This past year, we have much to be thankful for - Edmund finishing his first year of elementary school, a vacation to Northern Minnesota with the Plantenberg family, the birth of Emmalyn Jane, our continued Life Group, wonderful friends, and visits to see family.
Eric finished his third year as a statistical analyst at Citizens Bank. He has continued his hobby as a suburban farmer and has impressed friends and family with his home brewing skills. He is currently leading Edmund's Cub Scout den. He read a little more than last year, played in his annual church softball league, helped Anna with her various house projects, and wrangled and snuggled kids to sleep.
Anna continued her job as child baker this past year with a pregnancy and the birth of our fourth child, Emmalyn Jane. She spends her days changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, coloring, exploring, and loving the kids. With the birth of a new baby, she scaled back her involvement in order to focus on her family and keep everyone's sanity. She has continued to be involved in her church's MOPS group and her local mom's group. She was grateful for a relatively easy pregnancy and has persevered, despite nursing struggles with Emmalyn (deciding to exclusively pump instead). On the upside, the pumping time has led to more time to read books!
Eric finished his third year as a statistical analyst at Citizens Bank. He has continued his hobby as a suburban farmer and has impressed friends and family with his home brewing skills. He is currently leading Edmund's Cub Scout den. He read a little more than last year, played in his annual church softball league, helped Anna with her various house projects, and wrangled and snuggled kids to sleep.
Anna continued her job as child baker this past year with a pregnancy and the birth of our fourth child, Emmalyn Jane. She spends her days changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, coloring, exploring, and loving the kids. With the birth of a new baby, she scaled back her involvement in order to focus on her family and keep everyone's sanity. She has continued to be involved in her church's MOPS group and her local mom's group. She was grateful for a relatively easy pregnancy and has persevered, despite nursing struggles with Emmalyn (deciding to exclusively pump instead). On the upside, the pumping time has led to more time to read books!
Edmund turned seven this year. Edmund is in first grade this year at Walnut Creek where he was chosen as the Kindness Crusader in September. He continues to be curious, thoughtful, willful, and independent. He is an excellent problems solver and is full of ideas. He enjoys reading books and has begun reading chapter books. He also loves building with Legos, climbing trees, riding his bike, drawing, playing board games, going to the zoo and COSI, and creating art projects. He continued his second year in AWANA Sparks, his second year playing baseball, went to swimming lessons, and started his first year of Cub Scouts.
Nathaniel turned five this year. He continues to grow more independent and with Edmund in school all day, he has made a new playmate in Clara. He is strong, athletic, and full of energy. He started his final year of preschool at GCA, where he won the Character Award for September for perseverance. He loves singing, playing with his stuffed animals, building with Legos, playing outside, climbing trees, and going to the library. He graduated from his second year of AWANA Cubbies and started his first year of Sparks, played his second year of baseball, and went to swimming lessons. While shy at first, once comfortable, he is the life of the party and insists on never being left out of anything.
Clara turned three this year. She started the year as a little girl and will now tell you that she is a big girl. Potty training has still been a struggle since the birth of baby Emmalyn, but she is making good progress. She also loves to sing, her favorite songs being You Are My Sunshine, ABCs, Tremble by Mosaic, My Lighthouse by Rend Collective, and anything from the Little Mermaid. She loves running around in her princess dresses, making food in her play kitchen and asking people to come over to her "house", building with magnatiles, reading books, and taking care of her doll Stella. She is high energy, into everything, and loves people. She can be shy at first, but once she gets comfortable, she doesn't stop talking. She loves helping with everything, especially cooking.
Emmalyn was born on September 9th. She was 20 inches and 8 lb, 4 oz. She has strawberry blonde hair, ivory skin, and big blue eyes. While only being outside of mom for a few months, she has had a big impact on our family. Everyone loves her, especially her siblings. She is easy going and sweet. She has started chatting recently and loves looking at faces and the Christmas tree. She has been a great sleeper and sleeps for 8 hours at night. She sucks on her thumb when she is tired to help fall asleep. She is a joy and loves being part of our crazy family.
Family Highlights
- Finding out we were pregnant in January
- Vacation to Northern Minnesota with the Plantenberg Family
- Celebrated Grandpa's 60th birthday in Indiana
- Traveled to Indiana for group cousin birthday party
- Camping themed birthday party for the boys with friends
- Birth of Emmalyn Jane
- Cub Scout Camp at Mohican State Park
- Trips to the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, and local farm
While last year was our breath of fresh air from moving out of baby land, this year was diving head first back in. With two kids in school, life has become busy but good. We are grateful for all of our friends, family, and blessings in our lives. We truly have so much to be thankful for. We are also thankful for being able to celebrate the birth of Christ with many that we hold dear.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Love, The Grashorns
