2008 Family Letter

I sent this letter out to loved ones who lived out of town...hopefully everyone got their Christmas cards in time, although I know there were a handfull that might be coming the day after-sorry!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
It sounds so cliché to say how time flies….but 2008 came and went in the blink of an eye! Now that our children are older, we have been busy keeping up with their schedule. So, here I am, putting a few things down for the record.
Jared… busy as always. He finished his fifth house this spring, and is hoping to get number 6 going this upcoming spring. He still serves as the Elders Quorum President, which keeps him busy as well. In his spare time, he golfs, golfs and golfs some more. He has started entering local tournaments-which he enjoys. He is getting a little close to the obsessive side- but not yet! His schedule always opens up for a game of basketball, a new episode of This Old House, paint balling, and a movie with me:)
Mandy… has been a taxi driver (ballet, soccer,baseball,football,school plays), a cheerleader, an after school tutor (home work, reading and spelling words), a baker (after school cookies and smoothies), a fashion consultant (getting dressed and out the door), a culinary genius (doing wonders w/ PB&J and spaghetti- not together though!), interior designer (made drapes for my dining room), and a book collector (don’t read as much as I’d like, but somehow found time to read the Twilight series). In my spare time, I do Achievement Days, Nursery, and the Activity Director (party planner) for the ward. In an ideal world, I would have more time to make cute signs, travel, write a few stories and eat as many homemade chocolate chip cookies with out gaining a single pound!
Megan…2008 has been a big year for her. Top 5: #5. Dance recitals #4. Going to Achievement Days with mom #3. receiving a trophy for soccer #2. raising (and selling) rabbits #1 turning eight and her special baptism day! There are never too many play days/girl parties with her friends, she LOVES to go shopping with mom and WITHOUT the boys. Painting fingernails, playing with makeup and “doing” hair are a favorite past time for her. She is in the bunny business, with a few very cheap employees (Jacob, Travis and even Chloe are more than happy to help take care of the bunnies for only a dollar or two!!) She loves to write music on her keyboard and play songs on the piano.
Jacob…Is a big 1st grader. He is constantly growing out of all his clothes- he has less than a foot to grow before he is as tall as I am! He has tried his hand at a few different sports this year: baseball and football. He says Golf is his favorite. In fact, he was telling me that a professional golfer can make more than a doctor and other top jobs- he might be spending too much time with Jared on the golf courses!! He never gets tired of riding the 4wheeler and catching/chasing bunnies. He holds the top score (108) for spelling tests in the Barton home (Megan held it for a while with 106). He looks forward to his special day next year when he turns eight and gets baptized like Megan.
Travis… would be most happy if he never had to wear shoes, climb trees all day and eat continually. Although he does like to take baths- sometimes as many as 3 in one day! He likes chocolate chip cookie dough, pizza w/mushrooms and bananas(not together). I often tell people his spirit is so big, his little five year old body is about to BURST! To know Travis is to love him.
Chloe… is a cutie, making tons of friends where ever she goes. She is still our little song bird, now she has a little move and groove to go with it. She talks up a storm and thinks Megan’s Barbies are lots of fun. She gets into tons of trouble with Travis, but he ditches her in a heart beat as soon as I come down the stairs, leaving her to fend for her self in the mist of trouble! Her big brothers and sister adore her- must be nice to be the baby of the family!
We hope you all feel of our Savior’s love and take the time to appreciate the many miracles that surround us all this upcoming year! Love,
Jared, Mandy, Megan, Jacob, Travis, Chloe