family and love spending time with you! To those who live far away, we love and miss you and hope this letter will help you feel a little bit closer.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Love the Olsen’s

Ryan, Kelli, Nate, Ty, and McKenna

08/01/10

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