Holiday Letter 2011

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2012!  I love this time of year.  As fun as this season has been already, I keep thinking about how great last year was.  Scott was unemployed and the blessings and love poured in.  I can't believe how many people thought of us and gave us gifts during the season last year. I was so touched by all the friends, family and even acquaintances thought of us and gave us gifts.  This year, my thoughts have been about how I can help others and also to share the spirit of giving to others with my children.  Christmas brings out the best in all of us and I love the traditions, the good feelings, the caroling, the giving.  Well, enough reflections...on to the recap of a wonderful year.
Scott graduated from Provo College after a hard year of working all day and going to school at nights.  The kids sometimes wouldn't see him as he would leave before they got up and would come home when they were in bed. It was exhausting but he did it! He has a degree in Computer Network Administration.  He spoke at the graduation ceremony at the American Fork Tabernacle and we are so proud of him!  Also, this summer he built a drinking fountain in our backyard which has been a lot of fun.  He worked on his shed that he built two years finally doing the windows and putting on a door! Better late than never.  He has been wonderful at spending time with the kids on the weekends and even though he didn't have a big quantity of time to give, he has given plenty of quality!  At church, he teaches Elders quorum once a month.
I (Kari) have had some health issues this year but I'm grateful to be feeling "back to normal."  In August, I was in the hospital with a horrible infection and got my appendix out. After five days in the hospital, I came home the night before the new year school year began.  But thanks to lots of loving friends and family, I made it through!  I will be having another surgery in a couple of months but I think it will be better this time around since I'm expecting it and I can prepare for it!  I have scaled back my life considerably and have just been having fun with my two boys at home.  They both are old enough for preschool but I've kept them home with me and we have had a ball learning and playing together.  I am celebrating two years as Primary president.  I love my calling and I think I am so lucky to work with such a great presidency and I have the best group of kids in the whole church.  Also, I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser and Wizards of Waverly.
Kael earned his Eagle Scout award making his mother very happy!!  He has been enjoying his BioTechnology class in school and has aspirations to work in a lab and be a scientist someday.  He is graduating from Mountain View High this coming May 2012 and preparing to go on a church mission.  He enjoyed our Thanksgiving trip up to Idaho and wishes he could spend more time with his cousins (especially Dallin and Clay!)  He has been doing very well in school and has earned 27 college credits through concurrent enrollment and is working on more this year.  His mom is so proud of how well he is doing in his Pre-Calculus Honors class this year which is a very difficult class.  He is looking forward to the Band tour this spring to Disneyland.
Kalli started Junior high this year and made the honor roll.  She has worked really hard and I'm so proud of her.  She enjoys her science class and she likes singing in the choir.  Her favorite things to do are to listen to her MP3 player and you will always find a book in her hand (like mother, like daughter!)  She really enjoys being with her friends.  At the beginning of 2011, she was busy starring in the ward roadshow and then starred in the school play as Peter Pan.  Her fab short hair cut is finally growing out.  Kalli is officially a teenager and a great help at home!
Aidan turned eight this summer and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He has enjoyed being in Cub Scouts and is working hard to earn his Wolf rank.  Aidan is my sports boy.  He loves to watch any sport with his dad on TV and this summer he got to participate in Karate class and basketball camp.  He also enjoyed his swimming lessons.  He loves playing soccer at recess and is very active!
Aaron graduated from preschool in May and barely missed the deadline in September for kindergarten.  He loves learning and he is so excited that he can read.  He also does a good job writing. He will be well prepared when he starts school next fall.  He is my Veggie Tales fan.  He has seen every movie and loves anything to do with Veggie Tales!  Also, he and his brother Ammon have recently become fans of Dora and Diego since we just got Netflix and they have enjoyed watching the shows.
Ammon is the baby of the family although he is anything but a baby!  This summer he did a great job becoming potty-trained making mom happy to have a diaper free house forever!  He is looking forward to being a Sunbeam at church in January and is growing too fast!  He loves following his big brothers around and doing what they are doing.  He and Aaron often fight over mom's lap.
So there you have it.  We have a great year!  We enjoyed the Wendt Family Reunion in July and enjoyed being with the Kraig Wendts in Idaho Falls during Thanksgiving.  Holidays and birthdays are so fun to celebrate with the Pyne's and we love spending time with all our family and friends.  Merry Christmas!