Dear Family and Friends,
We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope your year has been full of successes, but a few challenges just to keep you on your toes.
2013 has been good to us. It’s been a year of opportunity and new experiences. We are all in good health, full of happiness, and loving life in the Pacific Northwest.
Our big news was the purchase of our first home. We are setting roots in the Seattle area and after many months and multiple offers of homes, we settled on a wonderful 1957 home. It’s full of character and charm, but requires a bit of tender loving care. We’ve started many projects and will continue through the years.
Autumn (3) started preschool this year and just loves the experience. She looks forward to each day she goes. She is a social butterfly with a charming personality to match. She started ballet/tap/baton this year and had her first performance this month. Not a day goes by that she isn’t twirling around the house.
Ethan (6) started 1st grade this year at a new school. He loves it and continues to excel in reading, writing, and math. Brett took him on his first backpacking trip in July and he loved the time with his Dad outdoors. He spends his time building Legos, reading, swinging, and riding his bike (when weather allows).
Laura continues be an awesome mother and loving wife. She runs this household to ensure we know what’s going on. Baking and reading continue to be favorite activities when Brett and the kids aren’t demanding her attention. She decided to head back to work this past Spring where her talents are being used as a part-time teacher at Sylvan Learning Center. The staff and students appreciate her style; often kids will arrange their schedules to ensure they are at the Center when she is teaching.
Brett has spent the better part of July to December working on the house. His carpentry, plumbing, window installing, roof cutting skills are being tested and improved with each project. Thank goodness for YouTube videos. He participated in his first Tough Mudder and had a blast! He continues to enjoy working at FEMA and was recently recognized with the Region’s Creativity and Innovation Award for his leadership efforts on the Regional SharePoint project.
Please contact us if you are in the area. We have had the opportunity to host some of you this year and look forward to hosting many more of you.
Your family and friends,
Brett, Laura, Ethan, and Autumn
