Christmas Letter

This year has been an interesting and exciting one for us. And it started like this . . . .



Last year our family went to Utah to have New Years with my parents and celebrate Ginger’s Birthday. We had a wonderful time. When we got back home the New Year started with me finding out that my company had gone up for sale and that we could be purchased as early as month end. The future at this company became uncertain. As things turned out, a competitive company wanted to move into Southern Idaho, so all my co-workers and I left our old company and moved to the new one. We moved to a new building and had to build our branch back from scratch. It made the first part of the year very unsettling. However, on the upside, I am still employed, we didn’t have to move, and all the kids are doing great.



Trevor turned 18 this year and is just about ready to graduate High School. (I think I just got more grey hair writing that) We think he will be going to a local college until his mission, and then off to a bigger university after that. He wants to be an engineer. This year he buckled down and completed his requirements (at the stroke of midnight on his birthday) for Eagle Scout. We will probably do his Court of Honor the first part of next year, after the Holidays.



Megan has been busy doing Art and French in school and getting the best grades of the family. It seems like she is always off doing an art project or heading to a school club activity. She has finished her drivers training and is excited about turning 16 soon and getting her license. (more hairs turning grey and hair-line just receded another inch)



Logan has been the Deacon’s Quorum President this year and has done a great job. He loves scouting and is way ahead of his brother at this age. He will be a Life Scout in January. He is taller than his Mom is now and has almost caught up to his brother. At this rate will be the tallest person in the family. His favorite phrase is, “What’s there to eat”.



Emma is doing dance and really enjoys it. She did here first recital the other day and it was a solo. She did very well and we are proud of her courage to get up alone and dance in front of everyone for her first time. She also has just begun choir in school. Emma is taking after her sister with the grades. The teachers really have to dig to find anything to talk about during parent teacher conferences. Emma is also into art and draws pictures all the time.



This year we took a vacation at the Oregon Coast. We met up with my sister Ann and her family. Where we stayed, we could walk right onto the beach each day. We all had a great time discovering starfish, mussels, sand shrimp, and sand fleas (which bite) we built sand castles and flew kites. We also went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and had seafood in Newport.



Trevor and I went on High Adventure camping trip up in the White Cloud Wilderness. Where we saw some of the most beautiful wilderness in the country and hiked to Lonesome Lake that is over 10,000 feet in elevation. The trip was a big adventure to some because camp was 7 miles from the cars, all up hill. We had to pack in all our food and tents for the four days we were there. On the final day, we went White Water Rafting down the Payette River.



Ginger has a full time job keeping all us on track and on schedule. She’s enjoying being the Activity Day Leader of the 10, 11 year old girls. Her 40th Birthday was a surprise trip to Utah where she got to spend 4 days in Salt Lake City with Dave. We spent an entire day at IKEA and spent time at Temple Square. We had dinner on New Years Eve at The Roof Restaurant. We also drove up to Park City and spent lots of time shopping of course. It was a great surprise.



We have so much to be thankful for especially for all of our friends and family. We wish you a Very Merry Christmas and may the New Year be full of Joy.



Love,

Dave, Ginger, Trevor, Megan, Logan and Emma Wagstaff