The end of summer

We're enjoying our family vacation this week, spending it with Dave's family (sisters and their husbands and kids and his parents). We all have cabins right in a row next to each other up at Heartwood. We've enjoyed tubing down the river, kayaking on the lake, biking, walking, eating, boating, talking, and resting. Dave and I have gotten 8+ hours of sleep each night since we've been here which was much needed.

When we get back, we'll be welcoming Lisa to our house as well as two foreign exchange students, Paulina from Poland (though she's been living in Mexico the past few years) and Yirui from China. Full house and exciting times ahead!

Merry Christmas!

I believe I've just given up on sending out Christmas cards this year. We did get our family picture taken- you can see it for yourself if you go to mysmilesbywire.com. Email is polkstina at hotmail. (Fill in the symbol "at" and the com part..I'm trying to protect myself from spammers) and use Mirabel for the password.)

We had a great Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve and Dave's on Christmas Day. We got to sing Christmas carols at both events (piano by my sister, Micaiah, and guitar by brother-in-law, Bob). Lots of good family time, reading the Christmas story, and some time outside in the snow (M was not so keen on the wind nor on having us wipe her snotty nose.)

M was so excited about all the people she fought sleep as much as she could, passing out at one point in the middle of crawling across the kitchen floor. She also loves eating tissue paper and wrapping paper- a struggle to find it before she does.

We hope that your celebrations were enjoyable and that you share our joy in welcoming our Savior and remembering his birth.