“Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.”

— Miracle on 34th Street

I love Christmas movies. I watch the same ones every year, you know, the classics like A Muppets Christmas Carol and Elf. I kid. I also enjoy It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. What's your favorite Christmas movie?

This letter could be like watching a movie: the story of our 2023. Grab a hot cocoa and a blanket, and I'll tell you this year's story.

Caleb

Our year always starts with a celebration: Caleb's birthday, our almost New Year baby. Soon, he will be eight years old. It's incredible to watch him grow and learn. He amazes us daily. Just the other day, he said the person he'd like to go back in time to meet would be Queen Elizabeth. I did a double-take - I didn't know who Queen Elizabeth was in second grade!

He's thriving at his school, Cor Deo. Earlier in the year, he had his first public speaking assignment. He recited a Penguin poem before judges, his class, and the parents. Penguins are still his favorite animal, and they gave him the courage to get up in front of an audience.

His favorite subject is history, a focus at Cor Deo. They bring it with Roman Day, Monk Day, and Viking Day. He loves to draw illuminated letters and pictures of Viking warriors.

Another love of his is cursive writing. His teacher remarked he has a real knack for it; his cursive is so neat, and he takes such care with it. He earned a Virtuous Knight Award at school for perseverance in learning penmanship.

Oh, and he lost his first tooth. Three more teeth will fall out soon, but he won't let anyone touch them. Maybe he'll get two front teeth for Christmas...or the New Year.

Wesley

Wesley is just growing in leaps and bounds. He is officially a "big kid" and turned five on December 7. His charm and silliness always make us smile. I hope you can see his goofiness in our photos.

His newest loves are Harry Potter and Pokemon. Earlier this year, he went through a Batman and Ghostbuster phase, but that's "so three months ago" now.

Wesley got his first pedal bike for his birthday last year, and by January of this year, he was riding around the neighborhood without training wheels. He also grew confident on the playground and can swing and climb everything. His excitement is so genuine and sweet.

We are now in Wesley's last year at our beloved First Presbyterian Preschool. He is in Jr. Pre-K with Mrs Johnson. He loves going to school and especially loves counting. He'll count numbers everywhere and anywhere. But mostly, he loves hanging with his good buddies. He's a caring and generous friend, and it warms my heart.

Heather

Life went from busy to busier this year. In addition to working hard as a stay-at-home mom, I picked up a few more gigs this year.

My biggest new gig is as the auction chair for Caleb's school, Cor Deo. The auction is a massive undertaking--bigger than planning a wedding!

Since I have never done this, it's a lot of learning and figuring things out. Luckily, I have great friends on my team who are there to help me out. The auction is on April 20, 2024. Want to donate? (sorry, I had to).

Meanwhile, my Raising Tacoma blog and Instagram have continued to grow. I get requests from local businesses to come and then share our experiences. It's a fitting activity for me since I am basically Clark Griswold and love doing things with the family.

Raising Tacoma led me to another gig, a contributing writer to our local neighborhood magazine, Greet. I have a monthly column, Family Corner, where I share activities and events to do as a family in town.

On top of all this, I still manage our church's Instagram and volunteer monthly in the Kids Ministry. Whew! I told you it was busy!

Josh

Josh is still working hard daily at Wimmer Solutions. He's been there for over two years as the Director of Consulting Operations. He works from his man-shed in the backyard most days but will trek to the Seattle office weekly.

When he's not working, he's enjoying the family and all the weekend activities I've lined up. Otherwise, you might find him in the front yard raking leaves or taking the dog for a walk.

Asha

While we still call her Asha-pup, she is no longer a pup. This month, she turned nine. The vet noticed the graying of her nose, yet everyone still thinks she is a puppy.

Asha dealt with some trauma this fall. Another dog came out and bit her, giving her a nasty laceration under her front leg. We had her wearing a funny suit to help her heal, which took several weeks. Luckily, she isn't traumatized and still is her strange and loveable doggie self.

Family Adventures

Say, what's happening in those slideshow photos? Let me tell you:

Snow tubing (January): We went with some good family friends, and it's bar none the only way to sled now.
San Diego O'Neill Family Visit (February): Winter Break took us to SoCal to visit Mimi Jan and Papa John. We had a blast at Legoland and touring the King Tut exhibit with Aunt Lindsay & Uncle Damon.
Grandparents Day (March): Mimi Jan came to town for Wesley's Grandparents Day and then read to Caleb's class. We also enjoyed the spring cherry blossoms together in Olympia.
Brown Family Easter in Utah (April): We had an amazing Easter in Ivins, followed by incredible experiences at Zion National Park, Cathedral Gorge State Park, and Valley of Fire. We even got a surprise night in Vegas before going home, and the boys loved the hotel pool.
O'Neill Grandparents in Tacoma (June): We celebrated birthdays, toured the Navy Museum, and rode the Surrey bike on the waterfront.
Summer Daze (June-August): The best summer full of swim lessons, the Venardos circus, a waterfall hike, pools, lakes, bike riding, a slime factory, a first-ever lemonade stand, Northwest Trek, and kids camps. Then, we ended with the Washington State Fair, of course.
Camping on Vashon (July): Camping on Vashon Island with our good friends was so much fun. The site was unique, with yurts and a kitchen. We're not heavy-duty campers.
Balboa Island with Brown Family (August): It's tradition now. We've been three years in a row at the end of August now. The boys talk endlessly about jumping from the floating dock. 100% the best family time.
Sequim Farm Apples & Camping (September): We welcomed fall with apple picking at our good friend's farm in Sequim. We camped overnight in their barn, which is a big hit. The most magical weekend with friends and another tradition.
Thanksgiving with the Browns (November): We celebrated Papa Don's big birthday and Thanksgiving at a nice restaurant, followed by a smaller Friday Thanksgiving-at-home meal. A fun change of pace. We also went to the USS Turner Joy, a Vietnam-era Destroyer that is a floating museum, and the kids' jaws dropped.
Christmas with the O'Neills (December): We look forward to all the holiday events: concerts, movie nights, Santa visits, and more jolliness. We also will spend the Christmas holiday with Mimi Jan and Papa John!

Truly, it's been an amazing year. We are so thankful for our family, friends, and community. We wish you all the blessings this holiday season all through the year.

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Love, Josh, Heather, Caleb, and Wesley