Christmas Letter December 2012

Hogwart's Express - Universal

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                      December 2012                                      

We hope this letter finds you all well.  This year was a big adjustment to everything American.  We are getting back into the groove of Mac & Cheese and less expensive most everything, but are always wondering where are money goes.  Our year was super packed!!  Now that the holidays have come it’s slowed down a bit, but we still manage to be busy.  Michigan weather has been extremely strange.  It seems mother-nature is confused and it is very warm for this time of year.  I don’t think we will have a white Christmas but you never know.

We spent spring break visiting Chris’s sister in Virginia.  On our way we stopped at Shenandoah National Park and spent a couple days in the Appalachian’s hiking.  The LONGEST and toughest hike I’ve ever been on.  There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth but we made it and are better people for it.  Once we got to VA we planned days to see Gettysburg, Jamestown, and many other historical sites including a trip to DC, of course.   There is so much to learn and know about American History my mind was completely full by the end of the week.  I think our favorite spot was Gettysburg.  It’s so big you cannot just take one day like we did.  We would love to go back. 

On the last day of school we took a week to go to Florida with my family for our Bulkley Family Reunion.  In July we took a week and a few days to drive to Idaho with Chris’s family.  Both family reunions were great.  Florida was sweltering and our clothes were soaked daily from the heat.  Disneyworld and Universal Studios were places we visited and we had lunch at the Three Broomsticks with Butterbeer to drink.  Kids enjoyed that a lot.  The one nice thing about Florida was we got to swim in the pool daily.  In Idaho we spent time ice skating, white water rafting and horseback riding.  Such a busy summer!

Chris is still at Jackson National Life Insurance.  His job has changed a little bit for the coming year so we hope that will help with the slow audit times.  He will be managing and directing multiple audits and providing communication between teams in the US and UK.  Bishopric duties still keep him very busy.  He was also volunteered to help put together the Ward Christmas Party this month.  He still keeps involved with his boys and the scouting program which takes up most of his down time.  He is a very busy and stressed man. 

I have changed my work schedule
around and work three days a week 8-1.  My piano students have increased – Yay!  I now have 7 students.  It’s been wonderful teaching all these children.  Also, I was recently called into Primary as the 2^nd counselor in the presidency.  I look forward to working with the young children in this capacity.  My other duties still include Pack Committee Chair (to be released soon) and I help on the scout committee over training.  I have learned to say no, but this month I’ve been very busy playing piano.  My skills have been requested to help at voice lessons for a friend (and I get paid).  It’s been really fun.  I do practice more than I ever did which keeps my brain a workin’.

Jonathan keeps up with school quite well.  He has not has any major issues which means he is maturing.  His teachers love him and think he is the hardest working student.  Science Olympiad is new on his plate.  He doesn’t know how it will go, but we are glad he is trying something new.  His favorite class in school is World History.  His teacher has stated Jonathan remembers everything to do with dates and events.  He’s brilliant!  Well, the teacher didn’t exactly say that, but memorizing those dates and events would make anyone really really smart.  He has been taking practice tests for the ACT and SAT this year.  His mind becomes more and more involved in future thinking.  One of his classes had a project to put together a resume and an idea for a  career.  He’s thinking Chemical Engineering.  After this decision was made, we found out that Great Grandpa Wells was also a chemical engineer as well as Grandpa Wells and his Uncle Steve.  Jonathan feels that it would be a good career for him.  We shall see…

Mikael has started karate recently.  We hope this will be really great for him.  His sometimes shy nature and anxiousness make certain things difficult for him.  The karate course we have signed him up for will help him overcome these things.  We are happy we can do this for him and he really seems to like it!  His grades are good and he enjoys most of his classes.  He still loves being outdoors when he can and is still talking about the Boundary Waters trip this coming summer. 

        Elizabeth is as smart as they come.  Her grades are great.  She signed up for cheerleading this past fall.  It went super well!  So much so, that she feels she wants to do it again next year.  It was a very busy schedule but we are so glad she has found something she loves.  She has a great skill for memorizing things.  The routines were a breeze for her and she was constantly practicing at home.  Right now she continues to stretch and exercise when she gets home so that she is ready for the next year season when it starts. 

           

   The children and Chris built a tree house at the end of the fall season.  They haven’t had much time to use it in the warm weather; if it is still there in the spring, many days will be spent there.  The kids love it!  Our yard is still a work in progress.  We did get all the weeds cut down and the raised beds fixed before winter set in.  Hopefully that will cut down with weeds in the fall.               

Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.  May God Bless you in all you do!

Love,

Chris, Karen, Jonathan, Mikael and Elizabeth Wells