Here's hoping that you have had a wonderful, blessed year. We hope that all of you are doing well & hope to hear from you if we haven't already!
As for the Hamilton family, there is no doubt that this has been a year of trials. Jason has been working on getting a job in the banking industry, but it's a difficult job market and we have been without income since March. However, there is also no doubt that we are extremely blessed and have SO MUCH to be thankful for. The biggest blessing this year was the birth of our 3rd girl, Kezia Trianna Hamilton. She has been such a wonderful addition to our family! We have many other things to be thankful for and one of the most valuable things we have learned this year is that the most important things in life aren't things - and have nothing to do with money.
JASON: As mentioned above, Jason left Summit Financial in February and started looking for jobs in small towns because that's where we wanted to end up. Unfortunately, the market is so bad right now that jobs are hard to find anywhere, let alone in small towns. He was also going to school and we are so proud of him for earning his MBA in June. Jason is still in scouting and has been very busy - he's been to the High Uintas, Flaming Gorge, Crystal Springs, and Wyoming on scouting adventures. He's also gotten into family history quite a bit this year & is so excited about the new family search software. He has taken 3 family names to the temple so far & hopes for many more names next year.
HEIDI: In February, Heidi got to drive to Phoenix to spend time with her sisters. 4 days, 4 sisters= a TON of fun! We had a great time. After she returned, she was pretty miserable with her pregnancy until she was almost 4 months along. Jason was such a great help at this time. She also had a rough time at the end with little sleep - and the recovery was tough, but she is feeling much better & already planning a triathlon for 2010. She was released from her nursery coordinator calling in October - she's misses all those sweet kids, but enjoys sunday school & relief society. Heid has also enjoyed reading this year and read many great books. She continues to update the family blog, so check it out anytime @ http://jhhamiltonhappenings.blogspot.com/
McKINLEY: McKinley turned 4 years old this year and she still likes to tell everyone she meets! She is still our inquisitive little girl and if we had a dollar for every time she asks "why?" - Jason wouldn't even need to look for a job! She enjoys her Sunshine Square preschool for the most part - her preschool pals are Parker and Lily. She has learned a lot and has even started reading simple books. She LOVES to play on her computer - mostly at PBSkids.org. We have to set a timer so she won't be on it too long. She also loves to watch movies. Jack & Michael are still her best friends and she also loves to play with Lizzy across the street as well.
IRELAND: Ireland is deep into the terrible 2s. We joke that she is part boy because she never seems to stop and she loves to climb and jump and get as messy as humanly possible. However, she also still LOVES shoes and make-up, so we'll just wait & see how she turns out. She is a cuddler after she wakes up & we cherish that time before she's off & running. She's starting to learn her colors (although purple still seems to be the color of choice), she loves to count, and she can recognize many letters. She loves to play with her older sister most of the time - and some of their favorite games are tag and hide and seek. She loves Curious George, Super Why, and most of the PBS shows. She still takes a 2-3 hour nap in the middle of the day, which is really nice. She LOVES her baby sister and is constantly giving her kisses, cuddles, loves, and just generally in her face. We love our Ireland - she is so full of light, love, and life!
KEZIA: Kezia joined our family on October 26, 2009. Heidi's pregnancy, labor & deliver, and recovery were harder with Kezia than with the other 2 girls, so she's very thankful that Kezia is such a good baby. She has started smiling within the past couple weeks and it is so BEAUTIFUL! She likes silly noises and she loves to hear her sisters sing to her. She really likes her binki and uses it for most of her naps during the day. She is getting so big - probably about 11 lbs now - and is into mostof her 3-6 month clothes! She is so sweet and we are so thankful for the sweet spirit she adds to our family.
Here are some events - in words & pictures from 2009:
JANUARY:
-Visiting small towns in Utah to see which ones we might like to live in. We went from Logan, UT over to Morgan, Wasatch & Summit County, down to St. George. It was fun to see many small towns & visit with friends and family in between.
FEBRUARY:
-Visit to Living Planet Aquarium
-Heidi's sisters' trip to Phoenix
-Finding out we had another bun in the oven!
MARCH:
-Heidi's 30th birthday
-Draper Temple open house
-St. Patrick's Day party at Grandma Potts
APRIL:
-Jumpin' Jacks
-Potts 'egg-stravaganza' - Wheeler Farm & egg hunt
-Easter
-Heidi & Jason celebrate 9 year annivesary @ Alaskan Inn
MAY:
-Mother's Day get-"Tew"gether
-Hogle Zoo
-Found out we were having another GIRL!
-Mapleton for Memorial Day Weekend
JUNE:
-Riverton Arts Festival
-new newphew - Canyon Storm Reed
-Jason finished his MBA!
-Father's Day get-"Tew"gether
-Herriman Days
-Jason's birthday, Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house & graduation celebration!
JULY:
-Richfield 4th of July
-Ireland's 2nd birthday
-Payson's baptism & Canyon's blessing
-Camping at Fishlake
AUGUST:
-Ward campout, Heber, Vernal - visit with Grandma Stewart and Hatch's
-Potts Reunion at Moon Lake
SEPTEMBER:
-Labor Day @ Devenish cabin property
-McKinley's 4th birthday party @ Jumpin' Jacks
-Greek Festival, Gateway, Hansen Planetarium
OCTOBER:
-Jason-hunting
-Bow shower, Heber
-Halloween Party @ Potts
-Kezia born @ home!
-Halloween
NOVEMBER:
-Visits from Joseph, the Devenishs, the Edwards, and the Hamiltons
-Thanksgiving in Richfield
DECEMBER:
-Toffee @ the Johnsons - visit w/ Reeds & Hamiltons
-Ward Dinner with Santa
-Temple Square to see the lights
-This is the Place Heritage Park
