2007 Year in Review

December 2007

Dear Family & Friends,

We hope this letter finds you healthy and happy. Another year means another letter and ANOTHER move. Yes, we moved again. This time we at least stayed in the same state. On April 1st, we moved in to our new home in Frisco. This move was an easy sales pitch accepted by me because Dallas is the 3rd...yes, you read that correctly...third best shopping area in the United States (just after NY and LA). We did love Austin and miss our friends there, as well as in Utah.

As you all know, last year I finally got high speed internet at home. Oh, how life has evolved. I now even have a cell phone and as you can see I even started a family blog. Maybe next year I'll get into downloading music for my (never been used) MP3 player (sorry Dad and Mom!).

Natalya 5 ½, started kindergarten this year and has been enjoying it VERY much. She learned to swim this summer in VA after two weeks of swim lessons (and being the only child who would finish and not have their hair wet after jumping into the pool). She is looking forward to her birthday in May (asking almost daily, “How many more days?”). Natalya tried out jazz dance this year and now would rather take gymnastics. Natalya even had a “boyfriend” at school and one at church. Needless to say, we talked to her about just thinking boys are neat. We eventually had to change our talks to “only kiss mommy, daddy, her sister, and her grandparents,” as she was kissing and getting kissed by “Trev” at church during class. I think we have quite a road ahead of us with her, although we are praying it is just a phase. Don’t underestimate those Disney princess movies and their themes – meet a handsome prince, kiss, then get married.

Jasmine 3 ½, is thoroughly enjoying preschool (T/Th 3 hr). She also learned to swim this summer on the first day of her swim lessons. Jazzy is having a great time taking tap and ballet. She enjoys playgroups and going to the library. She did manage to cut her own hair two more times this year…hence the short haircut ☺. She is full of love as she tells me several times each day, “I just love you, mommy.” Both girls will color and do crafts all day if I would let them. They enjoy helping me cook and bake. They each have their own specific “jobs” to help keep our house clean and really like to help with anything. They also had a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate as models for Brianna Graham’s two-day photography workshop in Dallas (we’ll have to post some of those prints when we receive them). The girls now incorporate taking pictures with all of their imaginative play.

Sterling has just been a tired man this year. As if early morning seminary wasn’t enough to exhaust him with 10 hr work days, the girls and I keep him busy with projects at home and other family plans. YES – he is teaching early morning seminary (teaching freshmen the Old Testament from 6:30-7:20 every morning). They are actually quite a challenging group and I am in awe that he has not quit and given up, especially since he is NOT a morning person. He’s also been enjoying being a nursery leader in Jasmine’s class at church. I think the 8 ½ months of double mortgage has been wearing on him some – ya think? (Say a little prayer for us). I even tried to save us some money on beef jerky and ended up feeding him dog jerky! (heehee) I was actually the only one in the family that swallowed it! Sterling and Natalya couldn’t even bite it! I honestly thought the cartoon dog meant that it was jerky for kids!

I’ve been enjoying working with the young women in church with a personal progress program (it helps them to become more like Christ). We have weekly YW leadership meetings…these typically last 3 hours…yes, I said 3. However, they are very fun. Girls Night Outs and Dinner Clubs are always a highlight for me as well as volunteering at my daughter’s school. Jasmine and I get together with some moms/kids in the neighborhood a couple of times a month after we enjoy lunch at school with Natalya. We also join up with our church playgroup as often as we can. I am a part of a co-op preschool (Fun Steps) with 3 other moms in my church for Jasmine. My girls and I wore ourselves out this summer with swimming and six weeks of daily swim lessons. We have also been a part of a co-op babysitting group with three other families. Once a month on Saturday from 5-9:30 pm, our family hosts (watching 4 boys and 2 other girls), then the other three Saturdays of the month we get to go out on the town. It is so worth it!!!

Other highlights: We had a fun visit from some friends in Austin for a weekend in May. Our girls call their kids “our BIG friends.” We miss those Austin-ites. Most of my family came to stay with us for a week in May – what a treat! We had a blast 10 days in Virginia Beach over the 4th of July. (Sterling’s entire family was together for the first time in many years.) You might have seen our television debut as some friends here took us to one of the Dallas Maverick’s game and we were on the 3rd row/half court…well, okay maybe it was just a Dallas TV debut. Sterling’s parents were just here for a week and helped us get some projects completed in the house – what a blessing! We sure enjoy company – so the doors are open if you’re ever in this neck of the woods. Sterling was glad to see his brother and sister and their families in Utah during his short business trip. Luckily he’s only traveled a couple of times this year. We have made some great friends here in Frisco. The girls and I are looking forward to two weeks in the bay area with my entire family for Christmas and are thrilled Sterling can join us for a week.

The Lord has truly blessed our lives. We often write lists of all of our blessings so we don’t forget just how many blessings we truly do have. May we all have a safe, Merry Christmas and remember what the season is really about!! We look forward to hearing from you.

Love: The Stubbs’ Family
thetexasbeehivebuzz.blogspot.com

FYI – We will be adding pictures to this blog soon. We have misplaced, or shall I say LOST, our camera cord to download our digital pictures to our computer and are awaiting the delivery of a new one. So check back later for more pics.