Here's a copy of our Christmas letter - just a brief summary of a very eventful year in our family.

2011 was an eventful year for our family, although we certainly hadn’t planned for it to be so. Here are a few highlights of our year:

*The Green Bay Packers won the Superbowl!

*Stefan took me to a Bon Jovi concert

*lots of visits from family & friends from out west

*Connor turned 10, started grade 5, started swimming on the swim team & continues taking piano lessons. He amazes us with his skill & passion on the piano & amuses us with his long hair, which we are not allowed to cut.

*Taya turned 7, started grade 2, started swimming on the swim team (with Connor) & also continues taking piano lessons. She amazes us with her social butterfly skills & her love of reading & amuses us with her non-stop drawing & creating.

*Logan turned 6, started grade 1 & started tae kwon do & piano lessons. He amazes us with his knowledge of anything related to NFL football & amuses us with the charts he creates each week of which teams are playing & which teams he thinks are going to win. This boy loves all things football! In all fairness, with our kids, the apple(s) does not fall far from the tree(s).

*Stefan & I took our dream trip to Green Bay,WI to see Lambeau Field & to take in a Packers game.

*I applied to go back to school! Some people think I’m crazy, but I’m quite excited about it. I’ve applied for an after-degree Communications program that starts next September. In the meantime, I’m working at Starbucks & getting in lots of volunteer experience at a community newspaper & doing some proofreading for a magazine.

*We moved! We didn’t see that one coming either. With our “school/pool” fund being empty, we decided to downsize. As a bonus, our new home, which is just around the corner from our old one, has a pool. With such a hot summer, we made very good use of it!

In November, we “adopted” a little girl named Ketrina from Malawi into our family. It’s one small step towards trying to make the world a better place, or to at least make the world a better place for one other person. My challenge to you for 2012 – how are you going to make the world a better place for someone else this year?

2012 promises to be another eventful year for us, full of change & excitement. Our family wishes you peace & blessings this Christmas & a new year full of joy!