The Merry Chirstmas Letter

Hello Family & Friends,

We hope you and your families are staying healthy, safe and happy (and warm) this holiday season. We also want to take a moment to send good wishes to you all and update you on our family.

Lily

Lily is 15 months old now and has quite the personality. She's happy, sociable, affectionate and fiesty. We can count on Lily to makes us smile, laugh and tell us how she REALLY feels about things. Lily started walking a week after she turned one and has been non-stop since. She loves to give kisses, chase the cat, climb, read books, play with buckles and has recently discovered crayons and markers (thank goodness they're washable!). Lily will be continuing a music class she loves and starting a gym class this January. She says a few words: mama, dada, nana (which has multiple meanings), "oof" (dog), "ish" (this), "zzzz" (Zoe or sissy) and she signs "more," "eat," and "all done." Lily loves her big sister Zoe. The other morning the girls were on the couch and Lily was rubbing Zoe's back and saying, "ahhhhh." So sweet.

Zoe
Zoe is growing up so beautifully and is such a wonderful little girl. She is smart, mature, creative, imaginative, thoughtful and fiercely independent. She makes us feel so proud with all her accomplishments, helps us out with many things and entertains us with her real and made up songs and dance. She is in preschool three days a week and participates in a combo gymnastics/dance class once a week which she really loves. Her teacher has been so impressed with her progress there. Zoe will start kindergarten this coming Fall. It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone. She is certainly ready for it and it will be so fun (and a little sad) to see her hit that milestone.

Steven

Steven is a wonderful husband and father. He entertains Nicole with his humor and his girls with hand puppets (each have a very distinctive voice), scary voices with chasing, and piggy back rides. The girls love this and egg him on for more. Steven is approaching his one year anniversary with his job at IQInvision. He has been making his mark there as Director of Business Development. We are grateful that his company hasn't been negatively affected by the economy. Steven still continues to make music with his band (Crabby Appletin) of 25 years. Home improvement projects have slowed down but Steven added a new stone patio to the side of the house this past summer.

Nicole

Nicole has been very busy with her photography business, Nicole Lewis Photography. It really took off this year with repeat clients and a wave of new clientele. She also took on some new unique projects. Her photos made the covers of two local magazine/newsletters. Her goals this year include re-doing her website and honing in on some techinical skills. She also attempts to keep up with blogging (http://www.nikskicks.blogspot.com/) and facebooking. Nicole also keeps busy as "mom" and "wife." She enjoys snuggling with her family and watching her daughters accomplish new things.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!