Merry Christmas

Dear Family and Friends,

I can't believe how fast this year is drawing to a close. Before we know it, it will be 2009 and another year will have slipped quietly away. We are thankful for the many blessings that have been ours and for those of you who have touched our lives in one way or another and made us better this past year. We will be ever grateful.

Brooke and Kade are doing very well. They are planning a trip to the temple this winter and we are all excited about that. They have such an adorable little family. Treyson started kindergarten this year and at parent-teacher conference a week ago all his teacher could say was how lucky she was to have him in her class. She complimented Brooke on how very respectful he is and how good he is at helping others in his class. It's always nice to get reports like that. He is also wrestling again this year and is taking after his dad, a high school state champion wrestler. He loves to take them down and pin'em to the mat. Kennedy is three and started dance this past fall. She is loving all the pink feathers and frills that come with that and is quite the little ballerina. She is such a beautiful little girl, the very image of her mother. I love the big hugs and little kisses I get everytime they visit. Brooke does a lot of substitute teaching and I love the days she gets to spend with me. I enjoy her so much. Kade is a great dad and is active in all of the sports Treyson plays. He and Treyson enjoy many fishing trips together and they just got back from Salmon where they did some steelhead fishing. They had a great time and have lots of good fish tales to tell. We love their little family so much and are blessed to have them living close by.

Cyndi and Jamon are still in Blackfoot and doing great. Their little family is growing up so fast. Griffen is into everything as little boys should be and loves to follow his daddy everywhere. He is such a happy little boy and such a joy to have around. He loves his Papa Bob and gets so excited every time he sees him. Camryn is as grown up as ever for all of her three (four next month) years, and what a cutie. She steals your heart with her blond hair and blue eyes. She too is dancing and was the star of her recital calling out to all of us but especially Kennedy, "Hay Kenndedy, we dancin'!" She is also attending pre-school this year and loves it. She just can't wait to tell you everything she did there. She is definity a sweetheart. Lauren is seven and as beautiful as ever. When I look at her it makes me wonder where the time has gone. She is an awesome young lady and grandma's best friend. She is also involved in dance and is an incredible little dancer. She played softball this past summer on a team that her Aunt Amy coached. She loved playing ball and we loved watching her. Jamon will graduate from ISU this spring with a double major. We are proud of him and all his hard work. Cyndi is such a good mom. She is loving being back at the Villa doing nails. Her clients love her and are so good to her. She does an amazing job and has got so good and so fast that she only has to work three days a week. We love her and her family and all that they bring to our family.

Adam and Brittany are still living in Salt Lake where Adam is attending the Art Institute of Salt Lake City. He is majoring in Industrial and Interior Design and is so good at what he does, his professor has adopted him and has him present to the class on a regular basis. They have had an exciting addition to their family this year. Little Andie Mae was born on July 14th and is the most beautiful baby you have ever seen. Honest, no lie, she is! Her mother's blond hair and her daddy's blue eyes make for a future beauty queen. She is such a good baby and so happy all the time. She even smiles for her crazy Grandma Dori. She is such a sweet addition to our family. We just love her. Brittany is now able to stay home with Andie as Adam, as well as going to school, has a good job with A.T.&T Mobile. She still will work at the Dental Office when they need her. Then Adam gets to babysit. It's a nice break for both of them and Adam absolutley loves spending time with little Andie. If does our hearts good to watch him with her. He is so loving and patient, he's a great little dad. Brittany's an amazing little mommy and takes such good care of both Andie and Adam. We are grateful to have her in our family. We love them so much and are glad we get to see them as often as we do.

Amy is doing well. She and Alie are living with us again and we love having them. Little Alie has struggled with many ear infections and after having her adenoids removed and then her tonsils, the doctor removed the tubes and low and behold, her infections cleared up. Apparently she had been having a reaction to the material that the tubes were made of and so thankfully she has remained, for the most part, infection free for the past six months. We had to have her cochlear turned way back down so she is starting all over again. It's a slow process but with patience she should get to where she can hear. We are all very hopeful. She doesn't much like it though. She will go in the other room, take it off and hide it so Amy can't put it back on her. The only way we find it is that it beeps when it's not attached to her head. She keeps us on our toes and is so sweet, she is the light of all of our lives. Her signing is amazing! I love to watch her little hands as they talk and help her communicate what she wants. Amy's signing is coming along nicely and it's great to watch her communicate with Alie. Mine is slow but I keep working on it. Amy is so good with her. I am proud of the mom she has become, she is so caring and thoughtful of Alie's needs. It's hard to be a single parent and Amy struggles every day with missing Shay. I don't think she will ever get over loosing him. He was so good to her and Alie. We all miss him very much. Alie will turn three next month on Grandpa Bob's birthday and will start attending a special pre-school at the Elementary school. It will be hard for Amy to put her on that little bus but I know she can do it. She amazes me everyday with the things that she can do. We sure love her and Alie and are glad they are able to be with us.

Bob and I are doing great. Bob is still at the site and as busy as ever. He helped move his parents to Utah this past summer where they bought a home close to his sister Shirley. We miss having them just up the road but I know they are enjoying Utah's milder climate and all the BYU sports! as well as being close to Shirley. I'm still teaching 6th grade at the Blackfoot 6th Grade School and loving what I do. It can be challenging at times but the rewards far out-weigh the challenges. We love keeping busy and our grandkids help us do just that. We love them all so much.

At this holiday season we feel blessed to have you, our friends and family, in our lives and want you all to know how much we love and appreciate you and your examples. We pray that this Christmas season will be joyous and your New Year filled with love and peace. We hope our paths will cross somewhere, sometime in 2009. Happy Holidays!

Much Love, Bob & Dori