The Roberts Family: December 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Typically, the purpose of this blog is to keep grandparents, etc. regularly updated on our family activities. If you are so inclined, you may scroll down to browse through posts of the past year which include pics of hosting Special Olympians from Belarus in February, our Spring Break road trip in March to the rainforest and coast, hosting soccer coaches from the UK in July, and lots of our kids' activities. We hope you and yours enjoy a warm and wonderful holiday season and that 2010 is full of many happy moments! We love you all and appreciate having you in our lives!! Here's a little 2009 info about each of us...

Max, 9, has had a great year. He is in 4th grade and is at the ultimate stage of "boyhood". Enthusiastic about everything, he puts his heart into all he does: playing soccer, working on cub scout badges, schoolwork, building a fort in the back with Grandpa Pat, etc...! He's an awesome brother to Michael and an all-around great kid!!

Michael, 12, has grown up a lot this year. It is truly a blessing and privilege to have him in our family and home! Like most 7th graders, Michael loves to be around other kids and is beginning to assert his independence of thought, although luckily, he is still very sweet and loving...most of the time! We love him so much!!

Madeleine, 15, is keeping herself very busy during her freshman year of high school. For Madeleine, her never-dull social life and church activity are priorities! She has also enjoyed running cross-country, singing in the Bel Canto choir, her American Sign Language class, and taking voice and guitar lessons. She smiles and shines wherever she goes!

Mackenzie, 17, has matured into a well-rounded, beautiful near-young adult! She is filling her life with so many good things and is accomplishing much! She is the Junior Class secretary, teaches 9 piano students, plays the violin in the school orchestra, ran cross-country finishing 16th in the State (track is next!), actively serves on our church stake Youth Council, and does a lot of community service through the high school Student Council. How I wish we could make time stand still, so that her last year and a half at home would last forever (although she would say, "Thanks, but no, thanks!" haha)!

Dana loves and appreciates being a 100%, 24/7, full-time mom...see the info section of her Facebook page for more details about her job description! Mike is in his 20th year with HP and is grateful to still have a good job although he is busier and has more responsibilities than ever. Together, we like to eat sushi, go to the movies, go on an occasional get-away, and basically just spend time with each other and our kids!