The Cones: Christmas Letter 2012

Blessings to you this Christmas season. We hope that all is well.

Madison Marie turned 3 in March. She is our little actress and is always singing, performing, and dancing. She loves to play dress up and we haven't been able to get her out of her Snow White halloween costume since! She is such a sweet child who really loves with her whole being. She loves "taking care" of her younger sister and cousins, Aiden and Teddy, when they spend the day together while Mom and Dad are teaching. Her latest love are the Disney Princesses and she is always playing Princess. Poor Emma is always the King...haha. She is very excited about starting preschool next fall, and loves to read books, draw and write "messages".

Emma Lea Ruth turned 2 in April. She is our little comedian. She really has two main emotions, happy and not... Emma loves her blankie and carries it with her where ever she goes. If she gets upset, the first thing she says is "blankie". Emma is doing her best to keep up with Madison. She is always right beside Madi, doing whatever Madi is doing. Minnie Mouse is Emma's favorite character and she loves to have anything Minnie. Emma also loves very deeply and is very affectionate when she wants to be. She loves to give hugs, kisses and cuddles, which Mom and Dad love!

Brandon is enjoying only having to teach in one classroom this year. He is no longer teaching machining, and can now focus his energy on his computer aided drafting and engineering classes. He is still coaching the robotics competition team, and they are busy getting ready for the next competition this coming spring. The boys he started coaching in junior high are seniors this year, so it will be a bittersweet end to the school year as they graduate. He also sponsors the Energy Resources Club. Brandon is busy doing home improvement this fall as we attached our house to our garage with an addition. This new space will be a mud room and office. It is crazy how much bigger our house feels! He has also been helping my dad and grandpa complete numerous building projects around the place. (2 garages, 2 additions, residing, and finishing).

I am currently in my 8th year teaching mathematics and engineering. It is hard to believe that I have been teaching that long. I still feel very new at this! I have been very busy this fall as I am teaching an after school extended learning opportunity for students who need additional support in mathematics. This keeps me at school until 4:30 three nights a week. I cosponsor the Energy Resources Club with Brandon and that takes up another afternoon. I am finally starting to find time to work on projects of my own, but the girls always want to help! Haha.

We bought a camper this past summer and spent most of June and July in the mountains. We managed to camp in the Big Horns, Black Hills, and in the Rockies near Wolf Creek Pass. The girls love camping and really are excited to continue this past time next summer.

We are greiving the loss of two grandparents this year. My great-grandma passed away in September, and Brandon's Gram passed away in November. It has been a hard fall. We miss them both dearly and there will be two big gaps in our Christmas celebrationi this year.