Dear Family and Friends, December 2008
It is hard to believe another year has passed. 2008 was a year of joy for our family. My parents bought a house (as a rental property) near my Grandma in Ft. Myers in early April. We have spent at least one weekend a month or so in Ft. Myers visiting with Great Grandma and her husband Bud. The kids have enjoyed the trips as each weekend has held a new adventure. The first few were the adventures of a house empty of furniture (how fun this was!) and several trips learning about home remodeling (Don’t touch the walls, we just painted!). There have been several trips to the famous Shell World on the Tamiami Trail. We visited Sanibel Island, the beautiful lighthouse, walked the beach, learned how to play crocket, and the kids loved the audio tour of Edison’s winter home! Visiting with Great Grandma and Bud couldn’t be more fun! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for buying such a great house and making our trips down with you so much fun!
April 5th held a surprise for us, as Aunt Amanda delivered baby Emily 6 weeks early! I was able to be with her while she delivered, and it was AMAZING. I was certainly honored that Amanda and Michael allowed me share in the wonder that is childbirth. Emily, although small, was healthy and is now a beautiful 8 month old! Welcome to the family, Emily!
The summer began with a bang as we embarked on the Disney Wonder for a 5 day/4 night Disney cruise to the Bahamas! It was a wonderful vacation. We had hoped that all the family could attend, but Grandpa had a big project come up at work, and Aunt Amanda’s new baby, Emily, wasn’t old enough to travel. We were still thankful that Grandma was able to vacation with us (that meant there was one adult per kid, the best way to travel!) The kids were thrilled to be aboard ship, and the entertainment was fabulous and completely Disney style. Kendra fell in love with the waiter from Brazil, and sang the “K-I-S-S-I-N-G” song but added that “First comes college, then comes love, then comes marriage” Lowell and I pray she remembers this! Jerome was on cloud nine when he was able to spend one afternoon in the “teenager loft” playing the Wii Olympics! Kevin was very observant of the wildlife, and spotted a sting ray, dolphin, and what he thought was a leafy sea dragon but turned out to be just plain seaweed. Lowell and I had a great time. I enjoyed the Pirate night most as we watched the fireworks they launch from the cruise ship! We are all praying like mad that we can go on another cruise soon!
The kids were able to attend the Animal Kingdom summer camp for one week this summer, and they loved every minute of it. I was so jealous of Jerome getting to visit the behind the scenes giraffe barn (oh to be a kid again!). The camp was held at the Animal Kingdom park, and then as the kids studied different animals and habitats, they went on “field trips” to the other Disney parks to “experience” what they had been learning about (like the African Safari ride at Animal Kingdom, and the Nemo Seas (ocean habitat with sea animals) at Epcot. All three had a great week, and hope to go again next summer.
I tell the kids that we work hard so that we can play hard. The kids all spent the summer reading. Kendra started taking AR tests, and passed 13 picture books all by herself this summer, Jerome worked hard for 2 years and was able to get a 3 on his FCAT which means he proved on the test that he is on grade level, and he read 30 chapter books by the end of the summer (to earn time on the beloved video games!) Kevin started chapter books for the first time this summer and passed 15 by the time school started. I am so proud of how hard they work on their academics! I was rewarded with a new van (2008 Toyota Sienna) for all of my hard work, and I love it!
Soccer camp was extra fun this year as cousins, Cody and Kendall, joined us at Soccer camp. It was also Kendra’s first year a soccer camp. The boys love it, and Kendra liked the pink shin guards, and soccer socks, but was not sure why she should be running around in the hot sun getting sweaty. It might be the only soccer camp she attends!
We were able to join many family members at special places this year. We visited Epcot with Great Uncle Larry and Great Aunt Theresa, and then Great Uncle Larry came again later in the year and he experienced Sea World with us! We were able to go to Sea World with Grandma Pattie and Papa Paul when they came down for a visit, too. We love living in Orlando and getting to go to so many cool places with our company! We were especially lucky to have a visit from Grandpa Lamar, and cannot wait for his next visit!
Jerome started 4th grade this year, Kevin is in 3rd, and Kendra is in 1st. They were so excited when cousin Jacinta Camille asked them to be the flower girl, and ring bearers in her wedding. Aunt Jacinta and Uncle Sam made it possible for our family of 5 to fly to Kansas City, Missouri, to attend the wedding in October. It was wonderful! The kids were able to see some of their birth family, and we had a great time! Thank you Uncle Sam and Aunt Jacinta!
We only wish that we could have made a trip to Tallahassee this year to see our family. We tried several times, but due to work schedules and other events out of our control, we weren’t able to make it. We pray that we will be visiting Tallahassee soon, as we especially miss Lowell’s grandparents. Grandpa and Grandma Allen, we love you lots!
I looped to 5th grade with the class I taught in 4th last year, and LOVE it! Lowell is now doing photography for Disney at the Magic Kingdom and loves every minute of it! We pray this letter finds you happy, healthy, and in good spirits this Christmas season!
