This Year's Family Newsletter

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." -- Burton Hillis

Besides having family around on Christmas, I also like to read over all of the Christmas cards we've received from family and friends.  Here's what our Christmas card looked like this year:

Dazzle And Shine Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

And here's what I typed up for the inside of the card:

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope the that you had a wonderful year and that you enjoy this holiday season.  Our family has had a great year and we'd like to share the highlights.

In April, we made some major changes in preparation for our growing family.  We hired a guy to build a wood fence for our backyard.  It's so nice to send the boys out to the fenced backyard to play.  Also in April, we bought a 2006 Chrysler Town & Country minivan which has two built in car seats.  We love it.  On May 26, we welcomed our baby girl into our family.  Katie Jane Ward weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long and had plenty of thick brown hair.  Katie is 6 months now and is learning how to sit up.  Brian and Tyler can't get enough of their baby sister.  Brian is 5 1/2 and loves kindergarten.  He's already learning how to read and enjoys doing his homework.  Tyler will turn 3 this month.  He loves to line up his toy cars and play with them.  My friend and I started up a small preschool.  That friend and I along with three other women, take turns teaching preschool in our homes.  It has worked out nicely and the kids just love it.  In October, I was privileged to be a wedding photographer for my sister, Amy and her husband, Nate at the Salt Lake Temple.  It was fun to photograph all the details of their day.  I serve on the Relief Society planning committee.  Sam serves as a counselor in the Sunday School Presidency.  Sam has worked with the same company for 2 1/2 years.  He enjoys his job as an Electronic Repair Technician repairing rugged handheld computers.  On Thanksgiving Day, Sam ran his first 10K race.  Sam is a wonderful father and husband.

Our hearts are full at this time of year.  Sam and I feel so blessed to have a home of our own filled with our three beautiful children.  We appreciate our family and friends and the love and support they give us.  We hope your holidays are full of love and happiness.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Sam, Lisa, Brian, Tyler, and Katie