Happy Holidays from the Heimann family!
Josh – Roxanne – Grady – Kingsley
We hope this letter finds you as happy and well as we are! Here’s what we’ve been up to this year….
Josh is still a supervisor at Bertch Cabinets, and still seems to enjoy his job. He’s kept busy during his off hours as well…not only did he finish our basement (it’s gorgeous) and install a patio and fence in the backyard, but he’s also picked up some “little” jobs on the side cutting down trees (his passion) and doing handy-man work.
Roxanne is still teaching at UNI, and I am still loving the work and the opportunities that I have there. I’m also enjoying my first school year without being pregnant or caring for a newborn in four years! (Full nights of sleep on a consistent basis are ammmmazzzzzing!) I keep busy with work, the kids, and the house, and have even found time to take up old hobbies (entertaining!) and work out on a fairly consistent basis. One goal for 2012 is to run a 10k. (On paper = it’s official!)
Grady (3.5) is growing up. He had his first swimming lessons this past summer and I daresay he was a lifeguard favorite. J He did a great job listening to directions and especially enjoyed being able to go down the waterslide. He also started three year old preschool this fall and loves it. He’s an old pro with letters, colors, and numbers, and is really enjoying the fun activities that they do. His loves are trucks, playing Superheros (especially with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Annie), cars, Dora the Explorer, painting, playing outside, and of course, his baby sister. He also loves helping his daddy fix things around the house.
Kingsley (1.5) is growing and learning new things every day! Her vocabulary has exploded lately, and she’s saying phrases like, “Where’d it go?” and “Give it back!” She even minds her manners and says please and thank-you…sometimes even without prompting! She knows many animal sounds and body parts and loves her B (her stuffed purple bear), and playing with all of Grady’s toys. Both she and Grady still go to their MeeMaw’s house (Josh’s mom) two days a week and love that as well.
We’ve been able to do more fun things with the kids this year than in the past. We took them on a short getaway with another family in June to Des Moines, and had a ton of fun at the hotel, and going to the zoo. We were also able to go to a waterpark in Dubuque with the entire Shontz side of the family and that was fun and relaxing. (Grady was asking to go back to the hotel for weeks, and we have another waterpark trip planned for this winter.) We also had the opportunity to go to Iowa Falls for a river boat ride with the Heimann side for Mark and Teri’s anniversary. We’ve kept busy closer to home as well with camping, trips to the pool and the library, movie nights, story time, play dates, hay rack rides, pumpkin and apple picking, church, football games, and establishing our own holiday traditions.
Josh and I have also been able to do some things on our own this year. We went on a canoe/camping trip with friends in August, and plan to make that a yearly venture. We have also been to a couple of comedians, a concert, and have enjoyed regular date nights
If you haven’t gathered it so far, we are so blessed and are looking forward to a fun, healthy, and prosperous 2012. From our family to yours, happy holidays.
