Christmas Letter 2009 (the annotated version)

Dear Family and Friends, and Fans
We are thinking of all of you at this holiday season, at least we are thinking and wish we had the time to visit each and every one of you. We know less than half of you half as well as we'd like, and we like more than half of you more than half as well as you deserve. We must settle for second best, and that is sending you this email.

It has been a long, long year, and we have survived on blessings. And food. And water. And air. And blue.

The Lord truly takes care of children and fools, and everyone else who needs him, and we qualify. commenting on this paragraph is just too easy, let us just move on

Ryan went back to school full time this year and is planning on graduating in August!!! Erica did graduate, and she is busily looking for a job, which has not been fun in this economy. She is going to spend a month in Mexico in January with the ITTO program. itto stands for international troubled teachers overseas. Don't listen to her, it actually means International Taco Time Outreach. The are both wrong, it obviously means Its Time To Organize. Well I looked it up! It is not ITTO, it is supposed to be ITSO, as in "it's so obvious" that Sue is referring to the International Teachers Training Organization. Hopefully, there are will be job leads there. Lexi is going to school at BYU Idaho, and double majoring in English, and Art History. I'm trying to make it so that when I tell guys my majors they will run like H***. we all know it's because lexi is a NERD! And because you don't understand what a social life is. I think it is because lexi just wants to say h***. H***! Taylor is in eighth grade with a vengeance. Yes, yes she is. She NEEDS a cell phone, makeup, new clothes at all times, and a personal chauffeur, just to survive. yes, yes i do, but I do it so well. I was never annoying when I was thirteen.

Mark and I have been busy watching our house be built. And nothing else. It has been a miracle in progress. A miracle with a lot of professionals working on it. The builder came in under cost, aka more for me he finished it in one year, (average time is two) (about time). The insurance company has not squabbled about any claims we have made--so far.

We moved back in on September 15th and we are thrilled by the wonder of it all. Or, do you mean Wonderwall?
We have enjoyed the company of a lot of family and friends from far away this year. Lexi finally discovered where she gets her craziness from. We have loved visiting with you and hope to see all of you more often.

We love you all!!! ttfn

Mark and Susan and family and chico, the dog

We never commented on what Ryan is doing. That is true. well too late now. Aaaah. :(