Dear
Friends
and Family,
We hope this letter
finds you happy, healthy, and full of joy this holiday season! We are
thrilled to be at another Christmas season, our most favorite time of the year.
2015 was a great year for the Munn Family filled with many memories and
laughter.
It all really began
with a dog. Early in December 2014 we found an adorable two week old Boxer puppy.
Although I was skeptical about getting a puppy at this particular time, there
was no denying the feeling we all had the first time we saw her; she was to be
the "new" Daisy. She looked just like our dearly beloved pet of years
ago. We fell in love and a month and many visits to the puppy later we took
little Daisy home to be a part of our family. She was a really big handful for
many months but has gradually developed into a loving companion and family
member. Daisy still has her moments, but she's come a long way over the year
and celebrates her first birthday November 30th.
With the birth of a new year also came the birth of a new niece born to Sarah and Jason Benson January 5th, and a nephew to Danny and Uurtsaikh Burrows on February 11th. I was blessed to have been present at both remarkable all natural births. Hard to believe these babies are nearing their first birthdays already. How time flies!
We took our first family vacation in five years last April. We got to visit my sister Sarah, sister in law Alison, brothers David and Evan, and one of my best friends and cousin, Kristl, in their home state of Texas. Ellie was thrilled to ride a horse by herself for the first time, and Kaitlyn and Liam loved pretending to be baby kittens for Aunt Sarah and Alison. After two fun filled weeks together it was hard to say goodbye and we already long for another trip to Texas... hopefully next year to meet another new niece or nephew as Sarah and Alison are expecting this January 2016.
May marked a busy month of many surgeries - all spaced just one week apart. Kaitlyn needed some dental work for a chipped tooth and her yearly EGD and esophagus dilation. Liam had ear tubes put in after a long start to the year of back to back infections and dental work as well. Poor Ellie began her orthodontic work by receiving her very first “expander” to make her small mouth bigger. With many years ahead of her, I keep reminding her it will all be worth it in the end. Happy to report all procedures were a success with no problems since. These procedures took place during birthday season; Liam turning two, Kaitlyn five, and Danelle 10. It was a busy time and I still look back and wonder how we managed it all.
Beginning in summer 2014 our family began camping... a lot. This year was no different. It seemed that we were camping almost every other weekend the entire summer long. We camped at Lagoon, Crystal Hot Springs, Blackhawk in Payson Canyon, and Crystal Springs again in August. We are now "professional campers" with an outdoor shower and personal port a potty to prove it. Some of our best memories have been made camping the past two years.
We also had a fun time at Lagoon, a local theme park this summer. Unlike years past, we decided to get season passes for the year. We used these passes several times over the course of the year and really enjoyed our regular days at Lagoon. We usually met up with Danny and Uurtsaikh and their family to visit since they live close by and even stayed the night a few times. We are hoping to buy passes again in 2016.
We attended two mini family reunions as well. The first reunion was with the Munn Family in Payson Canyon. We kept busy making crafts, telling jokes, and playing games - reconnecting without the distractions of the material world. Although it was rainy some of the time everyone had a great time and I know no one could ever forget it. We had our first ever family talent show and got to see all the wonderful talent within our families. We've been very fortunate to have all our family members attend these reunions, with Tyler and Jessica making the furthest journey from Arizona.
Our second was our yearly traditional trip to Hatch, Utah. We love these visits. Hatch has a special place in our hearts and memories. Liam got to ride in the 24th of July Hatch Town Parade for the first time, and Kaitlyn her first real ATV ride. Grandma Burrows let Ellie drive the ATV (with Grandma on the ATV of course). Ellie was a great driver (slow and cautious) which made me feel a little better about her driving a car in just five short years.
Soon summer had past and the kids were back in school and their extracurricular activities again. Kaitlyn is now a Kindergarten student and Ellie in 5th Grade. Both girls are doing well in school and have been given great teachers this year. Ellie was nominated and won a Singers Company Scholarship. We are so proud and happy for her. In light of this we decided to enroll Kaitlyn in Singers Company as well. Both girls love this show choir program and are busy getting ready for their first show of the season in early December. Danelle is also taking voice lessons with another recital mid-December. Our hands are full but our hearts are happy.
September brought a visitor. My long time and another best friend came to Utah for the first time in 16 years to visit and meet our children. We had a lovely time at a Park City Resort, visiting Utah Olympic park, Heber, Lagoon, Crystal Springs and all the in-betweens. Everyone was sad to see "Aunt Crissy" go.
