Christmas Letter 2015.

So I've sent out a family update letter to family and friends for the past 6 years, but this year I'm sitting down to write it right now as we speak. So I obviously didn't get them sent out this year but still feel its important to atleast get one in my family journal. So here it goes...

2015 has been an incredible year for us. I feel like the years just seem to get better and better. I am definitely enjoying the stage of life we are in right now. We just recently got back from our second vacation to Disneyland and it didn't disappoint. We LOVE Disneyland and can't wait to go again in a few years. The 3 older kids were perfect for riding all the rides with and Hayley was the perfect age for the meet and greets. She loved meeting all the Princesses. It really is a happy and magical place and it always brings our family together and we have so much fun.

Hayley turned four this year. She is growing up way too fast. She loves Princesses and plays, watches, and dresses up like them all day long. She has a few movies memorized and can recite the whole thing. She also belts out all the songs and really loves to sing. She started dance this year and is loving it. She is in a tap and jazz combo class and hates that she only dances one day a week. She loves to play with the neighbor girls and is very social and is always meeting new friends where ever we go. Her and I are really enjoying our days just the two of us. We love to go visit our friends, go to a drop in gymnastics, swimming, or to the park. Such a hard life for me, I know. She starts Kindergarten this year. I can hardly believe it.

McKenna turns eight in a couple of months and is in grade 2. She loves school and is doing well. She is really starting to excel in dance and has dedicated a lot of her time to it. She is in 2 ballet classes, 2 jazz classes, and one tap class. She is also in 3 festival routines and will compete 3 times in the Spring at two competitions in Calgary, and one in Moose Jaw. She loves it so much and I am not going to lie, I love being a Dance Mom. We have both made some awesome friendships. She is such a great helper and an awesome big sister. Her and Hayley play so well together and she is so patient and caring with her, even when Hayley throws a tantrum or is being stubborn. She is starting to draw and color more often, and will sit down and create her own crafts to do.

Ty will turn 9 this month and is in grade 3. He is doing awesome in school and just received the leadership award last month. He is friendly and charming and is well liked by everyone in his class. He played basketball, baseball, and football this past year and is very athletic and learns quickly. He played in a minor baseball summer league this past year and his team ended up taking 4th in the big Provincial tournament. He started his first year of football and loved it and is now a little obsessed. He was one of the youngest on the team but was also one of their best tacklers. He has confidence and just goes for it. He still loves hanging out with Mom and Dad and chats our ear off and loves to play card games with us. He loves being outside with his friends.

Nate just turned 11 and is in grade 5. He is also doing well in school and excels in reading and writing. He took a huge interest in basketball and played for hours out on our driveway all Spring and Summer and is really excited that its the start to the basketball season. He is playing in a mini league at school and is also in a community league on Saturdays. He has improved so much and is turning out to be a really good player. He reads all the time and know's everything about any NBA basketball player whoever played. He played football for the first time too this year and although it was a rocky start he ended up really loving it and is now obsessed with football as well. He loves watching sports on t.v too and playing them on the xbox, especially with his Dad. He is a pretty good big brother and is babysitting all the time, which is extra nice for us. He is definitely a pre-teen who thinks he knows everything and sometimes isn't very patient with his younger siblings. We have to remind him that he too didn't know certain things when he was 4 either.

Ryan started a new job in the Fall. We weren't expecting it but it sort of just fell into his lap and he decided to make the move. It has been awesome for him and he is liking the change. He is working for Southwest Design and Construction as a project Coordinator, so he is in charge of a few different jobs and makes sure everything is running smoothly and things are getting done properly. They do mostly steel commercial buildings. He is loving it. He is anxious to start building our house but I keep postponing the whole process. It overwhelms me a little bit and I am quite happy and content right now in our little house. We are still on the fence about listing our house this Spring so we will see what happens. He helped coach the boys football this year, and got cable for Christmas so he can watch all his sports.

I babysat my cousin's little guy all last year but will now only have him here and there because she is on mat leave. I love having older children and love to spend time doing things with them. I am still as social as ever and love having girls night's and hanging out with my friends. Ryan and I love to play cards together and have started cooking together on the weekends which is one of my new favourite things. I am obsessed with travelling and have a huge list of places I want to visit, and am always planning our next vacation. I love Yoga and try to do it every night. It really centers me and I love how it helps improve my flexibility. I feel like a calmer and happier person when its a regular part of my routine.

Things are really, really good for us right now and we are loving life. I'm not sure what 2016 will bring us. We are still working hard to get out of credit card debt and we might sell our house and start building this year. I guess we will just take it one day at a time. We are happy and healthy and that is all that matters. We love our family and friends and are so grateful for all the love and support we receive from all of you. Merry Christmas! We hope 2016 is your best year yet.

Love the Olsen's, Ryan, Kelli, Nate, Ty, McKenna, and Hayley.