Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Our Christmas Card - Better Late Than Never!

I'm totally cheating.  I didn't send out Christmas cards this year.  I really meant to, but it just never came together.   Besides, we haven't had a family picture taken since 2008 and I think Christmas cards need a family picture.  (I'm on it for 2012!)  I had Sadie draw this lovely rendition of us so at least you can get a pretty good idea of what we all look like right now:
Our most recent family picture - by Sadie, December 2011
Here are a few highlights of our year:

  • We drove to Idaho, Utah and Nevada and spent over two weeks visiting family and various landmarks.  We were just shy of 5000 miles round trip, a new record for us.  
  • Sam's voice dropped 3 octaves and he is now mistaken for Jeff instead of Missy when he answers the phone.  He loves plants, especially cacti and carnivorous varieties.  (Age 15)
  • Savannah got glasses and braces and started High School - welcome to the awkward teenage phase. She has graduated to contacts and looks forward to getting her braces off in a few weeks. Jeff and Missy are happy that she cannot date for two years. She has a beautiful voice and is amazing on the piano!  (Age 14)
  • Spencer was ordained a Deacon at church and graduated to the Young Men program.  He also quit 7th grade and now enjoys school from home. (Age 12)
  • Sterling composed his first orchestra piece, March of the Victorians, in about three days and is currently writing in the individual instrument parts. He also enjoys writing stories. Sterling still loves all things Lego and has an unstoppable imagination. (Age 10)
  • Soren was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while we were vacationing in Idaho.  He is our resident Pokemon expert and has designed some original Pokemon of his own.  (Age 8)
  • Sadie runs the house and keeps us all in line.  She is a great reader and loves to help daddy with whatever he is doing.  She is losing teeth left and right and loves first grade and elephants.  (Age 6)
  • Jeff was promoted to Full Professor.  He is currently rated 4.8 out of 5.0 on ratemyprofessors.com and has a chili pepper by his name because he's so hot! He enjoys working on projects to improve our home and recently turned an unfinished storage closet into a beautiful office/plant nursery for Sam.
  • Missy keeps herself busy doing the typical mom things - mostly cooking, cleaning, laundry, and forcing kids to practice instruments against their will - but is also enjoying a new adventure as the Young Women president at church.  She has decided that homework should be abolished and makes it through the school year by looking forward to each day off.  
We are looking forward to a great new year.  We hope 2012 is your best year so far!

Cheers, 
The Stowell Family

9 comments:

Kristin and Jay said...

Best card this holiday

Karey said...

Love it! Nice to catch up. :)

rob said...

I hate to be the one to inform you of this but did you know that your dress is entirely see-through?!?

Aaron & Nancy said...

Great catch up on the fam! I didn't know you were homeschooling. Have a great 2012!

Anonymous said...

Great Christmas Card!

Thanks to Sadie for the family picture.

Love,
Mom
Grandma

Anne said...

So good to hear from you Missy! Sorry we missed you this summer. Hope to see you next! Sounds like everybody is doing so good! We miss you! Lots of love, Anne and Jeff Larsen

Dawn said...

Hi, Missy! I enjoyed looking at your blog and catching up on your family. Sounds like you are all busy, happy and talented! I can see from pics that Sam has hit puberty. Ben has, too. He has really turned into a teenager in the last year. I love what you wrote to Savannah on her 14th birthday. And I enjoyed listening to some of your kids' music performances.

I hope we can see each other again sometime. We're not heading back to Ohio very often anymore, which I regret, but life is so busy and most of our family is elsewhere. Please let us know if you are ever headed our direction, including Nauvoo. We would love to see you and would try to meet you there. We would also love to have you stop with us on any of your cross country treks!

Happy New Year!
Love,
Dawn

cstowell said...

The best Christmas cards do come after Christmas!!! Especially this handmade one! As for the chili pepper...hmmm. Can you send a photo of Sam's "room"? and when do we get to hear Sterling's orchestra piece?

Melissa said...

Adorable!!! Love the drawing and love your updates!