Christmas {C}ard

Because we can't always be serious!

Merry Christmas from the Crazy Arkoudas’ 2011
*Ryan *Melanie *Sam *Noah *Caleb *Max *Mara *Emma *Annalee

This year was full of tons of changes and exciting times!
Sam played basketball for the first time this year and loves it. He was recently diagnosed with juvenille arthritis, but has such a great attitude and has learned to eat things that don’t cause flare-ups. He will be 14 and advanced to a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood the 19th of this month.

Noah is in the sixth grade, and received the Aaronic Priesthood this summer. He is enjoying going to mutual with Sam and dad, and finally found his smile. He and Caleb want to raise a sheep this year for 4-H in addition to their pigs, so our farm will have baby lambs this spring.

Caleb will be 10 in January. He is still our animal lover and this summer, when we found a gopher in our garage and the older boys caught it under a bucket, he freed it when the boys left to find something to kill it with. He is still about the same size as Max, and is hoping for a growth spurt anyday. He was my goat man all summer and he has the most promise for being able to actually milk them for me.

Max’s smile is permant and infectious. He is 8 and got baptized this year, the day before Noah got the priesthood. It was an eventful September. He is in 2nd grade and loving it. He finally, FINALLY! got the hang of reading and has taken off with a zoom! He has lost 3 teeth this last week and we wonder if he will be able to eat anything at Christmas. He is looking forward to raising a pig this year with the older boys.

Mara, 5, started kindergarten this year, much to my dismay. She thinks she is as big as the boys and is still the little mother. She is quite the helper with Annalee and carries her all over. She has amazed me at how fast she learned to write and read. She is mine and Ryan’s shadow, and I love it.

Emma, 3, is our chatter box! She never stops talking. My adaptation skills have allowed me to ignore her, so often I hear her say “Mom, Mom, are you listening to me?” She is amazing at what she thinks about and how in tune she is with all that goes on in our family and what she picks up. I hear her repeat things others have said that I had no idea she was even listening to. She tries to pick up Annalee too, and I am constantly telling her to “leave the baby alone.”

Annalee was born in May, just 5 days after my mom and dad got home from their mission. She is the only one, other than Sam who went to their due date. She must have been waiting for grandma. She was born at home and it was the most amazing experience. She has brought such a calm, loving influence into our home. She has her daddy wrapped right around her little finger, and is surrounded by constant smiles and loves. I don’t know if there has ever been a baby as loved as her. She is so calm and happy all the time! Often I am asked if she ever cries and I have to say…what is there to cry about? She is always held, fed, and changed. There is always someone to entertain her. But she is just a content little soul.

Ryan was made scout master in additon to his responsibilities as first councilor in the bishopric. He took all the boys to Melita Island Boy Scout camp. Sam and Noah got to go and they all LOVED it. Ryan was also made manager over the weed department, so he now is in charge of all the weeds and mosquitos in Cascade County.

I am loving the slowness this year has brought. I love being a mom, and seeing these kids grow and change.
At the end of January 2012 we will have lived here in Montana longer than anywhere else our entire married life. I wonder what this year holds. We love our land here in Great Falls, the animals, and the responsibility it teaches our children.

We are continually in awe at how much we are blessed by our Heavenly Father. We don’t feel like we deserve the abundance of blessings we receive but are so grateful for them. We hope this Christmas season finds you happy and safe. We love you all and are so grateful for your influence in our lives.