Merry Christmas & Happy 2012!

Jason:
Continues to work hard to grow the business and is working hard at finishing up a year long project of reconstructing a new website for his business. We were able to dive more into the flat glass (home/commercial glass), add screens onto our list of services offered along with still maintaining his sanity. :-) He is still serving (about 2 years now I think?) as the High Priest Group Leader in our ward and really enjoys working with our Bishopric, we are so blessed to be in such a great ward.

Denise:
Has enjoyed the year off from teaching dance (although she continues to have her adult class) and took the bull by the horns this past year to organize and go through every square inch of the house! This included several projects (which hopefully will be blogged about soon!) that she did with Nate earlier this year. This took several months to complete and took up the majority of her time this year along with helping Nate with his homeschool and of course the many other fun mom stuff that she gets to enjoy more fully not having to work. She is still serving in the Stake Primary over scouts (3 years) and enjoys working with the ladies in the presidency and getting to visit all the wards. She loves being with the kids & thinks that being in the primary is the best calling you can have!

Nate:
Finished up the 6th grade at MDLP online school. He is now in the 7th grade and moved onto the MDLP 7-12th online school. This has been quite the adjustment compared to the K-6 but Nate have adjusted well and it has been a great learning experience him. He continues to take piano and although it is getting more difficult, he has continued to keep practicing and we are proud of him for sticking with it. He has enjoyed learning more about electronics (love ANY Apple products) and has enjoyed being able to take classes at the Apple store and is looking forward to taking many more. He says he wants to own Apple when he grows up...so we are trying to get him a good start. :-) He still enjoys legos (even though he may not want to admit it in front of his friends), loves to tinker with his ipod/pad, loves reading, playing games and watching movies. It's hard to believe he is already 13 1/2 and will be 14 this year! He will be able to go to church dances (although he says he is too shy to go), youth conference and soon enough Seminary! Although home schooling has it's challenges, it has been nice to have him home with us during the day. We realize how fast time goes and are cherishing the good times we have with our Nate Dog.

Tyson (A.K.A. Peanut or Shnitzle or Shnitzle Butt):
Finished up his 1st grade year with his favorite teacher so far Mrs. Frassetto and entered into his 2nd grade year with Mrs. Bennett. He is still quite the energizer bunny around here and always is keeping us on our toes. He took gymnastics from January through August of this year and unfortunately had to stop because the place shut down. :-( He enjoyed jumping on the trampoline & doing tricks but I think he has learned more teaching himself and just hippity hoppitying (i know that's not a word but it truly does fit him perfectly!) around the house than he did at gymastics. He entered his 4th year in soccer and really took well to it this year. He was so fun to watch and scored at least one goal in each game played. He plays soccer every day at recess and loves going outside to kick the ball back and forth with whoever will go outside with him (usually it's Jason :-) ). He will be starting basketball here next week and is excited to play on the same team as his best friend Carter. Jason and Carter's Dad (Chad) will be coaching the team...we'll see what's in store for us with this one! The biggest highlight this year for Tysonw as getting baptized and getting his own set of scriptures. He was so excited to get his scriptures and scripture case. He got lots of wonderful gifts such as CTR rings, tie tacks and decided to wear them ALL the following Sunday. :-) He loves to build Legos, race cars down his race track, build his marble track and race marbles, play video games (Lego Star Wars, Cars II & Skylanders). He will sometimes sit still to watch a movie with us but most of the time he loves to do something (in the same room) while we are watching the movie whether it is coloring, buildling or playing with his cars this kid is always on the go. What a joy he has been to have in our home, we are so blessed!

We thought we'd include some of this past years highlights in our family...(in no particular order):

Deciding to adopt in February and getting all the paperwork done and approved in August.

Purchasing another glass company at the end of 2011 that has helped our business grow and allowed Denise to be able to not have to teach dance anymore (even though she missed those kids!)

Tyson getting baptized

Nate learning to play the Titanic on the piano

Going on a Disney Cruise with Jason's family to Mexico

Always one of the years top highlights is our trip to Minnesota. :-)

Jason passing the Business Managament Exam that allowed him to be able to get his commerical glazing license.

Having Denise's adult dance group take top high point in the 18+ age division (over 12 other competing groups) and having the chance to compete in Vegas at Nationals.

Jason coaching Tyson's soccer team with our good friend and co-worker Billy.

Visiting Jason's old missionary companion Mike Moore & his wife Amy for Thanksgiving in Sacramento. Getting to see San Fransisco, Alcatraz, the BIG Red Wood trees & lots of other fun sight seeing stuff in Northern Cal :-)

Purchasing our first boat with Jason's siblings

Getting to go to Denise's favorite stores on her birthday (Shinodas & Tai Pan in California)

Denise re-decorating a good portion of the house (this was NOT one of Jason's highlights lol)

Getting to go to Salt Lake City for the first time and going to the Salt Lake Temple (even if it was only for 36 hours)

Nate going to scout camp this past summer & actually enjoying it! (quite the accomplishment!)

Finally purchasing a car! After another year of Jason driving the work van and Denise driving Jason's car we finally got a new (well not new but new to us) car and are loving it!

Most of all, we cherish the time spent together & the blessings good health. We look forward to 2013 and hope and pray that it brings us a new addition to our family.