I was never one to send out a Christmas card but when we moved from Utah I figured it was the best way for me to keep in touch with so many friends that moved away. So...I started writing a Christmas letter. Mostly as a way for me to journal what had been happening in our lives.
I met someone while living in Ohio, who is now one of my dearest friends, who shed some new light on the Christmas letter (card) for me. She said something to the effect of "this is my way of sending all of my friends and family a little present that I take the time to create and wrap up." Now her Christmas card is way better than anything I could creatively come up with but I liked the idea. I look forward to getting the mail and seeing all of the happenings of so many of our friends and family. Our "little presents" hang in our foyer for us to enjoy every day.
I've taken the past couple of years off in my sending of a Christmas letter and for that I am sorry. So to keep this letter in our 2009 book, I am posting it here.
For the past several years my mom and dad have taken our family pictures and we have been quite pleased. The timing didn't work out for them to take them this year but our dear friend Doug and his talented wife and assistant Lyndee were gracious enough to step in. We have only seen 2 of the many shots he took but we couldn't be more pleased. I'll post more when we get them. Thanks Doug and Lyndee. We love you guys.
This time of year allows me time to sit down and reflect on the past 12 months. Whew! It has sure flown by. We, like everyone, have had our “ups and downs” with memories to last a lifetime. We spent some time in June attending the wedding of my (Jaime’s) youngest brother, Jordan. He married a girl named Jamie. She is wonderful and we could not be happier for both of them. After the wedding, the first ever Dayton (Jaime’s maiden name) family reunion was held in Hurricane, Utah at the most amazing house. We spent several days just being together and all had a good time. It seems everybody regresses to silliness when we get together again. After this trip, my kids’ new favorite game became Mafia. While in Utah, we were able to spend some time with the Page family and attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with Grandpa Dave. It was great to see everybody again.
Nathan was unexpectedly laid off in June and we were “unemployed” for 7 weeks. This is the second time we have gone through this situation and though I would like to say it gets easier…I can’t. What I can say is that going through this kind of a trial brought our family closer together and did so in a way for which I will be forever grateful. Nathan was hired by a company here in Indy in August and it is a completely different environment. The company is located in Michigan and they have offices in various states. Here in Indy, Nathan is one of two employees. It has been an adjustment for him to be in the office by himself and having to do many “office” tasks in addition to his engineering work but it is employment and we are thrilled. He still plays racquetball regularly and occasionally makes it out to play futsal at the church.
I am still teaching piano lessons and held my first recital in April. I teach 20 kids right now which makes my evenings a little busy but the extra income was such a blessing while Nathan was without work. I accompanied Mackenzie’s 4th grade choir this year and started teaching a music class for 20 kids who attend a charter school in the area. I also have taken up blogging. If you would like to monitor our family happenings, feel free to check out our blog at www.pagestages.blogspot.com.
Alexa turned 11 this year, started 6th grade (I can’t believe I am that old), and stared playing the trumpet and she is quite good. She is a great student and gets her assignments done without much prodding. She is growing (5’3¼”) and will soon be as tall as me. She loves to talk and tell us all about her day and we wouldn’t have it any other way. She had braces put on in October and is adjusting. She is still affectionately referred to as our tomboy. All of her friends are boys and they have a great time together. This summer they started a “Tricking-out Skateboard and Scooter” business. They painted skateboards and scooters complete with advertising and discounts for family members.
Mackenzie just barely turned 10 and is growing like a tree, slow and steady (4’ 6½”). She decided to chop her hair and looks darling. Mackenzie participated in the Spell Bowl and Math Bowl as a 4th grader this year. She had some of her artwork chosen to be framed and placed in the halls of her elementary school. She was also pictured in the local paper as a part of a trio that sang at the Circle Center Mall in Indianapolis. Mackenzie is our reader. She devours any and every book she can get her hands on. She would rather read than do anything else.
Dayton turned 8 this year and decided to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He continues to grow like a weed (4’ 9”). He is the tallest 2nd grader in the school and almost as tall as his teacher. Dayton has finally decided that he likes to read….sometimes. He is still a super easy-going kid who never gets in trouble at school, has tons of friends and a smile that melts my heart. He loves to play anything, outside or inside. He loved being with all of his boy cousins this summer.
I’ve decided this is my favorite age for all of my kids. We have so much fun together. They are all physically independent, they still like being around us as parents and we are able to reason with them, most of the time.
We have much to be grateful for this year, health, employment, safety, family, friends and opportunities to serve. Most of all we are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ. We wish you a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, we would love to see you.
Love,
The Page family
Nathan, Jaime, Alexa, Mackenzie, and Dayton
New Years Eve has been a big deal for as long as I can remember. At 2:00am New Years Day, my brother, Josh, asked what, if any, traditions we had for New Years. I remember having family friends over for games and munchies. My mom always made won tons and we'd watch the ball drop and then let off bottle rockets in the driveway. So we have tried to make New Year's a big deal for our kids. Since moving to Indiana we have traveled back to Ohio for this occasion but this year we stayed home. In Ohio we'd go bowling and then back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for games and Chinese food. In Indiana the bowling alleys are a little bit crowded so we came up with a different idea. Indoor rock climbing.
We were all fitted for harnesses and shoes and then sent on our way to climb. You had to be 14 or over to belay someone else so Nathan and I took turns helping out the kids and then each other. Our good friends, the Nortons, joined us and 5 hours later we were ready to head home.
Hannah, Alexa, and Mackenzie
Dayton and Ben
When we first told our kids what we thought we'd like to do, they all complained. "That won't be fun." "I'm not going." So after we dragged them there, they now want to get a membership and go every Saturday. I don't know if our hands can take it. My arms are still a little sore. I guess that just shows how out of shape I really am. Darn it. So if you need any additional motivation, other than seeing us, to visit Indianapolis, now you know you can rock climb any time.
The kids have to wait on the stairs until we come down stairs to make sure Santa came, turn on the lights and let out Harley. We also get the camera ready to capture the great shots. According to our kids, the waiting on the stairs takes at least an hour (in reality only about 3 minutes). 
Posts
