December 2009

We've survived yet another holiday season. We struggled again keeping up with the crazy schedule, but it's definitely getting easier.

Before things got into full swing, Kyla started going to basketball practice. Kyla suggested the name that her new team choose, the fearsome-sounding Butterflies. They're going to have a few more practices in January and then they should start playing games.

Blake has started to become envious that Kyla gets to go to school. I'm not sure he knows what goes on there, but perhaps that's part of the allure. Becky drove him past the Montessori and explained that he could go to that school as soon as he learned to use the potty. He seemed interested on Kyla's old pink potty chair for about a day, but has moved on. We'll see how long it takes for this motivation to return.

Our holiday marathon began with Hanukkah on the 22nd with the Hovenkotters (it was a little late, but we wanted to wait for Kyle). Then it was off to the Chambers' on Christmas Eve.

In preparation for Santa Kyla put out some cookies that she baked three weeks earlier (yummy!) and Blake insisted on leaving a cup of soy milk by the front door. The whole chimney thing doesn't make sense when you have a gas fireplace. Santa brought Blake a Cars-themed Geo Trax set and was kind enough to fulfill Kyla's request for Tattoo Barbie, even though when she originally asked for it Santa gave her a funny look and said, "maybe it's time for Santa to retire."

We had our family Christmas in the morning and then the Manis/Saulsberry family came over for brunch. This year Laura, Bryanna, Erin, and Nathan were all in town for the holidays. Then we headed to Grandma Dot's for Christmas with Becky's Dad's family.

On the 26th we headed to Ellensburg for our final Christmas celebration. Our original plan was for Becky and I to go skiing with Cassie and Brian the following day, but the kids were a little over-cooked by this point, so Becky stayed behind. Kyla was very disappointed that there wasn't any snow for Christmas this year (there was a heavy snowfall in Seattle last year), but fortunately the clouds delivered for us in Ellensburg just before we left.

Becky requested that we keep things low-key for her birthday this year, so she went to the gym for a couple of hours and then took a nap to recover from the holidays. Each of the kids picked out some flowers for her and we all gave her a picture of the three of them that we framed.

On yet another New Year's Eve I am left wondering where the past year has gone. I would say that overall 2009 was pretty good for us, and I expect 2010 will continue the trend.

Holiday Message 2009

Greetings once again from the Hovenkotters! We are happy to report that 2009 was another good year for us and we even got out for a little more adventure.

In April we traveled to the Great Wolf Lodge and spent the weekend playing in the indoor water park. Then in May we vacationed in San Diego with Brett's mother, where we toured the zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, and played at the beach. On Memorial Weekend Becky and the kids traveled to Ocean Shores with Becky's mother. Finally in August we camped in Astoria with our neighbors, the Neels, where we ended up in cabins directly across from a giant blow up pillow where Kyla and Asher spent most of their time.

Kyla started Kindergarten in the fall which she really enjoys and is doing well in. This has finally assuaged her parents' fears that her birth that was literally 3 1/2 hours before the school cutoff would put her at a disadvantage. She also keeps herself busy with extracurricular activities including soccer, basketball, and dance. Her first dance recital was in June and Kyla was one of the event's most enthusiastic performers.

Blake turned two this year and is quickly transitioning from a needy toddler into a fun-loving little boy. He regularly sleeps through the night, usually doesn't nap, and now joins his sister when she sleeps over at Grandma Linda's on Saturday nights. Kyla occasionally has a feminine influence on him (they once made crowns together and he ran around the house declaring "I'm a queen!"), but he is definitely a boy at his core as his favorite activity is playing with his trains and his favorite movie is Cars.

This was a big year for Becky who for the first time in five years actually spent the night without children (Kyla first slept at Grandma's on the night of Blake's birth). She even had an entire weekend all to herself, which she spent working on her new project: gardening. She has planted 25 different fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, broccoli, oranges, corn, strawberries, blueberries, as well as apple and plum trees. Becky also spends time helping Kyla with her homework and coming up with fun learning activities for both of the kids.

Brett continues to work for Slalom Consulting where this spring he developed an iPhone app, and if you're interested in learning more about the exciting world of ultrasound equipment you can download it for free! His new hobby is photography (Becky uses the word "obsession," but he is the author of this message so we'll use "hobby"). For his birthday he got his first SLR, but by November had decided that he needed a far more expensive upgrade... and a new lens... and a new flash. He's easy to spot at holiday gatherings with 20 pounds of camera hanging from his neck.

As always we hope that you are enjoying the holidays this year. We definitely are since Becky got all of our Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,
Brett, Becky, Kyla & Blake