Merry Christmas!
Thanks for visiting our online Christmas update.
We've started to receive Christmas letters from many of our friends and family, and it appears that we're not the only people who had a busy year! As we look back on 2007, it's starting to seem like a blur of activity, but we thought we'd hit on a few highlights.
In February, I had the chance to visit Jennee and Carson - and their girls, Rachel and Sarah - in Tucson. We had lots of fun! I also attended a Sewing Expo in Washington this Spring.
Steve continued to grow in his career this year as a Real Estate Agent. We both had an opportunity to work hands-on with several listings, doing both cosmetic rehabilitation and staging. We hope to purchase and fix up an investment home of our own in 2008.
In March we made an important discovery......
.....Maeby does NOT like baths.
In May, we went on our annual Memorial Day camping trip with Selina & Phil, Jen & Tom, Annie & Jim, Matt, Tracy, etc. This year we camped at Silver Falls, and had a great hike and the traditional semi-crummy weather. We also managed to clean ourselves up a little bit and drive over to Cristom for some fabulous wine tasting!
In September, we celebrated our 3rd anniversary with a trip to Yellowstone National Park. We stayed a couple of days in Jackson and explored the Tetons, and then headed in to the park and camped for a few nights. We were amazed at all of the wildlife we saw - elk, moose, coyotes, wolves, bison, deer, antelope, black bears, and even a grizzly (from a very safe distance). Then on our way home we visited my Aunt & Uncle at their 2nd home in Livingtston MT, and Mike & Nani Franklin in Spokane. It was a very memorable trip!
After our vacation, we entered what one can only refer to as
"Baby Season" - I suppose it's just that time of life for us!
On September 24th, Jennee, Carson, Rachel and Sara Trafton welcomed little Jasper to the world (aka, "Baby Gator"). They currently live in Tucson, so we have yet to meet the little guy in person but hope to see them when they visit the Northwest.
On October 6th, our good friends Jen and Tom Chapman welcomed Kaeden Matthew (or K-Mat). We were able to visit them soon afterward at the hospital, and he is a cutie! Steve even got to hold him. (hmmm...should I be concerned?)
And then the main event! On October 16th, Jeff and Marie Sadler - yes, my little brother! - gave my parents and Marie's mom their first grandchild - Luke Wesley Sadler. While I am very proud to be called "Aunt Jessica" by 7 kids on Steve's side of the family, he is my first biologically-related nephew and I can't seem to get enough of the little guy!
Luke's first day, snuggled up with Mom and Dad. He's pretty much the cutest baby EVER! :-)
Luke and his favorite Aunt, with proud Grandpa looking on.
Luke watching the Ducks game (even though his Mom is a Beaver, he fortunately takes after his Dad's side of the family). He cried when Dixon got hurt - but who can blame him?
Jeff is still with the Air Force National Guard, and was just promoted to Tech Sergeant. He is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in early February, after training back east in January, so if you are so inclined, please keep him in your prayers for safety. Marie will go back to work part time as a nurse while he's away, and the whole family will be pitching in to help with babysitting! You can follow along with Jeff's deployment - and see more photos of Luke! - on their website:
Soon it was November and time for Thanksgiving. While Steve spent the holiday in McMinnville with family, Jessica took her second trip to Mexico to build homes outside Tijuana. This year's trip was a little different, as we built one home for a pastor and his family, and also started work on a community center at the church!
Also, I had a group of awesome Pterodactyls to travel with! (from left: Anna Lewis, Meghan Fitzgerald, Laura DeVries, Nicole Keating, and me) If you want to read more about our adventures, visit:
While I was in Mexico, my parents (Bob & Melanie) were moving to a new house! They didn't move far, just about 10 miles from Beaverton to Tualatin, but the communte is easier and they have less square footage to keep up, which is what they were aiming for. To hear more about what they are up to now, you can visit their site:
Shortly after Thanksgiving, we traveled to Laguna Beach, CA for a Masters' Coach Event (one of the quarterly events that I help coordinate at Building Champions). This was the last event of the year - I went to Scottsdale in February, Torrey Pines (SoCal) in May, and all the way to Skamania (45min from home) in August. This time, Steve accompanied me as the event was being held at The Montage, my absolute favorite resort EVER! We got to stay over an extra night, so after I was done working we enjoyed some R&R. The weather was stormy most of the time, but it made for a beautiful sunset.....
Since the Montage trip, we've been busy preparing for Christmas! Time has really flown by this year, so we're trying to stop and enjoy each moment as it comes. Next year is bound to have some big changes, but we have a lot of peace about whatever the future holds.
We wish you a restful holiday season, and a happy new year!
*Steve & Jessica*
As for Maeby......
...she slept frequently and squeaked at us indignantly a lot this year, and was generally ferocious. She sends her best.
