we wish you a merry christmas!!

merry, merry christmas to you!
this blog is doubling as my christmas letter again this year--what a great way to keep in touch...along with facebook! i spend far too much time on facebook for sure, but i really enjoy keeping up with and finding new friends.
we've had a busy year, just like you, i bet. we were blessed to welcome our first grandbaby in april. his name is braeden thomas hansen. he is a wonderful addition to our family, and we adore him! he is adam and amanda's first baby. they are living with us as they work to get out on their own. they are all healthy and strong, and will be welcoming braeden's baby brother in april!
adam is trying to find a job and wants to go to college. it's been a rough road for a while as far as jobs go, but we are optimistic. he enjoys being a daddy and is a good man. he's had a hard time growing up so fast but is doing well. he still loves singing and the theater. if you know anyone who can help him out, let us know!

emily is home from college until january when she will return. she wasn't sure if she would be able to return because she has an injury to her knee and almost needed surgery. luckily, she got an injection and hopefully that will help with her pain for a while. she will graduate in july with an associate's degree and will attend another university for her batchelor's degree. she is working at bath and body works and really likes it. she is so fun to have around and we'll miss her when she goes off to school again.

alex will be graduating from high school in june. he is working to clep out of an english class since there was no room in his schedule for it--too many music and band and choir classes! he is an amazing singer and tuba player. he made region level in both areas. he and evan were the first students at their new high school (it's three years old) to letter in two different activities. they both were pretty excited about that! alex is getting ready to play with a big group of tuba players at the riverwalk in a christmas festival. he looks forward to it each year. he's an awesome guy; the one all his friends come to when they need to talk. he will go to college locally until it is time to leave to be a missionary.

evan is keeping busy with band and all his other activities. he plays snare drum, and his drumline was named the top drumline in the state with an extra award for the snares. we were all so proud of them! he is going to be in the theater department's production of grease and he is looking forward to it very much. he is a good student and a great friend.

amanda is busy growing our newest grandbaby! she is quickly learning the ropes of being a mom to braeden. he's a handful now that he's getting around, and she is a wonderful mother to him. she's growing more everyday, and we feel blessed to have her in our family and mothering our grandchildren.

braeden will be eight months old on christmas day. he is crawling everywhere and pulls himself up on stuff sometimes. he loves the mexican pots that we have on the floor by the tv. his favorite thing to do is to take the lids off and bang them on the pots. he is vocalizing and makes his opinion known to all! he is a blessing to us and we're so happy to have him in our life.

tom is loving working from home as he's been doing for the past year. it is so great to have him here. he only went on one trip this year, to washington d.c. way better than the away-time in the air force! he is aging graciously and looks awesome with his silvery grandpa hair!!

i just lay around and eat bon-bons all day while i soak up "days of our lives"! what a wonderful life! honestly though, there really does seem like there's a little less to do all day now that the kids are older. i try to find time to do some scrapbooking, and i make and sell greeting cards (let me know if you need some!) i've been canning more and i learned how to pressure can a few months ago. it's so fun! i did have a big surgery this year, and it was a very difficult recovery. i was hospitalized three times for complications before they finally found out i had mrsa and was on an antibiotic picc line for two weeks. scary times! i've finally healed up and am doing so much better.

that's our life this year in a nutshell. we are all healthy and strong and grateful for the lord's kindness and blessings. we are thankful for this holiday season and the chance we have to celebrate the birth of our lord and savior jesus christ. we're grateful for his sacrifice for us and that we can live with him again. we pray that he will bless all of you with the things that you need and with comfort and joy. merry christmas, everyone!!