Happy New Year!
As 2010 draws to a close, we reflect on some of the highlights of the year.
One of Tom's highlights was purchasing his dream car: a 2011 metallic blue Mini Cooper S. He had been wishing, hoping, dreaming, planning and sacrificing for many years for this car, then finally did it! The third car has been a blessing with three drivers and six busy schedules. Other highlights for Tom were running another half-marathon-this time with Nathan. Tom continues to work at IU, gig, teach, record, lead our family, and conduct our church choir.
Nathan's big highlight this year was to get his driver's license. He also inherited Tom's old Honda Civic. It's been so convenient to have another driver in the home. Nathan has also nearly completed all of his requirements for his Eagle in Boy Scouts. We're shooting for an Eagle Court of Honor in March. Nathan (17) continues to enjoy running, playing the saxophone in his advanced Jazz Band at school, and especially loves Physics. Lately he's also been earning some extra cash by tutoring in math. He obviously did NOT inherit his mother's brains.
Wesley (14) has really become proficient in playing the bass this year. He plays the upright bass in his 8th grade orchestra class at school, and the electric bass in jazz band after school. In addition to the bass, Wesley has progressed to the rank of brown belt in Taekwondo. A kind of fun highlight was when he and Nathan dressed up as a police officer and escaped convict for a Halloween party. They won 1st prize. Recently, Wes has shot up in height and has passed up every family member. He's reaching close to 5'10. He obviously did NOT inherit his mother's height.
Camilla (10) would probably say that the 2010 highlight was receiving the Xbox Kinect for Christmas. She has so much fun playing the games on that new "toy." She needs some fun time, because she is world's hardest worker. She is meticulous about getting her homework done, her piano practice in, her teeth flossed, her clothes set out the night before, her reading in every day, etc. Her hard work has paid off, because she gets good grades and is becoming quite a good pianist. She even accompanied the Primary Children's Choir at church on their program last November. Last fall she also just received her purple belt/white stripe in Taekwondo.
Heather (5) has MANY highlights. Five year-olds are just excited about life and everything, to Heather, is a highlight. Birthdays, snow, Halloween, Christmas, stuffed animals, people dressed in costumes, merry-go-rounds, trips to museums, elevators, swimming, playgrounds, etc. Heather is at such a fun age. She continues to attend the Children's Therapy Clinic for OT, PT and ST. She also attends a developmental preschool five days a week for several hours. She's progressing socially and developmentally. We think she's the cutest and funniest little five year-old in the world. But she also has an impish side to her-which is also kinda cute. She definitely inherited that from her mother.
Michelle's highlights were probably getting her eye fixed, singing, taking a family trip to the East Coast with the family over the summer, and losing some weight. As you all know, Michelle is always in the pursuit of a thinner version of herself. Michelle got into a really good groove with waking up at 5:00 AM, to spend 1½ hours at the gym: which includes swimming, elliptical, biking and weight lifting. In addition to that, she's been eating much healthier. But she had to take a month break from the workout to recover from her eye surgery, which was on November 30. Her New Year's Resolution is to resume the workout routine and get the rest of the weight off. Anyone surprised by this resolution?
As mentioned earlier, our family took a major family trip over the summer to the East Coast. We hit hot spots in Ohio, then off to Niagara Falls, the Sacred Grove and Palmyra in New York. While there, we also got to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. We then hit Boston, Plymouth and Salem in Mass, then the big NYC. Next was Philadelphia, Washington DC, then our final stop before heading back home was Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Ober Gatlinburg. This place is SO FUN!
We really look forward to a wonderful 2011. As always, we're grateful for amazing and supportive family and friends and wish you all well in the coming year.
Much love,
Tom, Michelle, Nathan, Wesley, Camilla and Heather Clark
