Dearest Family and Friends:

It is with open arms and a warm heart that we welcome you back to our Christmas card in the cloud.  As has become our tradition, we begin our annual letter with two observations. 

First, most importantly, and as sincerely as it can be said, we give thanks for all of you, our extraordinary group of family and friends.  We are deeply grateful for your love and support, for your laughter, for your stories, and for your joy.  We are appreciative for all the moments we spend with you each year, and look forward to many more in the years to come.

Second, as always, we express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who take the time to send us cards and letters this time of year.  We take great delight in the photos of you and your families, and in the accounts of your recent adventures.  By Christmas Day, our mantle is wonderfully crowded with colorful images of stars, trees, elves, and angels, and adorned with a host of smiling faces.  These cards, and the relationships they represent, add measurably to our Christmas cheer.

And now on to the annual report! 

Breaking with tradition, we thought we would order things this year by height, starting with the smallest of our number, Ella Wren.  Let there be no mistake, this kid is tough, a woman of action.  She has continued to impress with her physicality, whether it be stalking big brothers in their natural habitat, scaling Mount Kiladabanister to dizzying heights, or building a temporary cushion shelter from couch remains.  She also has mastered critical survival skills.  When stranded in our driveway earlier this year, she successfully carved her name into the side of Andie’s car with a rock, thus ensuring a successful rescue.  But perhaps most impressive is her mastery of disguises.  Take even a cursory tour through the year in photos, and you will find Ella in an array of polished ensembles, from cowgirl, to renaissance warrior, to bearded elf.  Though she will only be five this coming January, I think it already is safe to say that the phrase “special ops” may have a place in her future.

Truman, for his part, is displaying a skill set more appropriate to classic espionage.  He is charming, thoughtful, and remarkably empathetic.  So, you know, the ladies love him.  And without question, he is our man of a thousand faces.  In seconds, he can go from happy face, to sad face, to how-dare-you-limit-my-video-game-time face, to hungry face, to tired face, and ultimately, to sleepy-time face.  Behind his marvelously malleable mug is the mind of a “thinking” man.  A natural complement to his action-oriented sister, Truman is often deep in contemplation, especially when we are trying to get out the door, or walk to the car, or get dressed in the morning, or, well, pretty much anything.  But perhaps most impressive is Tru’s resolve.  When he has set his mind to something, he will not be swayed.  As a parent, it can be challenging in the extreme.  But you have to respect the moxie.  At least, that’s what I plan to tell his teacher when he starts kindergarten next fall.  Respect the moxie.

August is seven, nearing eight, and like his brother and sister, is a beautiful, sweet kid.  He also is a ninja.  Gone are the days when careless cookie crumbs or muddy footprints made it easy for Mom and Dad to bring about justice.  Once well-hidden candy now simply vanishes without a trace, located and spirited away by the master thief.  Walking through a seemingly empty room, he suddenly appears in a corner in the dark, silently playing Minecraft on a soundless Kindle, then disappears just as quickly.  Passwords are laughable contrivances, more of an annoyance to the old than a deterrent to the young and stealthy.  And bedtime is but an invitation to roam about the house, sight unseen.  Fortunately, he still takes time away from ninja activities to do lots of great kid stuff.  This year included (not all at the same time) piano lessons, guitar lessons, ice skating, soccer, swimming, Boy Scouts, and many, many hours playing with the neighborhood kids.  In addition, he’s still willing to just hang with Mom and Dad.  And we do not take that for granted.    

Andrea has continued to pursue many of her passions in the past year.  With each spring, her garden grows more and more beautiful, as do the children she so patiently tends.  And she continues to take on a range of home improvement projects around the house, hindered only on occasion by the deadly black widow recluse spider (note: the black widow recluse spider is a rare combination of the black widow and brown recluse.  It exists only in our house, and every spider in our house, no matter the size or shape, is a black widow recluse.  They are all deadly, and it is a wonder that we are alive).  Andie also has made time this past year for several beautiful projects involving stained glass and mosaic, and has continued to work with neighbors, family, and friends on designs for their gardens.  Most recently, as she nears the tenth anniversary of her 30th birthday, phrases like “adrenaline rush,” “jeep convertible,” “rock climbing,” “Harley-Davidson,” and “Cessna FA152 Aerobat” seem to be popping up in her vocabulary with increasing regularity.  There also was a brief experiment involving pink hair.  Aaron made efforts to inquire after this phenomenon, but was encouraged to focus his energies on black widow recluse spider removal.

After years of trying, Aaron finally located his elusive six-pack this year.  Unfortunately, it was attached to his friend.  The discovery was made this summer when his friend, apparently in preparation for a movie role, tore off his shirt and dove into his back-yard pool.  Aaron, at the time, was sitting in a deck chair, eating a bowl of ice-cream and wearing a super cool swim shirt.  Consequently, and predictably, the second half of the year found him once again using words like “plyo” and “paleo” and jumping around the playroom at 5:30 AM like some sort of a wounded, confused kangaroo.  More recently, he has determined to attempt, for the first time in his life, to grow a beard.  Family and friends have generally been supportive, but comments seem to resemble those reserved for loved ones who have overcome some sort of significant ordeal.  “Oh, I had a friend who tried to grow a beard once, and he’s doing ok now,” or “hey, see, it’s not so bad after all,” or “you know, one day you will look back on this period and have a good laugh.”  Undeterred, he has invested in beard oils, brushes, and combs (from companies with names like “Striking Viking”).  So to the survivalist, the spy, the ninja, and the adrenaline junkie, is added the beardsman.

On a final note, Bix has firmly established himself as the Sean Connery of the canine set.  He just keeps getting more and more handsome with each passing day.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read our letter.  We hope you and yours are well, and enjoying a restful holiday with loved ones.  

Warmest regards,

The Laceys