2009 Christmas Card and Letter

Whew, what a year. I get exhausted just thinking about what all happened this year and all that we were able to do as a family. Some of the highlights include, Chris and I after 7 years of marriage took our 1st well needed vacation (without our children) in February to San Diego. In March we found out we were expecting baby #4 due in November (you can do the math). As a family we embarked on our biggest road trip to date in May and June. 5000 miles and 2 weeks later we had spent time in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado (again) and back home to Utah. What a trip and what a year.
Chris is still working for Wencor here in Springville and enjoys it very much. We love the freedom he has with his job and that it is only a mile from our home. The kids think lunch with Dad everyday is pretty great. Chris’ really nice acoustic guitar has collected dust for 10 years, so for Fathers Day, Chris got guitar lessons for two months and loved learning how to play. Chris has also become quite the golfer, spending many hours on the courses this year, to say the least. In September, Chris and a friend traveled to Dallas to catch the inaugural Cowboy game in the new stadium and a couple Rangers games in 2 days. All in all, I would say Chris had a fabulous year.
My year was pretty great. I really enjoyed being pregnant and expecting another baby boy this time around. It was great to slow down and take it easy and just enjoy life and the promise of a new baby on the way. I was called this year to teach Dane’s CTR 6 class, how fun is that. I really enjoyed spending time and teaching Dane about the Gospel. I was also blessed to have the easiest pregnancy and delivery ever, compared to the others. Now that Baby Tuck (as my kids call him) is here it is great to be looking forward to next year and the hopes of getting back into shape and resuming my running. I have caught the running bug. Wish me luck.
Dane turned 6 this year and started the 1st grade. Dane’s highlight of starting the 1st grade is getting to eat in the lunchroom everyday. He checks the menu every morning before school and says “nachos supreme are so good they make him cry“. Dane is still our little athlete. We think he is a freak of nature. At Dane’s 1st parent/teacher conference I voiced my concern about his being so small and others picking on him. Dane’s teacher said, “No way, he is the quarterback everyday for the 6th graders at recess. No one picks on Dane”. What a relief.
Maggie turned 4 this year and is enjoying her 2nd year of preschool. Maggie is very much a little girl. She just has to wear skirts and dresses and they have to be pink or purple. Maggie is still our little ballerina and she had her 1st recital this year as a bluebird in Cinderella. She also finished her 1st season of soccer. You would often see Maggie on the field dancing with her shadow, we are going to have to fix that before next season. Maggie also loves to color, look at books and have them read to her. Maggie’s favorite book is Pinkalicious, no surprises there.
Cooper turned 3 this year and is enjoying his 1st year of preschool. Cooper is the funniest kid, it makes me and Chris smile and laugh just thinking about him and some of the stuff he tries to pull. Cooper very much enjoys gymnastics and you can catch him trying out new “cool tricks” (as he calls them) all of the time and all over the house. You can usually tell where Cooper has been practicing his cool tricks by where his little toe prints appear. We are constantly wiping toe prints off of the countertop, table, walls, side of the dishwasher, stove and fridge, mirrors in the bathrooms, windows and pretty much every surface we did not name. That’s our Cooper.
Tuck Nissen was born on November 20th at 12:30pm. He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 20 inches long. Our biggest baby by far. He trumped Maggie by 9 oz and 1.5 inches way to go Tuck. It is an absolute joy to have Baby Tuck in our lives. Chris and I love seeing how Dane, Maggie and Cooper interact with him and we definitely have some great little helpers.
I love writing a Christmas letter more for ourselves than for our friends and family. Chris and I laughed and laughed remembering all of the fun we have had this year. I think Christmas and the New Years is a great time to reminisce about the year and plan for the future. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. With our 4 kids we are no doubt headed for some fun and adventures this next year. We Love You All. Chris, Jamie, Dane, Maggie, Cooper and Tuck Jensen.