Belated Annual Annoying Cliche Family Letter

Happy 2013 everyone!  Here’s a Rasmussen recap of our 2012:

The first half of 2012 was blissfully calm.  We were enjoying our new Riverview home and neighborhood, where we spent each afternoon at the pool.  We were taking advantage of our season tickets to Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) games.  Lance was doing well as a Project Manager for a concrete restoration company and Kira loved her part-time work as a literacy coach for local homeless students.  All was calm and right with the world…

And then everything changed.

Lance was offered a promotion within his company to their branch in Houston, Texas.  Within a matter of weeks, we traded in our flip-flops for cowboy boots and hightailed it out of Tampa.

Our adjustment to Texas has been an easy one.  We love our town, Kingwood—a master planned community about 20 miles north of Houston.  We spent the summer exploring the pools and parks in the area and going on bike rides through wooded trails.  We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the schools, church, and people here.  It’s not hard to see why Texans are so dang proud of their state.

Lance has handled the added pressures of his new position at work very well.  He still gets frantic phone calls at all hours, but has had to travel very little this year.  Lance has found a renewed love of hunting and guns here in Texas.  He has had to endure countless mocking remarks from his wife each and every time he dons his camouflage, but it’s worth it.  Lance serves in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency in the ward and played on their softball team last fall.  After 35 years, he has finally sprouted facial hair and is having way too much fun exploring the world of goatees and mustaches…

After the chaos of the move, Kira thoroughly enjoyed a lazy summer by the pool.  She recently started a part-time position as a reading coach at a local elementary school and will be completing her Master’s in Education this year.  It was no surprise when Kira was called back into the Primary (where she has served since 2008).  In her spare time, Kira enjoys a borderline addiction to reading/popcorn/diet coke and finding creative and clever new ways to avoid cooking and cleaning.

Zoie will be 8 in a few weeks.  She is so excited about her upcoming birthday and baptism.  Zoie is growing up quickly and spends more and more time in front of the bathroom mirror fixing her hair and trying on clothes.   She is anxiously looking forward to swim season so she can compete on the swim team.

Tobin is 5 and started kindergarten this year.  He was moved into a dual language class where he is taught in both English and Spanish.  Tobin joined the soccer team this year and was surprisingly good.  He has developed a love of video games—which we will have to keep an eye on.

Chase (Slappy) is 3, and is the epitome of a pesty little brother.  He is loud, energetic, and has a constant need to play.  His whole world is superheroes right now.  While he is resistant to learning his numbers and letters, he can tell you the difference between Bruce Wayne and Bruce Banner.  That kid makes us laugh every day.

Over the past year, our family was able to visit Utah (3 times!), where we went hiking, shooting, hunting, snowboarding and sledding.  We took up camping on the weekends and made a few day trips to Austin.  Our goal in 2013 is to explore the great state of Texas! 

Yes, Lance chose to "try out" a pervy mustache the same week we took family pictures.

May 2013 be just every bit as fun (and maybe a bit less eventful) than 2012!