Our Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas!  We so enjoy hearing from you at this time of year. We hope this finds you all well.

Our family ended last year on a positive note with little Chloe Ann Dell joining our family on Christmas Eve day…she is a joy, which is perfect for a Christmas baby! Now she is walking/running and getting into everything! Her big sisters Sadie and Rylee sure love her a great deal. Sam works full time and is concentrating on several children’s books. Linzi continues to try to juggle it all – being a homemaker, a mommy, and finishing up her BS in Sociology. Rylee turned five and is an enthusiastic kindergartner. She loves reading and her family and friends, she is such a love. Sadie loves preschool and just may be the next attorney in our family – she always has a slightly different angle on life, keeping us all on our toes. They moved to a 3 bedroom townhouse this year, and love it there.

In August we were blessed to welcome little Darci Lynn Dell to Craig, Angie and Lucas’ family. She is a sweetie, and is always happy. Craig continues to pursue his degree in Information Technology at UVU. He also works on campus in the IT department, and LOVES his job! He served in his bishopric for a bit, until they dissolved all the student wards. Angie is busy with Lucas and Darci, and will soon be finishing up her AA in English. She also has a restaurant blog (restauranthungry.blogspot.com for any of you living in the Orem/Provo area). Lucas loves dancing to “Mary Poppins” and “Singing in the Rain.” He also loves everything Mickey Mouse and Star Wars! He is our little love, which Darci can attest to! If all of that wasn’t enough they also moved to a lovely 3 bedroom apartment.

Amy also surprised us this year when she announced in May that she was expecting her third. We learned soon after that Jack Austin Westmoreland would be joining our family in October. He is a very sweet chubby little guy who is greatly mauled loved by his brothers. Brad and Amy have had an exciting year – they too moved to a 3 bedroom apartment, decided not to continue with his doctorate (as of today he has his Master’s degree in Economics), had their third son and invited Rachel to make us empty nesters and to live in Oregon with them. Brad was able to find a job in Eugene so they are staying put. Amy keeps busy just running around after 3 boys. James is our little cowboy, Superman, or Flynn Rider (“Tangled”). He loves to quote movie lines and loves everyone. Gavin is our sweetheart. When we talk he excitedly exclaims ‘Hi!’ repeatedly. Jack is our little snuggler; he can never get enough!

If you think their lives sound busy, just wait, I am getting to Rachel now. Let’s see, this year she: opened a business on Etsy selling homemade earrings (paperjayne), went through the Oakland LDS temple for her endowment, began selling Pampered Chef, worked part time at her other job, trained for and ran a half-marathon (GO Rach!), and moved to Oregon in November. Now she is working part-time at Old Navy until she can find another job. She also served in her Singles Ward RS Presidency as first counselor. What a busy girl! We sure do miss her, however, Amy is happy to have another set of hands around in her built-in best friend.

Pat and Sandy have had a busy year as well – with callings, family, and for Pat work. We have travelled to Disneyland (with Rachel), to Utah and to Oregon. Pat also went back to Buffalo to visit with his family. We are, once again, adjusting to being empty nesters.

We are grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, for the abiding joy that He brings into our lives. We are ever mindful of His life, His atoning sacrifice, His resurrection, and His love for each of us. May we keep Him in mind as we celebrate this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!