It
seems that 2014 was a bit of a blur at our house this year. Family highlights
included Emma and Wyatt getting baptized and making way too many trips to
Disneyland. We were able to say our final good bye to Grandpa Bart and visit a
bunch more National Parks. We love to watch the kids at the beach as they are
now moving from sandcastles to boogie boards. I should also mention that we got
another dog this year to keep Tucker company. Cooper has the gift of reminding
us how much “fun” a puppy can be.
Owen
(4)
We
woke up one morning to find that Owen had colored his entire body with markers
sometime in the middle of the night. He is mischievous and loves to help cook.
He is also very convinced that if his older siblings can do it, so can he. Some
of our favorite things he says are: "Meeny miney tappy toe...I choose
you" and “Is it this day?” instead of today.
Wyatt
(8)
Notable
items for Wyatt this year are his first season of baseball and beginning cub
scouts. He is getting really good at the piano, and he really loves to sell
rocks (don’t ask). I could fill the entire card with crazy things that he has
said, but most just don’t seem right for a Christmas card.
·
After showing off for some girls one day at the
beach I asked, "Did you think some of those girls were cute?" Wyatt
replied, "No way! They were wearing kabukis (bikinis)."
·
Wyatt was trying to explain why he didn't want to
be friends with a particular boy. He said, "Well, it's like I'm a delicate
white snowflake and he'll get me muddy."
·
After he sprayed himself and half the house with
pepper spray, I asked how he got it to work (it was supposedly child proof).
His response, “I chewed it off”.
Emma
(8)
Emma
played girls fast pitch softball for the first time this year and I learned
that it is all about the cheers and the hair bows. She loves to write in her
journal, make signs and sell tickets to made up events. She is never far from
her box of “stuff” (aka. weird batch of junk she collects).
·
While Amy was helping Emma get ready for dance as she
pulled her boot off...out came a pencil. Then in the other boot was a pen and
paper.
·
When Emma was asked how her first basketball game
was she replied, "It was off the hook awesome!"
·
Emma: Are we
going to have any more babies? Todd:
I don't know, what do you think? Emma:
I don't think so. Todd: Why not? Emma: Because we already have pushed
Mom to her limits!
Carson
(10)
Carson
has grown up so much this last year, though he still has that kid “twinkle” in
his eyes. He got to throw out the first pitch at a AA baseball game. He started
baseball with Wyatt this year and they even won the championship! He is an
expert in many things including Greek Mythology and Clash of the Clans. He is
still doing great with the piano and had a solo for the school’s Show Choir. No
one pulls off Alvin the Chipmunk quite like Carson!
My
plan has worked out perfectly as there is not much room to talk about me and Amy,
so I’ll keep this brief. On top of being the best wife and mom ever, she is
working on her masters, teaching full time, and runs a tight ship in the
Primary. Just writing that makes me tired. As for me, I am lucky enough to sit
back, watch the madness and wonder at how fast the kids grow up. Sure, life has
its challenges, but who could have imagined the joy it brings every single day.
We
hope that you all have the chance to discover and embrace the true gift of Christmas
during this special season, for truly, He is the Gift. We challenge you to take
a moment to wat0ch the video “He is the Gift” (search it online) and then share
the real gift of Christmas with someone you love. May the Lord bless you and
your families! We love you and Merry Christmas!
The Mortensen’s
amyminette.blogspot.com
Instagram:
amyminette or tmortyt
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