Christmas Greetings

I just stamped the last of the Christmas cards and put them in the mail. Nothing like getting them out the week of Christmas. Unfortunately, I missed my own deadline for the Christmas letter. Yikes! Actually, let's call a spade a spade, I'm just happy that our cards with Christmas greetings will arrive in everyone's mailboxes before Christmas :-). Perhaps a few trees were saved along the way also. How's that for looking at the merry and bright side of things?!

So, if I would have made the deadline, here's what a wrap up on 2011 at the Antholz household might have looked like...

This year there have been a lot of firsts for our first born babe, Emerson Jules. She lost her first tooth, started Kindergarten at a new school and turned six this year. She loves school, her new friends and classmates and her teacher Mrs. Penner. She is reading and writing sentences and talking about math equations. She insists on doing her own hair and putting together her own clothes (i.e. this mama is not always responsible for the awesomeness that is “Emme’s style”). She competed on swim team this summer and played on YMCA T-ball and soccer teams. Her dad and sisters would tell you that she definitely fancies herself “Mom 2” and second in command, as she knows the rules and isn’t afraid to follow them (99 percent of the time) or enforce them.

I read recently that “some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.” Our middle little, Miss Sutton Grace, is so that girl! As of November 3, she is officially a four-year-old princess loving, almost-every-day costume wearing, macaroni and cheese and candy loving girly girl who dances, saches and twirls at her own pace and marches to the beat of her own drummer. She played on a league soccer team this summer, loves dance class, tumbling and could take or leave swimming lessons (mostly leave, but swim is one of her mommy and daddy’s non-negotiables). She stays busy playing “school” and “college girls” with her big sister. Yes, you read that correctly—“college girls.” It mostly consists of Sutton doing her “sassy walk.” Seriously?! When asked what the best part of 2011 was she matter-of-factly replied: being a Frog (the name of her preschool class), playing at the park with her family, and Eastyn spitting up on her. Did I mention that she fancies herself a comedian and an entertainer also?!?

The littlest of the littles, Eastyn Kate, turned 1 on 11/11/11. How’s that for a birth date?! Eastyn is busy—busier than I remember the other two girlies being at one! She is into everything, and one of her favorite games is heading to the stairs where she starts to climb slowly… she waits for someone to notice and then takes off up the stairs at lightning speed giggling until she gets caught. She is the “runt” of the family… at one she was in the 75th percentile for height, the 60th percentile for weight and her head was in the 25th percentile. To date, she is the blondest of our blondies. She is easy-going and oh, so happy. Miss Eastyn is not walking yet, however, we’re convinced it’s because she never has the opportunity as her two older sisters (and maybe her mom and dad) are quick to carry her wherever she needs to go.

As for Travis and I, we continue to be blessed to go to work and do what we love with people we respect and admire every day. We work hard, but also play hard. I completed my first half-marathon six short months after Miss Eastyn arrived, which may not seem like such a feat until I tell you that I probably hadn’t used my running shoes (for running anyway) since before Sutton was born! This year we surprised the big girls with a trip to Disney World. I can't imagine that Travis ever envisioned his first trip to Disney World almost completely focused on princess character meals, princess make-overs at Bibbity Bobbity Boutique or waiting in line almost 3 hours for 7 minutes with Rapunzel. The girls, however, wouldn't have done it any other way thus their daddy wouldn't have had it any other way! Eastyn had her own version of Disney World that week, as "an only" for an entire week with Grandma and Papa. We also managed to squeeze in trips home to Kansas and South Dakota as well as a fun, fun weekend with old friends when the Huskers played in Minnesota. Travis was also able to make all of his annual hunting and fishing trips as well as a trip to Wisconsin with Papa for the Huskers first Big Ten away game.

This holiday season and always, we are grateful for family who make it possible for us to continue to do what we love (i.e. grandparents who help with the logistics of managing a house filled with three busy girlies when one of us is traveling for business or for fun), wonderful daycare providers and teachers, amazing friends near and far, good neighbors, good health, happy kiddos and all of the other blessings in our lives.

All best wishes to you and yours for a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Travis, Amber, Emerson Jules (6), Sutton Grace (4) and Eastyn Kate (1)