I just found this little gem in my drafts box……So here is our 2017 Christmas letter….brought to you at the timely time of March 7.  I chuckled reading through this again, some of the facts have changed already!  For example, Henley is back to taking daily naps, Becca now weighs 20 lbs, and Becca can now crawl anywhere and everywhere!

I was inspired by my older sister who posted both her Christmas card and family letter to Facebook this year, due to the craziness and busyness of the season.  I’ve never done Christmas card or letters but decided to give it a whirl on my blogging platform.  Thanks for reading!

Ty rang in the New Year with load after load of hay hauled from Weiser to Fruitland, Idaho.  Thanks to the many feet of snow we were cursed blessed with last year each time he drove into a stack yard he had to put chains on the semi to avoid getting stuck.  Putting chains on and taking them off several times a day in -14 degree weather is something he hopes to never do again.  Once Ty made it through the freezing winter weather, he acquired two new farms which brought our farming operation to nearly 1,200 acres in size.  Add to that 150 cows and a 500 acre custom operation and you can begin to glimpse just how busy Ty has been this year.  He is leasing a brand new John Deere tractor and is in love with all the features and luxuries it offers. He continues to enjoy farming, ranching, and everything that comes with it.  He is excited for 2018 and the chance to improve and expand the farm/ranch even more.  He also enjoys cooking anything over an open fire or on a wood stove and is the designated steak- master.  He loves teasing his three girls and taking us on adventures.

I started working on a Master’s degree from Arizona State University in Family and Human Development in January.  I have enjoyed and detested the program at varying times throughout the year.  Homework during the summer is a real buzz kill.  Henley and I spent the first six-and-a-half months of the year preparing for a new baby and soaking up plenty of mommy-and-me time as well.  I bought a paddle board this year and am excited for summer 2018 when I can use it without a pregnant belly.  I have tried to dedicate as much free time as possible to reading this year; some of my favorite books from my 2017 reading include: Hillbilly Elegy, Caddie Woodlawn, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Trumpet of the Swan.  I love taking a walk every Sunday morning, completely by myself and spending the rest of my week with my family.  I have tried to integrate more service into my daily routine with the girls and love seeing Henley become more aware of the needs around us.

Henley is the same as ever, full of energy!  She is quite the helper, teaser, boss-er, and question-er.  She is beginning to write her letters and string them together to form words.  She loves to read to her dollies and to listen to books I read aloud.  She absolutely adores her baby sister and tells us daily that “Becca is fabulous!”  Henley turned three on November 28 and is determined to act older now.  She no longer naps and is learning to ride her new bike with actual pedals.  She has quite the imagination and loves telling us stories with made-up characters.  She also loves to swing and would spend all day every day on our new swingset if possible.  She continues to hate wearing pants and can often be found outside in a shirt, undies, and mud boots just talking to the guys.  She loves helping me in the kitchen and is perfecting the art of cracking eggs.  We love her precocious and vivacious spirit and pray daily for the strength to parent her.

Becca was born on July 17, 2017.  She has been such a joy to have in our family.  Her birth was smooth and uncomplicated, for which we are very grateful.  We still can’t believe she just had to be born in the very middle of the summer in the very middle of our 5-times expansion of the farm, but are grateful she made it here and is happy and healthy.  She is a big girl, weighing in at nearly 17 lbs and 27 in tall.  She thinks her big sister Henley is hilarious and will smile or laugh at everything Henley does.  Becca is a water baby and demands a bath every night.  She loves her daddy and is always excited when he comes home.  She is a great sleeper…except when she is sick.  She can roll over in both directions and uses her feet to scoot herself.  She sits up in her high chair and is trying very hard to like food.  She loves to nurse and absolutely refuses to take a bottle.  She also loves to blow raspberries.  We are so grateful for the sweet and happy spirit she is in our home.

As 2017 draws to a close we are filled with gratitude for the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Throughout this difficult and demanding year, we have seen His hand in our lives and felt of His love for us.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  May you all be blessed and watched over as we have been.