Josalyn and Levi Celebrating Levi's First Birthday (May).

Levi's First Swim

Alyssa's First Loose Tooth

Katey's Recital

2008 Christmas Letter

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting ting-a-ling too
It seems like lovely weather to write a Christmas letter to you!

The kids have been reminding me (since 6:30 this morning) tomorrow is Christmas Eve, which means, it’s past time for me to write our Christmas letter. Please forgive my tardiness.

Each year I am surprised how quickly Christmas arrives, and just like every other year I swear we are going to slow down and next year will be different. Despite last year’s resolution, 2008 was packed full of activity for the Tippets family. We spent the first part of the year tying up loose ends in New Jersey, such as attempting to sell our house, touring a few more sites in PA, seeing the Statue of Liberty, saying good-bye to Aunt Mechelle and our friends, and helping Derren finish his research project for Temple University.

In July we said “adios” to the Northeast and moved home to Colorado!!! We are now settling in Montrose, and love everything about it.

Derren opened his Pediatric Dental practice, Treasured Teeth in September and has been working full time advertising it. He has thrown an open-house, held a fund raiser pancake breakfast, handed out toothbrushes for Halloween (in a pirate costume), took part in two Christmas parades (our float won 2nd place in Montrose), held a luncheon for the Pediatricians in town, and has taught several dental classes for the schools of the area. I’m very proud of Derren, he’s worked so hard and is really good at what he does.

Katey (8), is still our little entertainer. She loves singing for everyone and being the center of attention. Being around Aunt Mechelle, the opera singer has inspired Katey to try to be in musicals some day. Katey started her first year of formal piano lessons this year and is doing very well. Please allow me a moment to brag… Katey’s teacher tells us over and over that Katey has learned her lessons faster than any of her other first time students. Katey is also in a clogging class and Girl Scouts. When she isn’t busy with classes and homeschool Katey fills her time reading. This year she has read 20+ children’s novels. Good job Katey!

Alyssa (6), has become Miss Moneybags. She is thrilled that Dad will hire and pay her for miscellaneous jobs at his office, and she can’t wait until she looses another tooth so she can collect from the Tooth Fairy. If anyone is interested you may purchase one of her pictures (she rarely gives them away now) for only $0.25 a piece. When Alyssa isn’t contriving ways to increase her nest egg you can usually find her drawing or writing poems. She is quite creative. Alyssa also enjoys singing, Girl Scouts, her ballet/tap class, smothering Levi with kisses, playing with her friends and sisters, and keeping her room clean.

Josalyn (4), loves life! She wakes up happy and smiling every morning. Josy is proud that she has started homeschool this year. She loves her ballet/tap class, singing, writing letters, playing dress up, putting on make up, and playing at Daddy’s office. Josalyn has curbed her curiosity bouts. We no longer find her gluing her eyes shut or shaving her lip, her biggest temptation now is food. It’s almost impossible to get her to eat a full meal, because she is constantly sneaking little tastes of whatever food she sees. Josy just informed me, “…and I sneak chips!” Good to know.

Little Levi (1 ½ ), is SO cute! He is adored by all of us. We get a kick out of how “boy” he is. He loves cars, dinosaurs, snow-men, ghosts, and anything else he thinks might roar. Levi loves to dance, sing Once There Was a Snow Man and Boo, Boo, Boo, bonk anyone within arms length on their heads, and laugh. Levi started walking in October. Mommy is excited that Levi will be starting nursery at church next month.

I have kept busy trying to help Derren with his business, keeping our blog up to date, guiding homeschool, teaching the 16-18 year old young women in our church, and being the Girls Scout Troop Leader for our girls’ Troop.

We wish all of you a peaceful and simplified 2009 filled with many wonderful happy moments.

Love,

Derren, Shauna, Katey, Alyssa, Josalyn, and Levi Tippets