Merry Christmas Everyone!

We sent out about 75 letters this year so for anyone that I did not have an address for...this is for you! p.s and send us your address for next year!!!

Greetings Family & Friends,

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? Another year and another Henwood Family Christmas letter. A quick disclaimer about this year’s letter – Patti is not writing our family letter this year. I know – you are all shocked. Let’s just say that being a mother of 4, a wife, her Primary calling and being the PTA President at the kids’ elementary school this year has taken its toll. So this year I get the opportunity to write our family letter. With that being said let’s start with our youngest daughter Emma.

Our baby Emma is now 6. (I can hardly believe it either!) She started kindergarten this year and just loves it. She loves to pick out all of her outfits each day without letting us help her – you can only imagine the outfits. She loves doing homework, enjoys reading, coloring, and can’t wait to go to school each day. Emma is full of energy – all kinds of it! She is always doing something – something fun, something loud, something crazy and so on and so forth. Check out our blog http://bhenwood.blogspot.com to see some of the things she has done this year – like fall 12 feet off the slide at the playground. She loves to help her Mom and Dad whenever they are doing something – like making dinner. She likes to think that she is a big grown-up and can do all of those grown-up things. Emma loves to play with her cousins and friends and is always on the go – going here and there and everywhere. She reminds me of me when I was that age – at least she does not bite everyone like someone who will not be named.

Next on our list is Lauren. Lauren is now 8 and was baptized in September by her Dad. She was so excited to be baptized. Lauren is now in 3rd grade and does great at school. She is quite the little planner – she is always organizing slumber parties and birthdays, making lists of things to do and what to eat. Lauren still loves to color or draw (or whatever it is called when you are 8). She is quite the little artist. Lauren is definitely our little girly-girl – she loves wearing dresses, doing her hair, putting on make-up and all of those things girls do – I will never understand it all. She and Emma were so excited on July 4th when we were able to see Miley Cyrus live in concert. I thought they were going to explode in excitement, which would have been messy! Both Emma and Lauren love Build-a-Bear and their Webkinz.

Tanner is the big Ten and is in the 4th grade. I can’t say that Tanner loves school or homework, but he got straight A’s on his last report card. He is naturally smart, which he sometimes uses to his advantage. Tanner loves computers and his Wii video games. He is always doing something on the computer – I think he may have been born with a USB cord attached. His “non-electronic” activities include Webelos, playing with Jace and his friends, and he still likes to play football with his Dad every once in a while. He loves his wheels – from his bike, to his Razor or Heely’s – and is always rolling somewhere. This summer their Uncle Mike stayed with us and Tanner and Jace both had a great time with him – especially playing “speed-minton” (a crazy form of badminton) at the park.

Our final child making the list is Jace. Jace turned 12 in June and became a Deacon. He passes the sacrament each week at church. Jace started at Lakeridge Junior High as a 7th grader this year. I was worried about how he would make the transition from elementary school to Jr. High, but he is doing just fine. Jace does excellent at school (when he remembers to turn in his homework), enjoys math and science, and wants to become an engineer – we can hardly wait for Jace to support us in our old age!!! Jace is very responsible, a great help around the house, and is very thoughtful and tender hearted. He is especially a big help when we want to go out for a date and he is the “babysitter”. Jace enjoys scouting and just finished his First Class rank. He loves camping and I have had the opportunity to go with him several times this past year. Jace is really becoming a fine young man. All of his activities remind me of growing up in Portland with all of my friends. He is just like I was, only not as crazy and way more obiedient!!!

And now, our beloved wife and mother Patti. To start, I want to say that Patti is simply amazing. I could end there, but that would make the letter a little short and that just wouldn’t be right. Like I mentioned above, Patti is the PTA president, which is pretty much the most unthankful job that anyone may ever do and not be paid for it. She is always doing something for the PTA. She is still in the Primary as the 1st Counselor, volunteers each week in Emma’s class, and somehow finds the time to help the kids with their homework, take care of the finances, run a home and a family, and take care of her husband in her spare time. Patti did get a few breaks this year. In April we were able to go up to Rexburg, ID for Mike’s graduation and reminisce of when we met and fell in love. In June she and most of her sisters and Mom went down to Vegas to visit her sister Reecy – what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! J In August we went up to Canada for the Lowry Family Reunion – something we wouldn’t miss for the world. While in Canada we journeyed up to Calgary and got to see her old stomping grounds and eat some Tim Horton doughnuts. We also snuck away to Park City, UT for our 13th anniversary. It’s amazing that she still loves me so much. More recently she and her sisters and Mom went to the midnight showing of Twilight. If you want to try and keep up with everything Patti does, you can check her out on Facebook or our blog. Good luck!!!

Well, I guess it’s my turn. This year has gone by so fast. I started my 10th year with MarketSource in February. I continue to work on the Palm Program and travel as needed, although is has not been too bad this year. I was also called to be the 1st Counselor in the Stake Young Men’s Presidency and a Scout Commissioner. This has been a great blessing to work the youth in our area. I have helped to plan and participated in multiple events and campouts, including a 3-day handcart youth trek in June (check out our blog for more details). Both Patti and I are going out to Portland this month for my mom’s family Christmas party – something we have not been able to do since we have been married. It’s always fun to get back home. We love living in Orem. It’s a great place to raise a family. We loving being close to Patti’s family – it’s been such a blessing. Plus our kids would go crazy without all of their cousins nearby.

Well, that about does it for the Henwood clan. We are so grateful to be able to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and spend time with friends and family. As the Angel said to the shepherds watching over their flocks in the field:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

God Bless and Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

The Henwoods