2013 has been a busy year for the Stavenger family, but what year isn't? We hope this comes to you having a good year and with blessings in your 2014.
This year Meredith turned six and started the first grade! Her favorite subject in school is math. She's even taught herself multiplication and has had her Daddy help with fractions. When not in school, Meredith likes her gymnastics class, especially when she gets to practice on the bars. She loves her backwards hip circles! She continues piano lessons and is already playing some songs on her own. Meredith's year of learning even includes riding her bike without training wheels. What fun!
Theodore has been a busy four year old this year. He's getting ready for kindergarten next year by already knowing how to read! When he's not reading a book, Theodore loves playing with his monster trucks and Legos. Especially his Ninjago and Chima Lego sets! Theo is taking gymnastics classes too, where he really likes swinging around on the pommel horse all by himself. He is taking piano lessons and has just started playing some songs with the help of his Daddy. Soon he'll be a piano master and playing his own concerts!
This year Emmaline turned three and is trying to keep up with her brother and sister by learning her letters and numbers. She enjoys going to gymnastics where she is now in a class by herself where Mama does not have to help. She is starting piano lessons and knows her highs and lows and how to hold her hands on the keys. Emmaline loves singing, whether it be in church, at Sunday School, or at home.
Say hello to the newest member of our family, Trinity! We got her as a puppy in September from the local Humane Society. We're not really sure what breed she is, but she sure is pretty! Trinity's favorite things to do are play fetch and beg for lots of lovin's! She will lay down and let anyone scratch her belly!
Mollie has been very busy helping the kids grow and keeping the home running smoothly! She continues her knitting projects, with new commissioned work for pay! Though the work takes a while with running around after the kiddos. She loves helping the kids learn by taking them to gymnastics class each week and introducing them to new ideas. She helps at church with the youth group, teaches the high school Sunday School class, and runs the sound board during some services. She ran her first 5k since Emmaline was born at Augie's homecoming, and even tough she hurt her foot, she hopes to continue running races next year after she heals.
Timothy continues his work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a software engineer. He currently works on cyber security, gamma spectroscopy analysis, and system integration software. He also leads an effort to help improve software engineering at the lab with the latest software tools and best practices. Timothy loves watching his kids grow and spending time helping them learn, especially teaching them music to sing and play. He helps with the music at church where he started a new contemporary service. Timothy also enjoys photography, and when he isn't kept busy chasing after the kids or working, he's often trying to take the kids' pictures. If his year wasn't already busy, Timothy started commuting to work by bike this summer. He so far is a fair weather commuter, though, as he has chosen to drive once the weather turned colder and the daylight became shorter.
As a family, we enjoyed several summer camping trips to the mountains and Columbia River Gorge. In February we went on another winter wonderland trip to Holden Village. The kids love being outside and enjoy the hikes, even if they are kept short for their short legs. We got to take a trip out to the Oregon coast to visit with Mollie's family, we all went to Minnesota for Timothy's sister's wedding, and have had grandparents visit too!
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2014!
