Sorry that it's taken so long to make a post, but I hope this long one makes up for it! So, I wrote our family's Christmas letter and typed it all up but by the time it was done it was already 3 days before Christmas Eve so Mom thought we should put it on the blog! So here it is and also a few pictures from throughout the year.
Merry Christmas!
It’s that
time of year again, and I’m (Jenna) in charge of my family’s Christmas letter.
This Christmas letter is a school project but I’m having fun!
OK, so
now I’m going to tell you a little about each person in my family (including
me).
Dad
I’ll
start with my awesome, super-duper Dad!
Dad’s
Interview
Personal
highlights from the past year:
Beginning
running/Getting in shape. Running a few 5-K’s. Geocaching with my kids. Family
vacation to the ocean. Visiting Gettysburg with Esther.
Something
you’ve learned in the past year:
I’ve been
challenged that its important to continually stop and consider the purpose and
value of the work or activities in which I’m involved in, and to be sure that
I’m pursuing something of real significance.
Most
exciting thing that happened in the past year:
Coaching
“Plants and Pillars” basketball and soccer teams.
**********
So, this
past year Dad has really wanted to get a kayak. And one day we ended up with a
big box in our kitchen, Dad had bought an inflatable kayak! One day me and Dad
went down to Brady’s Run lake to kayak out to a little island in the middle,
but right when we got the kayak ready we realized that we had forgotten the
oars and it was to late to go home and get them so we ended up rowing out with
two big, long sticks!
Mom
Now we’re
on to Mom. Mom is a great teacher and also a super-duper parent!
Mom’s
Interview
Personal
Highlights from the past year:
Co-op
Musical. Homeschool basketball and soccer. Trip to Kansas. Trip to Erie with
Dad. Having a new niece and a new nephew. Homeschooling.
Most
exciting thing that has happened in the past year:
Watching
my family do things they have a passion for.
Something
that you have learned in the past year:
That
God’s world and word never, ever cease to amaze me.
***********
Mom, in school, helps Peter with his
workbooks, Esther with her math, Kaelyn with her handwriting, and me with
writing projects (like this). Mom is a
great and awesome mom!! Mom teaches
science at co-op and she is doing botany this year.!!
Esther
Ok, let’s
move on to Esther. Esther is 12 years
old and the best big sister ever!!
Esther’s Interview
Personal Highlights from the past
year:
Going to Gettysburg with dad,
Homeschool sports, co-op, “Around the World Birthday Party Sleepover,” learning
photography, canvassing, and writing a novel
Most Exciting thing from past year:
Starting
to teach preschool for Peter and my cousin Ella
Something
I’ve learned in the past year:
Don’t get
grumpy, even when things don’t go your way.
************
Esther
has been planning for almost 2 years for her “Around the World Sleepover
Birthday Party.” She had her friends
over for it and I was the tour guide and the entertainer on the pretend
airplane. Kaelyn was the flight
attendant. We pretended to visit
different countries and talk to people there.
It was fun. She also had a “Mall,
Around the World Scavenger Hunt Party.”
Kaelyn
Now we’re
on to Kaelyn, my little seven-year-old sister.
Kaelyn’s
Interview
Personal
Highlights from the past year:
Getting 2
new cousins, going to a Pirate’s game with Dad, learning how to ride a bike
with 2 wheels, and having Pete over
Most
exciting thing from past year:
Going to
the Garvin’s house
Something
I’ve learned in the past year:
How to
read and write
***********
Sometimes
Kaelyn hates geocaching, and one day while we were at Cici’s Pizza, Kaelyn
said, “If Dad goes geocaching and I don’t like it I’ll blame Mom because she
got the GPS for Dad.” And we all cracked
up laughing.
Peter
Now we’re
on to Peter, my 4-year-old little brother.
Peter’s
Interview
Personal
Highlights from the last year:
Playing
Wii, playing with toys, playing Star Wars with Kaelyn and Jenna, my “Weapons
Birthday Party,” preschool with Esther and Ella
Most
Exciting thing from past year:
Going to
the ocean and playing in the sand with my little brother Caedmon
Something
I’ve learned in the past year:
I did my
school books and I learned how to write my own name.
**********
One time
Peter was sitting in the bathroom and he was talking to himself and he said,
“Daddy said that I can’t play Wii today.
And Mommy said I can’t play Wii for the rest of my life. But I have to play it for the rest of my life
or else Anakin can’t finish all the levels.
Caedmon
Now we
are on to my one-year-old little brother Caedmon.
Caedmon’s
“Interview” (what he would say if he knew any words!)
Personal
Highlights from the past year:
Playing
with brother and sisters, playing at the new playground, getting into and
messing up CD’s/DVD’s, cuddling with Mommy and Daddy
Most
exciting thing from past year:
Getting
my brothers and sisters to laugh at me
Something
I’ve learned in the past year:
To walk
**********
This year
Caedmon has been very interested in a game called Rack-O. It has a card rack with cards to put in
it.. He puts the cards in
one-by-one. When he puts a card in he
has a very serious look on his face, but when he gets it in he claps for
himself. And if someone else doesn’t
clap for him then he starts tapping them or whining at them until they clap.
Jenna
Now the
last person in our family (not the youngest), ME!
My
Interview
Personal
Highlights from the past year:
Dance
class, getting 2 new cousins, finishing some knitting projects, getting into
writing letters, starting sewing class with Wawi, going to the cabin and the
ocean, getting to be able to babysit one of my new cousins (Aleta), sleeping in
a tent in the backyard with Dad, and playing basketball.
Most
Exciting thing from past year:
Getting
to see 2 of my pen pals in Washington DC, and sleeping over at Papa Paul and
Grandma Janet’s house.
Something
I’ve learned in the past year:
Almost a
full split in dance class!
************
Well, I thought that I would never
want to play basketball but when I was still in 3rd grade Dad needed extra players
for the 4-6 grade basketball team so he made me play on the team. Once I played
my first game I totally loved it! And now I’m in 4th grade and I still loooove
playing basketball.
************
We also went on several trips this
year. Our first trip was to Kansas for
my great-grandma’s funeral . . . our friend Mrs. Agnew traveled along with us
to help mom with the driving. Dad had a
tournament that weekend so couldn’t come.
Then we went to Splash Lagoon to
celebrate Kaelyn’s birthday. I went on
all the water slides there.
Then we all went to the ocean in
Emerald Isle, NC, with Dad’s side of the family.
Then dad and Esther went on a trip to
Gettysburg.
Then mom and all of us kids went to
Aunt Tesha’s house together.
Then Mom and Dad went to Erie together.
Then we went to Washington DC for my
mom’s cousin’s wedding and I got to see 2 of my pen pals (soooo fun!).
Then last, but totally not least, we
went to a cabin in Deep Creek, Maryland with my dad’s side of the family.
************
I hope you enjoyed the interview and
the summary of our trips and everything else.
I sure loved writing it.
Love,
The Hartman Family
Nate, Kara, Esther, Jenna, Kaelyn,
Peter, and Caedmon.
Caedmon at Phipps Conservatory during the winter
lights show (He loved the light up glass balls).
lights show (He loved the light up glass balls).
of the many Christmas trees.
Castle".
Esther at the History Fair with her project, "Medieval Weapons."
By Jenna Hartman.