Christmas 2015
Disneyland/California Adventure:
March 2015
Dear family and friends,
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Joneses!
2015’s Word
of the Year was “Peace.” Amidst the
chaos of a bustling family of four children, two working parents, and a growing
number of activities, we strive to maintain true peace in our hearts with where
we are in our lives. Stepping back to look at the big picture now
and again reminds us of our many blessings.
There is a sense of gratitude and joy, providing strength to set limits
on our bustle to maintain peace.
Despite - or
perhaps in spite - of all the chaos, our family is doing really well! Lucia is in 2nd grade this year. In 2015 she did Irish Dance, ice skating,
softball, and fall soccer. She also
participated in two theater camps over the summer, one culminating in a very
professional production with kids through high school. She wants to continue in theater and dance, sports
and also piano, which she began last summer.
She works hard in school and discovered her love of “projects” like book
reports, or the 8-year timeline she is making right now.
Magdalena is
finally in Kindergarten, and as her teacher says was “born ready for
school!” She read six “Rainbow Fairy”
chapter books last week alone, and enjoys expanding her group of friends at
school. In 2015 she took Irish Dance,
ice skating, and fall soccer, and participated in various summer camps as
well. She also began piano last summer,
and is now in Portland Symphonic Girlchoir.
Magdalena is the mediator of the family, keeping harmony with both older
and younger siblings. She and JP
especially play quite well together.
John Paul is
finally FOUR years old, and he is finally venturing out in his food acceptance! The days of turning his nose up at tomato
carrot soup and hamburgers are over, and we are starting to see how even just
one growing boy can single-handedly increase our grocery bill. J
JP is in his third year at the same preschool, and his confidence is
high as he plays with new and old friends.
He will now sit for an entire game of Candyland, and loves to be read
to; including chapter books. Current
favorites are “Captain Underpants” and “The Day the Crayons Quit.” He had a big-boy birthday party this year and
loved being the center of attention.
Victoria
will tell you that she is “almost two” years old and she is an active little
firecracker! Not to be outdone by her older
siblings, she is a big talker; for example, she proclaimed other day that she
didn’t want to get out of the bathtub because “I’m not finished!” She is also in daily preschool, and disproved
our fears of being too young for it as she cheerfully tells me to
“Hab-ah-goo-day!” as she walks out the door with our nanny, backpack donned, to
head to school. We have to remember to
discipline her like the others when she takes her milk into the family room or
tries to run on the sofa… it’s easy to see how the youngest get a little
spoiled; Mama and Daddy are just plain tired out! J
Alex and
Andrea are still both working for Intel and independent consulting,
respectively. Work has increased quite a
bit for Andrea the latter half of 2015, and she is working to find that
“perfect” balance. However, it’s been
very rewarding to be able to subcontract part-time work to a few other working
moms in 2015! This is something Andrea
hopes to continue as she grows Andrea Jones Consulting in the future.
Less travel
in 2015; though we did drive to Disneyland again over Spring Break! We also made it to Baker and Sunriver this
summer, and are going to San Francisco for Christmas. We hope to get out a bit more in 2016!
Blessings of love and peace to you this
Christmas season! Happy New Year and stay
in touch!
Alex
& Andrea, Lucia – 8 yrs – Magdalena – 6 yrs – John Paul – 4 yrs – Victoria - 22 mos - Jones
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