Christmas Letter, as promised...

December 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

I figured I’d better post our Christmas letter as promised in some of the cards you may have received. I wasn’t planning on doing a Christmas letter this year, but I really like reading the year’s happenings of other families, so I decided to make our news to others optional. I guess if you are reading this—you decided you wanted to hear about us :)

It’s been another busy year, I guess I can expect that for another 17 years at least. I know I put in last year’s letter that we were probably staying in Oklahoma for another year. Well, we didn’t. Shortly after sending out that letter, Trevor decided to go look at some practices and he found one he loved in Montana. We were very lucky to be able to sell our house in such a crazy real estate economy, and it seemed like everything fell into place. So right after he took terminal leave from the army, we moved to Montana to start our life in this beautiful town. Once we got here, they put us right to work in the ward and made us feel right at home. We love it.

Trevor: Is the best boss ever…in my opinion. He’s had a lot of fun learning the ins and outs of a business, all the while doing what he loves (dentistry). I guess they heard what a good YM president he was in our past ward, because they put him right in as YM president here. Either that or he needed more practice? He still loves to spend days off and evenings playing with his kids and they can’t get enough of it. We love this man.

Kim: Is staying at home with all these little monsters…and loving every minute of it. Eventually when the kids get a little older I’d like to work a day or two a week…I miss working! I didn’t think this would happen, and it probably wouldn’t have happened if Trevor didn’t come home every day talking about the dentistry and all the things I miss in the dental office. Other than that I stay busy in the Primary. Who knew I could love other people’s children so much!? It’s so much fun.

Tyler: Is a big 6 year old first grader. He LOVES school and I never hear: “Do I have to go to school today?” It’s funny how proud I feel when he reads to me each night. My little boy is growing up! He hasn’t lost any teeth, yet. But he does have a few permanent teeth coming in. A couple behind the baby teeth and he won’t touch those loose teeth. I keep threatening him that we’ll just have dad pull them out…we might have to resort to that here pretty soon. He looks like a shark with those rows of teeth. He’s such a good brother to his little brother and sisters. And such a big helper to me!

Hailey: Just turned five and is in preschool this year. She tells me everyday what she’s doing at her school and who is boyfriend/girlfriend with who. In preschool! I know, a little young for that. It scares me, of course. She’s such a sweet little girl and such a big helper with Jason. She and Ashley are little buddies. Their newest game is “Sisters.” They hold hands and run around the house saying: “Let’s be sisters!” I know, it’s only cute to a mother. But it makes me feel good they like each other.

Ashley: Is such a character. I always tell Trevor how her looks don’t match her personality because she has this curly, bouncy hair and such a girly little face. But this girl is tough! She does like her girl things like Pollies and Barbies, but she’s a little more Tom-Boy than you would picture when you see her. She likes to get dirty and wrestle with Tyler. She’s a little too rough with Jason sometimes when trying to wrestle with him, and I have to remind her he’s just little still. She also has found a love for school because it makes her feel big like Tyler and Hailey. She goes to the “mom’s preschool” where we switch each week and she LOVES it.

Jason: Has grown leaps and bounds from last year…but I guess they do that first year. He turns one on December 22nd. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I had him!! I have enjoyed him so much. I have enjoyed every baby, but I think I was a little more uptight and worried about the older kids when they were babies. He crawls as of about a month ago, hopefully he’ll be that slow in walking. He says “Mom” and shakes his head “No” and jabbers a whole lot…well, more yells a whole lot. He’s just found how to hit and thinks it’s pretty funny. I have a hard time telling him “no” because when I say it seriously, he starts bawling like I hurt his feelings or something. The youngest is always the most spoiled, I guess. I’ll have to work on that.

Thanks for enduring the news of 2009 for our family. We sure love and miss all of you and hope to see you soon! Merry Christmas and have a wonderful 2010!

Love,
The Strupps