The never sent Christmas cards.

This year's Christmas avarice.

Well, I had some great intentions about sending out Christmas cards this year. I had the cards, had the family letter written, had the stamps.... and I still didn't do it. Boo. So in an effort to not let those efforts go completely to waste here's my letter and some pics from the big day.

****

December 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Every year, time seems to move faster and faster, and suddenly the holiday season is upon us. Our family has been incredibly blessed and busy this year.

In January, Amy, Morgan, Paige and Darien went with Amy's Dad and sisters to Elko, Nevada to attend a town hall meeting with Barack Obama. It was a very exciting event and we all got to shake hands with both then Sen. Obama and his wife Michelle. We even got some pictures. It really was a thrill to be a part of history like that.

In March another very exciting event, we welcomed our 5^th child and 3^rd son, William Thatcher Ogilvie (aka Liam) to our family. Some how, things worked out and he was born on the same day as his brother Britton, his grandpa Thatcher and his grandpa Ogilvie. Needless to say, March 14 is a very special day in our family.

Then this summer Russ, Amy and Liam were able to go (along with Amy's dad, uncle and 2 of her sisters) to the 4^th International Bollschweiler Family Reunion, this year held in Wilmington, Delaware. While on the East Coast we were able to visit New York City, Washington D.C., Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, Valley Forge, Monticello, Mt. Vernon, Philadelphia, Antietam, Gettysburg and many other historic sites (not necessarily in that order) . Our reunion organizers Brian and Rocky Bushweller also arranged a special tour of the capital through Sen. Tom Carper's office. It was exciting to ride on the underground tram system and eat at the cafeteria the senators and other government officials use every day. Needless to say, it was quite a trip. Russ says that traveling with Amy's family is never a vacation, but a field trip. :-) We had a lot of fun though, even if it took a month for our feet to recover.

Our family has also enjoyed our daily activities. Russ is working at RR Donnelley as a Software Engineer. He enjoys working there and has met many great people. He appreciates being able to use his Linux skills on such a regular basis. Russ adores his family. He is a wonderful husband and daddy, regularly picks up more than his fair share in chores and kid duty. I'm so grateful to be married to such a wonderful man and my best friend.

I have ventured into the world of working outside the home for the first time since Morgan was born. It all happened very unexpectedly when I took Darien to have his speech tested at Riverside Pre-school (the special education preschool run by Logan City School District). I walked in to have him tested and walked out with a job. It was amazing! Plus, Darien gets to go to the best preschool in town for free. I love the people I work with so much and feel very blessed to have such a perfect job for our situation.

Morgan is 11 and in the 5^th grade. She is turning into a young woman before our very eyes. We are so proud of her and the progress she has made. She is a voracious reader and has an amazing imagination. Both of these gifts also help her be a pretty good little writer. She is also very good at organizing the other kids into some kind of production while she directs. This year at school has been a lot of fun because she has participated in the Ellis school choir and has enjoyed that immensely. You won't see her missing a practice or forgetting a concert. She loves it.

Britton is 9 and in the 4^th grade. He is a wonderful helper with the baby. He is completely smitten by his baby birthday brother and takes very good care of him. Britton also is an avid gamer. It wasn't so very long ago that he was asking me for help with them, but I'm afraid those days are long gone. I'm the one asking now. ;-) He also has an active imagination and uses it in creating some very complex and magical games outside with his friends, complete with maps and riddles. He also loves to play soccer and ride his bike.

Paige is 6 and started Kindergarten this year. Paige is very much a “sugar and spice and everything nice” kind of girl. She loves to sing, dance and perform. We are hoping to get her into some kind of dance or music training this year. She also loves all the girly things she can get her pink painted nails on. Oddly enough she still hasn't quite gotten over the crush she developed on Darth Vader (not Anakin, DARTH VADER, black mask and all) when she was 2. :-/ I hope this doesn't mean she likes bad boys. :-/

Darien is 4 and loves preschool. He is my jokester and crack up. He's always making us laugh with his amazingly articulate observations on the world. I regularly get reports from his teachers on some funny thing he's said or done that day. He is also a boy's boy. He love Cars, especially Lightening McQueen. It isn't likely that you'll see Darien without a couple die cast toy cars with him. He's also a huge Thomas the tank engine fan. Though even with his many manly pursuits, I have occasionally caught him enjoying a viewing of “Strawberry Shortcake” with his sister Paige.

Liam (or Lemur, as he is known to us) is 9 months old. I can not believe how quickly this first year has flown by. He is a champion crawler and loves to climb stairs. He's made our heart pound on more than one occasion with his feats of daring do. He also loves to eat REAL food and splash in any kind of water he can get his hands on. It is amazing the distinct personalities these little people come to earth with from day one. Liam knows what he wants for dang sure, and you'd better not try to get in his way. Honestly, we wouldn't have him any other way, though talk to me again at 3 AM when he decides it's play time and see what I say. ;-)

It has been a wonderful year for our family and we are so grateful for our associations with all of you. May you all have a wonderful holiday and a blessed and peaceful year to come.

Love to you all,

The Ogilvie Fam

My beautiful Morgan.

Cars PJ's, Cars game... any guesses on his favorite things?

Britton doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve... oh no. ;-)

The Thatcher hounds enjoying the human free chair.

Liam helping to open the kid's gift from Grandpa T.

Morgan seems to like her Nintendo DS. Maybe Brit is giving her some tips.

Britton realizing what is actually in the box (it's a Wii).

I wonder if he likes it? Only took 3 years for "Santa" to get his hands on one.

Yeah, I dun good on my honey's gift this year. :-D

Morgan is so engrossed with her DS that even baby brother will not thwart her concentration.

Paigey and her favorite gift this year. The singing Diamond Castle barbie... the brown haired one... I don't know their names. She already had the blonde one.

My adorable Darien in the Christmas wreckage.

The perils of cat ownership during Christmas.