2014's Christmas Newsletter

While I'm figuring out what to type up for the blog, here's our 2014 Christmas Newsletter that was sent out with our Christmas cards in early December.  In case you hadn't read it, you can find last year's here.

Dearest Reader--

     After last year’s four page monstrosity of a letter, I’m not sure if anyone’s willing to ever read a newsletter of mine again.  But just in case you are still willing, and able, I will continue with our 2014 version.  I promise you, I will do my best to keep it shorter.

     We had fewer changes than last year, which is worth reporting, as that alone brings me the most comfort this year.  We did manage to continue with our house projects.  I painted the guest room, hallway, and the exterior of the house (no more fecal brown paint or stripes!) all by May.  Before February, the guest room was just a mess of craft supplies stacked on a bed we didn’t use.  But now, it’s a travel-themed room and we have managed to keep it fairly organized and it’s ready for company.  Just don’t tell our cat Alexandra it’s a guest room; she thinks it’s hers.

      We have spent most of this year continuing to get acquainted with our new state. We finally made it to San Francisco in January and have been several more times since.  We’ve hung out in Chinatown, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, an aquarium, and I’ve posted many photos on my blog at www.evolutionfromkansas.blogspot.com.  We continue to enjoy our trips to the shore and saw elephant seals in February.  We also made it to Santa Cruz and had lunch while watching the sea lions from our table.  In April, we headed to L.A. and hung out in Venice Beach, Santa Monica, both Disney parks, and had a lot of fun during Bailey’s spring break.  We had never been to Disney’s California Adventure park and had so much fun.  In May, we made it to Lake Tahoe and marveled at the giant pine cones.  In September, we made it to Napa and saw the aftermath from the earthquake.  So far, California doesn’t seem to lack adventure.

      In May, Rob’s parents joined our adventures.  We toured San Francisco with them on top of a double-decker bus.  We loved showing them some of our favorite restaurants and locations and then as soon as Bailey got out of school for the summer, we joined them at Bass Lake near Yosemite.  We had so much fun together seeing the giant trees, the waterfalls, a bear running across the road, and everything else we could squeeze in while in Yosemite.  We’re already anxious for them to come back to visit.

      Bailey has been our busy little B.  In June, she started a drama summer camp.  It was for three weeks, 9-2, and then they put on Seussical the Musical for a month’s worth of weekend shows.  Every Saturday and Sunday at 1, you could find us watching our little redhead on stage.  For her tenth birthday, we spent the day at Six Flags.  Her tenth birthday party was science-themed.  We had our fifth annual Halloween party in October.  She just finished up her first soccer season in California and is currently taking vocal classes.  She’s also in the school choir and seems to love her Fifth grade teacher.  She continues to flourish in school.  She still loves to read and is currently in the middle of the Hunger Games series.  Science is her favorite subject and she’s excited to start working on sixth grade math here shortly at school (certain students were invited to jump ahead while keeping up their fifth grade studies as well).  Other hobbies include Minecraft, sleepovers, Pokemon, stuffed animals, art, and Doctor Who.

     Other happenings have included doing all sorts of fun activities with The Redhead during her summer break, replacing the clutch in Rob’s car, buying a new fridge (for the Kansas house), my recent visit to Kansas to check on the rental house (a special thanks to my best friend A and her family for allowing me to stay in her home), continuing to blog, and all the other fun that comes with living on the west coast.  Fortunately, Rob still loves his job (like he has a choice, heh), and I’ve adjusted to my surroundings.  I hope everyone else has had just as blessed of a year. 

                                                                             With tidings of joy,

                                                                                    The Hudson Family

                                                                                Rob, Terra, & Bailey

                                                                             & Fudge, Stitch, & Alexandra