So I just realized that I haven't posted this whole month yet...lame...I've been getting ready for Christmas. I can say that yesterday morning I wrapped my last gift, which is not my usual routine! Most years, I'm up really late on Christmas Eve
wrapping stocking stuff and am so tired the next day. I'm excited that tonight we can watch our Christmas movie (Home Alone) in our p.j.'s and go to bed at a normal time and hopefully be
un-crabby tomorrow morning. :)
Today the kids and I made our cookies for Santa and they each wrote their letters to Santa (Uncle Ray, also known as Satan Claus,
haha). Sydney is at such a cute age this year and loved putting the sprinkles on the cookies. It would have been so great if I had thought to take pictures, but alas, I did not--we were too busy having fun!
On Monday, Jake and I are heading to Texas for my family's reunion, for 5 days. I'm so excited to see all my siblings and the
parentals. The only bummer is that Tim has all of next week off with the kids, and I will miss almost the whole thing. I wish I weren't missing his time at home. But it will be so nice not to have to worry about the older 3 while Jake and I are away.
Since I still haven't gotten my cards/letters in the mail and won't until after Christmas, here is a copy of our Family Christmas letter for 2009. Consider yourselves informed and loved! And for all of my family, I'm hand-delivering your letters on Monday...doesn't that make you feel special?!?!?
It doesn’t seem right that it’s already time to write another Christmas letter. Didn’t I just do that?!? To say that this year has flown by is an understatement. We have had many adventures, good times, and blessings. It’s good to take some time and list them and remember to be grateful. Our biggest family adventure was a week-long trip to Disneyland and San Diego in July. We had a great time and were grateful to Cathy’s mom for keeping Jake—he can come next time.
Tim had a memorable year this year, finally drawing for a bighorn sheep hunt in August. He trained for months and still wore himself out on the hike up the mountain, but made memories to last a lifetime, even though he was unable to find a ram. Maybe next time. Last month he was released from the bishopric (on his birthday, haha) and was called to serve on the Stake high council, where he’s still trying to learn the ropes.
Cathy spent most of the year trying to keep up with the four kids. They keep her busier than ever, but in the small amount of spare time she had, she enjoyed re-joining her singing group, where she played piano, sang, and sewed many, many costumes. She also helps in Sydney’s class each week and loves watching the kids in their many different sports. She is the Primary secretary in church right now.
Brandon is 12 now! He received the priesthood last month and is so happy to be out of Primary! He also started middle school this fall, which he says is SO much better than elementary school. He played basketball and football again this year (football is still his favorite). He also enjoys hunting with his dad and shot another turkey this spring. He is now old enough to hunt big game, but couldn’t find a deer this year. He just earned his Star rank in boy Scouts and is well on his way to Eagle Scout.
Ryan is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. Last May, he won a brand new dirt bike for perfect attendance and good scores on his state testing. He was thrilled and has gotten a lot of use out of that bike. He played baseball and basketball this year and says basketball is his favorite. He still loves his video games and is a great help with the baby. He earned his Wolf badge in cub scouts and is working on his Bear.
Sydney is 5 and started kindergarten in August. She loves going to school like her older brothers and has become an awesome reader in such a short amount of time. This spring she took tumbling and dance, and her favorite part was being able to wear make-up for the recital…she’s going to be a handful one day! She loves playing with her friends and rides her little bike all over the neighborhood. She learned how to ride without training wheels before her 5th birthday (much sooner than her brothers did).
Jake will be 15 months old at the end of the month, and has been the cutest addition to our family! He started walking about a month ago and now thinks it’s time to run. He loves music and sings along and dances to it. We call him Ry-Ry all the time, because he reminds us so much of how Ryan looked as a baby. He definitely completes our family and we’re so glad to have him.
Best wishes to all of you and we hope to see you or hear from you soon.
All our love, Tim, Cathy, Brandon, Ryan, Sydney, and Jake Bryson
So Sydney wanted to "make me beautiful" one day last week. I couldn't resist! I love when she wants to do sweet little girl things like that, plus I'm always making her sit still day after day to make her pretty, so I figured I owed her this much. She probably used every hair bow and clippie we have, but it was SO worth it! I mean, just look at how amazingly hot I look!!! Haha! It really was fun, though, to have an hour of just me and her, and I'm so glad I took the time, because I know someday all too soon, she's no longer going to want to do things like this anymore and that will make me a little (or a lot...) sad.
