Thursday, December 26, 2013

2013 Christmas Letter and Photo!


We hope this letter finds you in good health and preparing for the exciting holiday season!  We have 2 new additions to our outdoor Christmas decor this year – Yoda and Hello Kitty … both in Santa hats, of course!  The kids were very excited when Cal came home from work with these new inflatable decorations!

Hard to believe another year has almost passed.  Everyone is 1 year older and 1 year wiser!!  We had a great summer, enjoying our new trailer.  We put it to good use with trips to many campgrounds and lakes in AB.  Many new, wonderful memories made with friends and family, we couldn’t ask for more.

Blake is now 6 years old and in grade 1.  He is doing well in French immersion and thanks to his virtual classroom; I think I could pass kindergarten!  His first 2 weeks were tough but he is now looking forward to school every day and doesn’t want to miss a second!  I’m not sure if it is school he doesn’t want to miss or the Star Wars games they play at recess but alas, we are happy he is happy!!  Blake’s playing hockey again this year and having a fantastic year.  It’s nice to be the 2nd year player and score some goals – good for his confidence!  Blake is a sports nut.  He comes by it naturally … Cal and Blake are two peas in a pod!  Ask Blake the score in any NHL or NFL game that was played within the last week and he will tell you!  Jersey numbers, player names, he remembers it all!  Cal is quite happy with his son’s ‘knack’ for stats!  Blake also has many other joys in life – swimming, running, drawing, math, snowboarding (a new skill!), dancing (resembles more of a break dance style!), bike riding, the iPad and LEGO!  I asked Blake what he would like to tell his friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and he said, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

Emerson is 4, soon to be 5, and is enjoying her last year of preschool.  She loves school, her teachers and all her friends!  Em is really into dance and absolutely loves her dance class!  She is looking forward to playing soccer this summer and says she is going to play ringette next year (I can’t wait to coach!!)  She is a wonderful big sister to Reese, very motherly!  Em’s other loves include - riding her bike, swimming, make-up (we’ve had a few ‘incident’s’ this year!), arts and crafts, dressing up, skating, singing and baking!  Oh and she loves to shop!!  Em is a sweetheart and such a help around the house.  She loves to clean and do chores – I hope this continues for many years!!  I asked Emerson what she would like to tell her friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and she said, “Tell them I made a snowman!”

Reese just turned 3 and is Mom and Dad’s cuddle-bug.  She is most definitely the baby in the family, true to the label!  Funny how that happens?  As mentioned above, Emerson really ‘mothers’ Reese and Reese soaks up every second!  Reese loves the class we attend at the YMCA, she believes this is her school and is always telling us, “I learned that in Miss Christine’s class!”   We sing, dance, listen to stories and do a craft every class.  Reese also loves her swimming lessons and is a little fish!  She will start unparented lessons in the New Year.  We recently took Reese skating for the first time and were amazed at how well she did!  She loves it!  Some of Reese’s other favorite past times include reading (she is often found in her room reading books!), playing with her babies, playing Barbies, riding her plasma car and watching Dora!  I asked Reese what she would like to tell her friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and she put her chin to her chest and looked up at me with her big blue eyes and a concerned look on her face!

Cal and I are doing well!  Cal ran in the 5 Peaks Trail Run Series this spring/summer.  He ran the enduro races (approx. 17 km each race) and enjoyed the challenges that trail running brought!  Em and Blake even participated in a few 1 km kids challenges.  Cal’s in his 15th year of employment with Telus and enjoying his work from home/don’t have to travel to downtown Edmonton commute.  Cal is the head coach of Blake’s hockey team this year.  He loves this role and puts 110% into planning every practice and game!  I am keeping busy with my online consignment venture and juggling children/home life!  Mom’s taxi (aka mini-van) sure puts on a lot of miles between grade 1 and preschool pick up and drop-off’s and all the other activities!  I’ve applied for a few jobs this year but haven’t found anything yet.  I’m keeping my eyes open for a very part-time Occupational Therapy Assistant position in the schools.  One of these days the right opportunity will arise!  I’m taking a break from my kettlebell class.  Cal and I have been making better use of our YMCA memberships, attending boot camps and various classes!  We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in October and look forward to our 10th in 2014.

From our family to yours – wishing you nothing but the best in 2014 and a blessed holiday season!  Merry Christmas!

xoxo
The Cameron’s

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