Merry Christmas!
I'm wondering how in the world the last year has zoomed by once again, without my paying any attention! It seems that the holiday season sneaks up each year a little bit sooner with a little less warning. As with last year, I've decided not to "publish" a letter, but will post in on our family blog. (which obviously has been a little neglected this year, as with many other things!)
Our year has been busy, to say the least, but has left us with many sweet memories. We began this year with heartbreak with the loss of TJ's maternal Grandmother and then three weeks later, the loss of his paternal Grandfather. These losses came much to close to the losses of his other Grandmother and Grandfather just the previous year. We miss them all every day of our lives and know that they are so proud of their families.
As a family we were able to travel a bit this year and took our first official ski trip in February. We had our annual family camping trip with my family in June, where we hiked and explored Glenwood and Aspen. We also moved TJ's mother, Janet, from Palmer Lake to Ruidoso, NM in June, where she has made a new home. The Crowsons were also lucky enough to be invited back to Lake Powell in July with our neighbors and we think we've secured our spot for years to come, mainly by proving that we are very useful and entertaining campers. (and we've been dominating the Annual Family Olympics, just sayin). In October we spent Fall Break in Austin, TX with TJ's sister and brother in law, Jaree and Walker. We packed in a trip to San Antonio, the Natural Caverns, a BBQ Tour, a UT tour and Game and a lot of local Austin flair into our week long stay. We also met our new furry nepehew/cousin, Roux Fuss the dog.
Reed is somewhere between boy and man as he entered his 13th year. We celebrated his birthday by sending a group of boys in a limo for the afternoon, leaving the limo driver totally in control of 10 teenage boys. God Bless him. Reed started Junior High with a great attitude and played quarterback on the school's flag football team. He is also studying at an advanced level and has just been accepted to join the National Junior Honor Society. It's hard to not brag about his first semester with nothing but A's... He is also playing competitive basketball for the High School's feeder team and other rec leagues year round.
At 10, Jett is an avid reader and loves math. He seems to have a book in his hand at all times and we have to remind him to NOT read. He still loves to build and find out how things work...and create new inventions and drawings. He was on the school's stagecrew again helping to produce the talent show. He is playing basketball year round and some fierce defense on the flag football teams. One of our favorite times with Jett each day is around the dinner table...or any table where there is food, as mealtime seems to bring out his inner comic and critic. I've also seen an inner-wrestler trying to come out this year as well.
Brady, like all 10 year old boys, loves to MOVE. And TALK. He also loves math and reads just as much as Reed and Jett do. Its very fun to watch Brady become consumed by a book. He just eats the pages up! He is also playing basketball yearround, flag football and has stuck with soccer showing a new passion and talent. One thing we can say for that little dude is that he will risk life and limb to make a play in any of the games he shows up for! He has spent the year with a mouth of braces, and just got them taken off in time for Christmas. Brady also works the stagecrew for the school talent show, pridefully working the concessions stand! I'm not sure why he is not ON the stage, as he is quite dramatic... and I have NO idea where he got that from!!!?
TJ and I both celebrated our 40th birthdays this year, as well as our 15th wedding anniversary. I may have not welcomed the birthday as easily as TJ did, but I definitely made my mark! It's not so much that I've been worried about the actual age of 40, but I think I've used it as a defining moment to complete, or begin, some of the "bucket list." We threw a party in June to celebrate the big 40/40/15...and we were overwhelmed with the amount of friends and famiy who celebrated with us all year long, actually. TJ and I were also able to take some couple time to New York City in May and Vegas in September and San Francisco in November. We've definitely spent some time traveling this year! My business had a great year, where we packed 12 weddings/events into a 10 week work year!! I saw Steamboat, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Costa Rica...where I spent a week alone relying on my Spanglish and "wedding spanish!" We were also nominated for an award for one of our weddings that we planned last year and enjoyed the attention that came with the nomination! Mountain Occasions is growing and I'm looking forward to another great year. I've also still been busy year round on the tennis courts...wondering just when I will perfect the game....In my "spare" time I am constantly making lists and plans and trying to keep them all straight in my position as Household CEO (AKA: QUEEN).TJ is busy with eCollege and added another responsibility to his legal position by taking on more of a managerial position running the partnership program and the development group. He is also still active playing basketball 2-3 times a week and keeping his bod buff in the gym. He is also much to my delight, still happy and handy in the kitchen a few days a week. (keeping me in the gym) In all that spare time he has (ha ha) he is still coaching Jett and Brady's basketball teams and playing, playing, playing with all those boys.
So, as the year comes to an end, we once again give thanks for all of the many blessings and gifts that we have been given. Great friends and loving family and happy, healthy bodies and hearts.
May this season find you and your family happy and healthy, as well. Cheers to the new year and all it's promise it holds. May you find laughter and love in each day!
xoxo,
Kret and the Boyz (aka: TEAM CROWSON!)