Shayne dazzled the neighborhood in October with his new Halloween decorations. Our house was alive with spirits all month long and was definitely one of the hits of the neighborhood. Many compliments were paid as Trick or Treaters passed by. It was a wonderful night spent with Sarah and Jason's family, Patrick, Ashley, Noah, Mom and Dad Munn, and Mom and Dad LaTurner. We are already planning next Halloween. Thanks to my Mom for babysitting, Shayne and I also got to have our first short getaway since Kaitlyn was born and we made our lifelong dreams come true to go to a Garth Brooks concert.
With the birth of a new year also came the birth of a new niece born to Sarah and Jason Benson January 5th, and a nephew to Danny and Uurtsaikh Burrows on February 11th. I was blessed to have been present at both remarkable all natural births. Hard to believe these babies are nearing their first birthdays already. How time flies!
We took our first family vacation in five years last April. We got to visit my sister Sarah, sister in law Alison, brothers David and Evan, and one of my best friends and cousin, Kristl, in their home state of Texas. Ellie was thrilled to ride a horse by herself for the first time, and Kaitlyn and Liam loved pretending to be baby kittens for Aunt Sarah and Alison. After two fun filled weeks together it was hard to say goodbye and we already long for another trip to Texas... hopefully next year to meet another new niece or nephew as Sarah and Alison are expecting this January 2016.
May marked a busy month of many surgeries - all spaced just one week apart. Kaitlyn needed some dental work for a chipped tooth and her yearly EGD and esophagus dilation. Liam had ear tubes put in after a long start to the year of back to back infections and dental work as well. Poor Ellie began her orthodontic work by receiving her very first “expander” to make her small mouth bigger. With many years ahead of her, I keep reminding her it will all be worth it in the end. Happy to report all procedures were a success with no problems since. These procedures took place during birthday season; Liam turning two, Kaitlyn five, and Danelle 10. It was a busy time and I still look back and wonder how we managed it all.
Beginning in summer 2014 our family began camping... a lot. This year was no different. It seemed that we were camping almost every other weekend the entire summer long. We camped at Lagoon, Crystal Hot Springs, Blackhawk in Payson Canyon, and Crystal Springs again in August. We are now "professional campers" with an outdoor shower and personal port a potty to prove it. Some of our best memories have been made camping the past two years.
We also had a fun time at Lagoon, a local theme park this summer. Unlike years past, we decided to get season passes for the year. We used these passes several times over the course of the year and really enjoyed our regular days at Lagoon. We usually met up with Danny and Uurtsaikh and their family to visit since they live close by and even stayed the night a few times. We are hoping to buy passes again in 2016.
We attended two mini family reunions as well. The first reunion was with the Munn Family in Payson Canyon. We kept busy making crafts, telling jokes, and playing games - reconnecting without the distractions of the material world. Although it was rainy some of the time everyone had a great time and I know no one could ever forget it. We had our first ever family talent show and got to see all the wonderful talent within our families. We've been very fortunate to have all our family members attend these reunions, with Tyler and Jessica making the furthest journey from Arizona.
Our second was our yearly traditional trip to Hatch, Utah. We love these visits. Hatch has a special place in our hearts and memories. Liam got to ride in the 24th of July Hatch Town Parade for the first time, and Kaitlyn her first real ATV ride. Grandma Burrows let Ellie drive the ATV (with Grandma on the ATV of course). Ellie was a great driver (slow and cautious) which made me feel a little better about her driving a car in just five short years.
Soon summer had past and the kids were back in school and their extracurricular activities again. Kaitlyn is now a Kindergarten student and Ellie in 5th Grade. Both girls are doing well in school and have been given great teachers this year. Ellie was nominated and won a Singers Company Scholarship. We are so proud and happy for her. In light of this we decided to enroll Kaitlyn in Singers Company as well. Both girls love this show choir program and are busy getting ready for their first show of the season in early December. Danelle is also taking voice lessons with another recital mid-December. Our hands are full but our hearts are happy.
September brought a visitor. My long time and another best friend came to Utah for the first time in 16 years to visit and meet our children. We had a lovely time at a Park City Resort, visiting Utah Olympic park, Heber, Lagoon, Crystal Springs and all the in-betweens. Everyone was sad to see "Aunt Crissy" go.
Shayne dazzled the neighborhood in October with his new Halloween decorations. Our house was alive with spirits all month long and was definitely one of the hits of the neighborhood. Many compliments were paid as Trick or Treaters passed by. It was a wonderful night spent with Sarah and Jason's family, Patrick, Ashley, Noah, Mom and Dad Munn, and Mom and Dad LaTurner. We are already planning next Halloween. Thanks to my Mom for babysitting, Shayne and I also got to have our first short getaway since Kaitlyn was born and we made our lifelong dreams come true to go to a Garth Brooks concert.
We want everyone to know receiving this letter that we thank you for being a part of our lives and memories. Each of you mean so much to us and we love you! Have the best Christmas and 2016.
Lots of Love, The Munn Family
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