The
BJP’s Christmas Letter 2013
Another great year has quickly come and gone. I can’t
believe how much we were able to squeeze in. The kids have grown taller and smarter, the house has gotten
older, and its inhabitants have grown closer. It was a successful year for the BJP’s.
Carter, now thirteen years old, has managed thus far to
avoid what we call “teenage disease”. He is still quick to help, kind to his
family and loyal to his friends. He is playing the trumpet in band, loves going
to Scout camp, ran cross country with his junior high team and is tolerating
Latin since his got a new upgraded teacher. His love is reading; give him a new
book and you won’t see him for two days. He simply vanishes from life. We are
so lucky to have Carter in our family. This next year we are anxiously
anticipating our first Eagle Scout.
Tyler is eleven quick witted, clever and handy. He loves a
good project and wants to be in the thick of whatever we are working on. He
plays the trombone with band in school and suffers through the violin. He is counting down the days until he
gets his braces off (Jan 7th), loves to play with friends, go
camping, sledding or anything outdoors and scout related. Tyler is one kid who
is happiest when we are on an adventure and lives life to the fullest. Tyler is
full of compassion and fun. His mind is rattling off new ideas and plans for
the future. We are so glad to have
Tyler in our family.
Ally (note the new spelling, she changed it) is full of
energy and vitality for life. If you can keep up with her energy level then you
must also be a seven-year old girl. She loves gymnastics and has perfected her
round-off back handspring and is diligently working on her back tuck. She is
the cutest violinist and enjoys watching herself improve. She loves to play
with friends and cousins. She is full of determination and enjoys a good
challenge. The trampoline is her favorite hangout but says sledding and
building igloos with her dad are the best winter activities. She is also very pleased with the new
Siamese kitty Cleopatra we got a few months ago but would have really liked a
little sister. (Not going to happen.)
Byron is and always will be my man with many hobbies. His
newest hobby and our favorite is Popup Camping. We are the proud owners of a Coleman
Popup Camper. He was released from Elders Quorum and put in as Scout Master
(round two.) He is having fun with Carter and his friends. Today they did a
practice snowshoe hike to prep for their Yurt experience in January. Byron is
happiest if he is on a hike in the hills behind our house with his dog Jessie.
He has taken us to some of his favorite hunting places in our popup and we are
enjoying the time together. He is a on again, off again P90X participant but
manages to stay in shape so he can keep up with his outdoor activities. We are
happy to say Byron is still gainfully employed with CIT Bank and hope this will
continue for many more years.
I, Erin, am busy with a new job. I am part time secretary at
Ally’s school. I am loving handing out band-aids, getting ice packs and keeping
track of attendance. Byron got it right with his anniversary gift this year and
gave me a really nice camera. I am now enjoying my new life as an amateur photographer.
I have also taken a few painting classes again and am now using a painting
knife. It has again added a new level of difficulty and I am challenged and
having fun painting. I am tickled watching my garden grow and mature as we have
been in this house for 8 years now. My lilacs bloomed for the first time this year
(hallelujah) and my apple tree gave us an amazing harvest. It’s really the
little things in life that are so exciting.
We were blessed to take use our vacation days and head for
some fun family time. The kids and I enjoyed a quick trip up to visit cousins
in Idaho and moved a few boxes while we were there. Byron and I snuck away to Maui to celebrate our 15th
Anniversary. I love getting away from it all and hanging out with my boyfriend.
He’s awesome!! The bamboo forest
there is my top spot on the planet. So peaceful!
We took the kids on a few camping trips: Goblin Valley,
Arches, Topaz Mtn, and the West Desert near the Great Salt Lake; (wouldn’t
recommend that one.) Goblin Valley was at the top of our list (ultimate hide
and seek game). We also took the
kids on an “exotic” island vacation to Catalina Island in California. We thoroughly enjoyed the flying fish
tour at night with a big spotlight, petting jellyfish at the aquarium, and
snorkeling in our wetsuits. I can’t forget the ice cream, lots of ice cream.
I also snuck the kids off during Thanksgiving Break without
Byron (work) and we hit Zion National Park. It was amazing and the Red Cliffs
Recreation Area was equally awesome. The beauty literally fills me with joy. We
have two weeks off for Christmas and I just don’t know if I will be able to
stay home the whole time…where shall we go next? We have realized our days with our kids are numbered and we
must make the most of the time we have. They are growing up at an alarming
rate.
We went to Dallas, TX this summer to celebrate the 90th
birthday of Byron’s Nanny. We had a great time visiting the new Perot museum,
the aquarium downtown and fishing at the local pond. Best of all was hanging
out with family and cousins and second cousins and jumping in the pool with our
clothes on. Yee-haw!!
We managed to make it to Jackson Hole for a few days of our
annual Livsey Family Reunion. It’s tough squeezing in a whole weeks worth of
activities into three days but we managed. The cousins, aunts and uncles, grandpas
and grandmas made it a fun adventure. We can’t wait to go again next year. I
would order less of Ally getting bucked off and dragged behind the mule next
time; everything else was perfect. She quickly recovered and we are thankful
for the fast acting red-headed wrangler who unlatched her foot from the saddle with
an amazing head first flying leap off his running horse. He may be superman or
an angel, I don’t know. We dusted off the mud, found her missing shoe in a bush
and said a quick prayer of gratitude. Ally was not excited about riding back to
camp so the two of us walked.
We are excited that late this year Byron’s brother Jason moved
in with us. He is working downtown managing Golf Anytime USA. It is an indoor golf simulator store.
Schedule a T-time and perfect your swing.
The kids are LOVING having him around. I for one am enjoying my snow
removal team. For a bunch of
Texans these boys can get-er done.
I am so grateful for this time to reflect on the year, on
our blessings, and on the love our family shares. We are thankful for our
Savior, for the chance we have to be forgiven and for the great potential there
is in all of us. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and the very best this
coming new year. (If you read all the way to here you must really love us!
There’s always too much to say for one little page.)
All our love, Byron, Erin, Carter, Tyler and Ally Pollan
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