Dear friends, family and others (if you watch Modern Family, you'll get that!)
I was reading an online blurb the other day that said most people hate getting those "annoying family letters" every year. It went on to say that some people believe that other's lives aren't that great, but no one will ever put the 'real stuff' in the family letter. Interesting thought. Personally, I love the letters. I love seeing and hearing how everyone is doing, especially those that I don't get to see as often as I'd like. As for the 'real stuff'. I think we all have our ups and downs. No one has a perfect life, if they did they would be too busy living off the coast of France, basking in the sun and celebrity, to write a Christmas letter!
So, to get to the great stuff at the Rousehouse....
We've had a great year, no really, it's been great! Our family has walked through several big changes, that have turned out far better than I ever dreamed they would!
Claire is the solid rock in the family. She is strong, confident, talented, happy, helpful, kind and all around amazing! She is in 4th grade at Shuler and, although I don't find the curriculum to be challenging enough, she is loving it. She is active in ELP (TAG from my generation) and an advanced book club. She excels at FourSquare and enjoys the Science Club. Claire is still swimming her heart out for the Walnut Creek Dolphins, doing very well this year and continuing to be a great mentor on the team. She also loves piano and enjoys both the lessons and the recitals. Most of all, Claire is happy. She reached that critical age of 10, double-digits. By all accounts, we survived the first 10 years and are actually looking forward to the next 10. We are incredibly proud of Claire and so grateful to have been blessed with the best first-born child ever!
Ella is having the best year yet (well, at least that's my opinion!) She is in 2nd grade at Sayre Montessori. This is a new school for Ella and has been an absolute God-send. She is so happy and absolutely loves school! Before Ella, I thought one-size-fit-all when it came to parenting, schooling, health, just about everything. After Ella, I have learned that it's okay to question, to advocate, to research, to make tough choices that in your heart you believe are what is best for your child. Ella is doing great academically and is also enjoying riding her electric scooter and playing with neighborhood friends. She is very busy swimming for the Dolphins. She loves the meets and is well on her way to qualifying in several events for state! Ella started piano this year, and although practicing isn't her favorite part, she loves her lessons! Ella still loves to draw, write, listen to music and sneak into our bed in the middle of the night.
Avery, my sweet Aves, is 4 years old and in the pre-K program at Sayre. Aves is passionate about, well, everything. She is full of life and has a hilarious, loving, clever, intelligent and very strong personality. She loves her school and is always very excited to tell us all about her "work". Avery spends her free time talking, playing with Jack, swimming lessons, talking, watching Scooby Doo and talking. Avery brings a special kind of happiness to our family that is indescribably wonderful and exhausting and we are all so grateful for it!
Dave and I are still going strong after almost 12 years of marriage and 10 years of sleepless nights and parent/teacher conferences! We are very grateful for all of the grandparents in our lives who help with the girls. Not only with carpooling and date night, but with their constant love and support they give to all of us.
Dave is happily working at Hummel's and I accepted a position with Simpson College this fall. It was a huge leap of faith for me to leave DMACC, the only workplace I've really ever known, to go to Simpson for a full-time position. As so often happens with those faithful leaps, it is great!! I absolutely love my job! I love the people I work with and I love getting to be home with the girls during the winter and summer break. I am very blessed to have found the perfect position to blend the two things I love most; my family and my sanity!
So, life at the Rousehouse is good. We are very blessed and very grateful. We have been reminded many times that life is short and precious. We do not take our family, our friends, or our health for granted. We praise God for the gentle reminders to slow down, play a game, bake some cookies, or snuggle for one more minute.
We wish for peace, love, and happiness for all of our friends and family.
Blessings,
David, Janelle, Claire, Ella and Avery
