Christmas Letter

I did send out a letter this year, but incase you didn't receive one, I am posting it here too.  I still have some random ones to mail for a few whose addresses I couldn't find and stuff, so you may still be getting one one day!

Well this year has flown by again, and it has been anything but boring!  We have added a new member to our family, moved, and spent some time in Canada for a wedding or two!  It’s hard to believe we are preparing for 2013 already!

Jeremy is still working as a financial advisor with MetLife, saving the world one financially well-advised family at a time.  He works hard, even when it’s tough.  He is also currently enjoying a break from callings.  He was released as scoutmaster a few months ago and enjoyed teaching Sunday School for the last two months before our move, and now he is calling-less!  He’s not complaining about the lack of camping trips around here, that’s for sure!  He is also a great dad and the kids insist that he put them to bed because he’s best at story telling.

I have been staying busy with all of the usual mom things.  Up until we moved I was enjoying regular play dates at the park, lots of swimming this summer, my calling as a young women advisor, and preparing for a move that was a long time coming.  We are thrilled to have moved into a new house where we have more room and our kids will be in better schools.  Now I just need to decorate!  Anyone offering help would not be turned away!    Our new ward is huge, and I have been called to be the CTR 4 teacher!

Brenna is 4, and as spunky as ever.  We sure love watching our sweet girl grow up.  This year she learned how to swim, and started and finished preschool!  She LOVED going to school and was sad she had to quit when we moved.  She is also sort of obsessed with babies, and wants to be the boss a lot so that she can do mommy things.  She is such a good big sister and can’t wait to start school next year.  She’s growing up way too fast!

Mason is 2, and is absolutely convinced that he’s turning 4 on his birthday.  He is all boy and gets more bumps and bruises than anyone else in the family (even me!).  He loves riding his bike, trains, trucks, and playing anything with a ball (he usually sleeps cuddling a ball instead of a stuffed animal).  He is finally potty trained, and is very smart.  He always surprises us with how quickly he catches on to the things that we are teaching Brenna.  He is the cutest 2-year-old boy in town (unless you have a 2-year-old boy in town… then it’s a tie), and is also quite emotional under all the tough manliness.

Owen is our newest addition, and has been a complete joy and blessing in our home.  Although his sleeping habits went from stellar to not so great, we still love him to bits.  He was born on March 1st despite all of our efforts to make him a leap baby.  He is now 9 months old, just got his first tooth and is very close to crawling.  He is happy, healthy, and he loves his mommy (but anyone willing to give him some attention is a good substitute!)  We are enjoying the last moments while he is not totally mobile.  He sure is cute and makes friends wherever we go!

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and reflect upon the great blessings of the past year and pray you will be given even greater blessings in the coming year! 

Love, the Cooks!