Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,
We decided to save some paper this year, and send you all here to read about our year. Kirsten is a little bit old fashioned, and isn't sold on the idea - so you'll have to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Here are some highlights of what we've been up to - you can read our old posts if you want to read more and see some pictures!

Dave just finished his first year at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. He spent the first three months at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) as an intern and works with them as a DARPA transition officer at the lab. Dave is thankful for a great wife / mother / teacher / friend in Kirsten. He's also thankful for four kids that don't need diapers. Finally, he's thankful for over 12 years of unconditional love from two furry friends.

Kirsten kept busy much of the year with homeschooling the children. When she wasn't teaching them, she was driving them to soccer, baseball, basketball, AWANA, ballet, gymnastics, piano, and to their friends' houses. She still found time to meet up with her running buddies on the weekends, and logged a few miles. She made Dave join her for the Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon in August ... that's not the best time of year to run in Virginia Beach! She and the kids joined a homeschool co-op at our church this school year, and they are really enjoying it. She has enjoyed being close to her family and being able to visit with them regularly.

Erica turned 11 this year and is in 6th grade. She played basketball in the winter, but her true love is still soccer! She started piano lessons this year and is enjoying it - she hopes to add voice lessons sometime next year. She loves her cell phone, her friends, and is quite interested in the latest fashions! She reached quite a milestone this year - she is now taller than her Nana! At 5'2", she's taller than most of the women in Dave's family.

Grady is 8 and in the 3rd grade. He loves playing basketball and baseball, and was able to do both this year. He is a Lego fanatic, and is quite imaginative when he's creating things. He decided this fall that he wanted to grow his hair out, much to his father's dismay. He has no interest in playing the piano, or even the guitar - he would really like to play the drums. Dave will have to soundproof the basement before that can happen!

Liam is 5 and in kindergarten. He tried tee-ball in the spring, but was eager to pick up soccer again in the fall. He loved playing soccer, but would also like a chance to play football. He has become a football fanatic, and is a big fan of the Hokies. Dave took him to his first Hokie football game in September, and he loved it! He is learning to read, and is eager to write. He still loves to draw and makes many pictures each day - all of which have to be saved in his special bag.

Jenna is 3 and thinks she's in kindergarten. She is eager to be big like the other kids, but her mom and dad would like her to stay little! She started ballet this year, and is so cute to watch. She also started Cubbies at church, and we have discovered that she's a perfectionist - she gets upset if she struggles with learning a verse. She loves playing with Polly Pockets and Barbie dolls, and is hoping she'll get an American Girl Doll for Christmas.

Kadie and BJ, our first "babies", both passed away this year. They were great dogs, and we miss them a lot! The kids are hoping that we'll get a puppy sometime in 2009 ... we'll see what happens.

As we end 2008, we are thankful for all that we have been blessed with! We are thankful for our friends and family, for good health, for food and shelter. But most of all, we're thankful for the reason we celebrate Christmas - the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope that you have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy 2009!

With Love,
Dave, Kirsten, Erica, Grady, Liam, and Jenna