December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year




Merry Christmas Everyone,




We hope that you are enjoying the Holiday Season. We have so much to be thankful for this year. We have enjoyed many family trips and activities, and are ever grateful for each other and the time we get to spend together.

Morgan (5): Morgan continues to be our social butterfly mixed with a little Dennis the Menace. She is in preschool this year and loves to learn and play with the other children her age. She enjoys being on the go and never wants to be at “Mommy’s House.”

Jaxen (3): Jaxen is our accident waiting to happen. He is always going and trying to get their quickly, and usually trips or gets hurt. He has a contagious laugh, and loves to be with his Daddy. Jaxen started preschool this year and has enjoyed getting out and playing with other children, as well as, learning new things.

Joshua (3): Joshua continues to amaze us. He is going to preschool through Early On and loves every minute of it. While there, he works on his gross motor skills with a physical therapist and with a program called Music and Motion. He is always learning something new and loves to show us what he can do: spell his name, say his birthday, put his coat on by himself, ride the bus, and much much more. He also continues to see a physical therapist one time a week through Holland hospital, and to visit various doctors throughout the year. He is making great progress and works hard to do everything the other kids can do.

Gracie (3): Gracie is our little princess and loves anything pink, sparkly, and girly. She also attends preschool and is in the same class as Jaxen. She loves to go and play with all the toys and activities they have at school, and she likes to make cards and paper hearts for her teachers. She especially likes it when Mommy comes to school with her, and she gets to be the special helper.

Rachel (2): Rachel continues to be our pleasant surprise. She thinks that she is a “triplet” and wants to go to school with the others. She loves to be with her mother, and is never far from a baby doll or her blanket. Being the youngest of 5, she often shares her view point and does not let the others push her around.

Emily (??): Emily continues to spend her time at home with her 5 little ones. She is usually driving them to various activities and school, or playing with them at home. She also continues to work at Holland Hospital as a Speech Language Pathologist two weekends a month and occasionally in the evenings. It is here where she gets to do something she loves (second to being a Mom), and have the occasional adult conversation. She is working with the 11 year olds in her church and has enjoyed teaching them the gospel.

Ryan (3?): Ryan continues to work for HJ Heinz as a Continuous Improvement Manager. He travels once a month to various plants in North America and has enjoyed the opportunities this job has provided. He is now in the Bishopric serving as the 2nd Counselor. He has enjoyed working in this position, and the wonderful spiritual experiences it has given to him.

As you can see, we continue to be busy people with full and busy lives, but are very grateful for all that we have and are able to do. We are grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ. We love to celebrate his birth and enjoy the wonderful spirit the Holiday Season provides. We wish everyone the best and hope this letter finds you well and happy.

Love,

The MacPherson Family: Ryan, Emily, Morgan, Jaxen, Joshua, Gracie, and Rachel.


December 9, 2009

More Family Pictures

Here are more pictures from our Family Album 2009


Joshua

Joshua

Morgan

Rachel

Jaxen

MacPherson Family

Family Pictures 2009

We had family pictures taken this year.  It's been two years since our last professional pictures and I thought it was about time.  They were a little better about participating this time, but it still took a few shots to get them to all smile for the camera.


Morgan

Jaxen

Joshua

Gracie

Rachel

Ryan and Emily

November and December Events

We had a great November and it seemed to go by too quickly.  With 4 of the kids in preschool, the days  fly by with getting Joshua ready for the bus ride in the morning, and then driving the other three to school in the afternoon. 

Anyway,  for Thanksgiving we had dinner at our house.  I had to work, so we stuck close to home with Zach and Lori's family.  We had a ton of food and enjoyed the leftovers all weekend.  Friday we got up and did some shopping.  We bought Christmas gifts, new sheets and other stuff for the house or just for fun.


All the kids sitting at the table getting ready to eat.


Another picture of all the kids eating dinner.

As part of the Christmas festivities (Christmas decorations to come), Ryan and the kids made cookies for a snack while I was at work.  He let them help and here are pictures of them waiting for the trays to come out of the oven.




Just like the two girls before her,  Rachel adores her FiFi the Pink Poodle Costume.  She has yet to sleep in it, but she does wear it around the house often.  In fact, it is the only costume she will wear when the girls play dress up.  Gracie chases her around the house with a princess or ballarina dress, so they can play together, but she only wants her FiFi.



November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween

We had a fun Halloween at our house.  Ryan helped the kids carve their pumpkins while I was at work.  Then when it was time, I took the kids Trick or Treating, while Ryan handed out candy to the kids who came to our door.  Sherri Gotschall helped keep track of all the kids as we went door to door.  It was a cold night, but the kids didn't mind 'cause they were happy to be getting candy.


Rachel with her Pumpkin

Gracie

Joshua

Morgan

Jaxen

Morgan the Karate Kid, Jaxen the Fireman, and Gracie the Ballerina,  Joshua as Bob the Builder is absent.  He did not want to pose for the camera and was having a tantrum in the background.


And of course, Halloween would not be complete without FiFi the Pink Poodle (Rachel).  Isn't she cute?  Gracie didn't even mind sharing her costume with her sister.

California Vacation

Last week Becca, Bryan (my brother and his wife) and I met Ryan in California for a fun adult vacation.  The weather was great and we all had a great time.  We went to the Ghetti Museum, saw Jimmy Kimmel Live taped, shopped, and went site seeing on Catalina Island. Then when Becca and Bryan left, we went to the Newport Beach Temple and went site seeing around the area.  It was nice getting a way for a little while to good weather and kid free.


Ryan and I at the Newport Beach Temple.  It's a small temple, but very beautiful.


Ryan and I at the Ghetti Museum.


Ryan, Becca and I on Catalina Island.

Bryan and Becca

Bryan, Becca and I posing in front of the Hollywood sign.  (Way up in the back).

October 13, 2009

Family Visit

This weekend was busy, but in a good way.  I ran another 5k and beat my time by 4 minutes.  Then we had our family picture taken (pictures to be posted at a later date).  Then Ryan's sister came for a visit and we had a good time hanging out and eating good food.


Mariah and her youngest Spencer (The kids loved playing with him.  He is a very happy baby.)


Spencer

Grandma MacPherson and Jaxen



Mariah, Joshua, Spencer and Art



Gracie, Spencer and Joshua


Gracie, Spencer, Joshua and Rachel

Joshua and Spencer