Love,
The Deese Family
It is hard to believe another year has passed. 2008 was a year of joy for our family. My parents bought a house (as a rental property) near my Grandma in Ft. Myers in early April. We have spent at least one weekend a month or so in Ft. Myers visiting with Great Grandma and her husband Bud. The kids have enjoyed the trips as each weekend has held a new adventure. The first few were the adventures of a house empty of furniture (how fun this was!) and several trips learning about home remodeling (Don’t touch the walls, we just painted!). There have been several trips to the famous Shell World on the Tamiami Trail. We visited Sanibel Island, the beautiful lighthouse, walked the beach, learned how to play crocket, and the kids loved the audio tour of Edison’s winter home! Visiting with Great Grandma and Bud couldn’t be more fun! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for buying such a great house and making our trips down with you so much fun!
April 5th held a surprise for us, as Aunt Amanda delivered baby Emily 6 weeks early! I was able to be with her while she delivered, and it was AMAZING. I was certainly honored that Amanda and Michael allowed me share in the wonder that is childbirth. Emily, although small, was healthy and is now a beautiful 8 month old! Welcome to the family, Emily!
The summer began with a bang as we embarked on the Disney Wonder for a 5 day/4 night Disney cruise to the Bahamas! It was a wonderful vacation. We had hoped that all the family could attend, but Grandpa had a big project come up at work, and Aunt Amanda’s new baby, Emily, wasn’t old enough to travel. We were still thankful that Grandma was able to vacation with us (that meant there was one adult per kid, the best way to travel!) The kids were thrilled to be aboard ship, and the entertainment was fabulous and completely Disney style. Kendra fell in love with the waiter from Brazil, and sang the “K-I-S-S-I-N-G” song but added that “First comes college, then comes love, then comes marriage” Lowell and I pray she remembers this! Jerome was on cloud nine when he was able to spend one afternoon in the “teenager loft” playing the Wii Olympics! Kevin was very observant of the wildlife, and spotted a sting ray, dolphin, and what he thought was a leafy sea dragon but turned out to be just plain seaweed. Lowell and I had a great time. I enjoyed the Pirate night most as we watched the fireworks they launch from the cruise ship! We are all praying like mad that we can go on another cruise soon!
The kids were able to attend the Animal Kingdom summer camp for one week this summer, and they loved every minute of it. I was so jealous of Jerome getting to visit the behind the scenes giraffe barn (oh to be a kid again!). The camp was held at the Animal Kingdom park, and then as the kids studied different animals and habitats, they went on “field trips” to the other Disney parks to “experience” what they had been learning about (like the African Safari ride at Animal Kingdom, and the Nemo Seas (ocean habitat with sea animals) at Epcot. All three had a great week, and hope to go again next summer.
I tell the kids that we work hard so that we can play hard. The kids all spent the summer reading. Kendra started taking AR tests, and passed 13 picture books all by herself this summer, Jerome worked hard for 2 years and was able to get a 3 on his FCAT which means he proved on the test that he is on grade level, and he read 30 chapter books by the end of the summer (to earn time on the beloved video games!) Kevin started chapter books for the first time this summer and passed 15 by the time school started. I am so proud of how hard they work on their academics! I was rewarded with a new van (2008 Toyota Sienna) for all of my hard work, and I love it!
Soccer camp was extra fun this year as cousins, Cody and Kendall, joined us at Soccer camp. It was also Kendra’s first year a soccer camp. The boys love it, and Kendra liked the pink shin guards, and soccer socks, but was not sure why she should be running around in the hot sun getting sweaty. It might be the only soccer camp she attends!
We were able to join many family members at special places this year. We visited Epcot with Great Uncle Larry and Great Aunt Theresa, and then Great Uncle Larry came again later in the year and he experienced Sea World with us! We were able to go to Sea World with Grandma Pattie and Papa Paul when they came down for a visit, too. We love living in Orlando and getting to go to so many cool places with our company! We were especially lucky to have a visit from Grandpa Lamar, and cannot wait for his next visit!
Jerome started 4th grade this year, Kevin is in 3rd, and Kendra is in 1st. They were so excited when cousin Jacinta Camille asked them to be the flower girl, and ring bearers in her wedding. Aunt Jacinta and Uncle Sam made it possible for our family of 5 to fly to Kansas City, Missouri, to attend the wedding in October. It was wonderful! The kids were able to see some of their birth family, and we had a great time! Thank you Uncle Sam and Aunt Jacinta!
We only wish that we could have made a trip to Tallahassee this year to see our family. We tried several times, but due to work schedules and other events out of our control, we weren’t able to make it. We pray that we will be visiting Tallahassee soon, as we especially miss Lowell’s grandparents. Grandpa and Grandma Allen, we love you lots!
I looped to 5th grade with the class I taught in 4th last year, and LOVE it! Lowell is now doing photography for Disney at the Magic Kingdom and loves every minute of it! We pray this letter finds you happy, healthy, and in good spirits this Christmas season!
Love,
The Deese Family
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