Christmas Day at the Chidesters 2008
Chelsea, Alyssa and Emily
Our Girls
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Chidester Family Christmas Letter 2008
Emily is nearing 14 and will be able to go to teen dances next month. She is doing quite well in eighth grade and is currently the Beehive Class president. She is still as sweet as ever. She has had her nose buried in the Twilight Series the past few months and when she is not reading or listening to her ipod she is doing homework. She is a deligent student and it shows in her grades. She really looks like a teenager now and I think I'm going to lock her up to keep her away from the boys...
Alyssa is a busy 15 year old girl and now officially taller than all the other women in the house. She takes dance lessons, works hard in school, has weekly vacuuming job, and is now and alternative on the drill team. She and Emily have enjoyed redecorating their bedroom the last couple of months. We are still having some health issues with her and she has been a trooper with tests and doctor appointments. We pray we will soon get some answers. She is also busy at the orthodontist office lately and will soon have her braces on. She is excited to have her drivers permit and will begin driving lessons this month...you have been warned!
Chelsea is nearing 18 and excited to be an adult soon. She is enjoying her freedom as an official driver of all ages! We are doing the whole Senior thing. Portraits, Grad Night, Announcements....the list goes on. She is Laurel Class President and is counting the days until she can officially be a Young Adult...AHHHHH! She is a beautiful, kind person and we are proud of the wonderful "Adult" she has become.
Jenny and Paul are enjoying working at home together...did I say "enjoying?" I meant tolerating. Since my parents moved close by, I am trying to be more available to take care of my Father by working from home. I treasure the time I get to spend with him, even though at times it is exhausting. It is also a blessing to have Paul at home at times when I need help with Dad. We are grateful to have both of my parents close by. With the economy we are both grateful to still be working and making an income. These are some of the costs of our household this year...
A Tank of Gas...$1.57
A Gallon of Milk...$3.59
Dance Lessons...$55
Piano Lessons...$60
Drivers Training $75
Junior Prom, Senior Ball,and Homecoming ...$250 each
Girls Camp, Lake Barryessa Boating Trip, Girls Trip to Aunt Donna's in Nevada City, and The Annual Graeagle Christmas Tree Trip...Three Beautiful, Healthy Obedient Daughters...Still in Love after 20 years of marriage.....Surrounded by treasured Family and Friends...A knowledge of a Loving Father in Heaven and of his Son, Jesus Christ:PRICELESS!
We are blessed! Happy Holidays!
Love, The Chidesters
Alyssa is a busy 15 year old girl and now officially taller than all the other women in the house. She takes dance lessons, works hard in school, has weekly vacuuming job, and is now and alternative on the drill team. She and Emily have enjoyed redecorating their bedroom the last couple of months. We are still having some health issues with her and she has been a trooper with tests and doctor appointments. We pray we will soon get some answers. She is also busy at the orthodontist office lately and will soon have her braces on. She is excited to have her drivers permit and will begin driving lessons this month...you have been warned!
Chelsea is nearing 18 and excited to be an adult soon. She is enjoying her freedom as an official driver of all ages! We are doing the whole Senior thing. Portraits, Grad Night, Announcements....the list goes on. She is Laurel Class President and is counting the days until she can officially be a Young Adult...AHHHHH! She is a beautiful, kind person and we are proud of the wonderful "Adult" she has become.
Jenny and Paul are enjoying working at home together...did I say "enjoying?" I meant tolerating. Since my parents moved close by, I am trying to be more available to take care of my Father by working from home. I treasure the time I get to spend with him, even though at times it is exhausting. It is also a blessing to have Paul at home at times when I need help with Dad. We are grateful to have both of my parents close by. With the economy we are both grateful to still be working and making an income. These are some of the costs of our household this year...
A Tank of Gas...$1.57
A Gallon of Milk...$3.59
Dance Lessons...$55
Piano Lessons...$60
Drivers Training $75
Junior Prom, Senior Ball,and Homecoming ...$250 each
Girls Camp, Lake Barryessa Boating Trip, Girls Trip to Aunt Donna's in Nevada City, and The Annual Graeagle Christmas Tree Trip...Three Beautiful, Healthy Obedient Daughters...Still in Love after 20 years of marriage.....Surrounded by treasured Family and Friends...A knowledge of a Loving Father in Heaven and of his Son, Jesus Christ:PRICELESS!
We are blessed! Happy Holidays!
Love, The Chidesters
Monday, December 8, 2008
Our Annual Christmas Tree Hunt
We've lost count, but we think we are on about our 7th or 8th year of going up to Graeagle to cut down our Christmas Tree. Many people ask us, "why do you go all the way to Graeagle? ...And where the heck is Graeagle?" It's about a half hour North West of Truckee out in the middle of now where. If you sneeze you will miss the entire town. We love it. We purchase a permit for $10 to cut down a tree.
We spend the night, play in the snow (if there is snow), four wheel drive in the forest and search and search for that perfect tree that never exists. We usually stay in Truckee the night before, but this year we tried a new adventure and loved it. We rented a cabin with the Sirmans right outside of Graeagle overlooking the Feather River. We left Friday afternoon (ok it was actually evening by the time we left). After getting lost for quite a while we finally arrived about 10:30. The Bair family met us the next morning to join us for the day for the Christmas Tree hunt. I think they thought we are a little nuts at first. But, we all found great trees and had a great time. We came home to a BBQ Tri Trip dinner followed by lots of laughter. The next day we all slept in and then enjoyed omelets made by Mark (although they didn't flip very well in the "no-stick" pans, they tasted delicious). We lounged around and left for home in the late afternoon. All the kids had a great time and enjoyed eachothers company, even their own siblings. I heard a lot of giggling going on late at night. Our daughters beg us to go back to Graeagle every year, so I'm sure the cabin thing will be an addition to our much loved Christmas Tree Tradition. In fact, we think we may go back in the summer to Graeagle...maybe we will mark our tree then!!
We spend the night, play in the snow (if there is snow), four wheel drive in the forest and search and search for that perfect tree that never exists. We usually stay in Truckee the night before, but this year we tried a new adventure and loved it. We rented a cabin with the Sirmans right outside of Graeagle overlooking the Feather River. We left Friday afternoon (ok it was actually evening by the time we left). After getting lost for quite a while we finally arrived about 10:30. The Bair family met us the next morning to join us for the day for the Christmas Tree hunt. I think they thought we are a little nuts at first. But, we all found great trees and had a great time. We came home to a BBQ Tri Trip dinner followed by lots of laughter. The next day we all slept in and then enjoyed omelets made by Mark (although they didn't flip very well in the "no-stick" pans, they tasted delicious). We lounged around and left for home in the late afternoon. All the kids had a great time and enjoyed eachothers company, even their own siblings. I heard a lot of giggling going on late at night. Our daughters beg us to go back to Graeagle every year, so I'm sure the cabin thing will be an addition to our much loved Christmas Tree Tradition. In fact, we think we may go back in the summer to Graeagle...maybe we will mark our tree then!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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