Christmas Letter 2006

Welcome to the Hooton Blog. This is a great way to keep in touch and thought it would be a great place to put a boring Christmas letter. I will once again make a list for everyone in our family so you see what they have been doing this past year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please make comments or e-mail us at mrabchoot@yahoo.com

Mitch - In July started own business called Hoot's Handyman to see what projects he has done look at that blog www.hootshandyman.blogspot.com
He has been working part-time at Richards (a Lowes for contrators), learning how to drive school bus, working for his brother (one way audio). He stays busy at home playing with kids, coaching girls basketball fall league and running games during our Wednesday night kids program at church.

Roanna - started this summer working with mom and Amy (S&S photography) learning how to shoot weddings, helped Karla with family pics two weekends, babysit 10 months old little girl during the week, cook & clean for a family of six, chases Drew, read some good books this year Noel by Richard Evans, watched lots of episodes of Alias on DVD. Walk almost every morning at 6 am.

Abigail - started 3rd grade this fall turned 9 years old. played basketball in both summer and fall leagues, has developed quite the love of reading (like her mom) likes Series of unfortunate events. Likes play outside and watch movies

Clara - took swimming lessons for the first time, played fall basketball league and did pretty well, is reading really well and loves math time tests, She is the 1st grade and is 7. She likes to color and play the game boy.

Brianna - Started preschool this fall, helps mom at home during the day with the babies, loves to cook and clean, likes to do "homework" color and play playdough.

Drew - is starting to talk (sort of) says ma ma when he wants food, loves to read books, play cars, get into everything, last week I caught him sitting on top of the piano. He loves the dog and being with daddy.

13 years later

Our 13th anniversary will be this Monday! We celebrated last night by having a Alias marathon, eating great steak, eating our own bag of Doritios, having one sick child upstairs, two went to spend the night with Aunt Amy. Today the kids have play practice at church, tomorrow is their program all the girls are angels! Tomorrow is Mitch's brother work party One Way Audio we are going to Tippecanoe!
I am great at making lists so here are the reasons I am glad to be married to the same person for 13 years......

he eats anything and everything I cook, doesn't complain about the messy house, actually has me make a honey-do list, wants to spend time with the kids, he stays up with the one getting sick in the middle of the night, chases me around the house like a hot blooded teenager, watches upteen hours of Alias with me and actually enjoys it, and I love him! Happy Anniversary Mitch.

Getting Ready for Holidays

Sorry pics got turned the wrong way.... Clara lost her top tooth playing games at Kids Klub at church. It was really loose. Drew wore his first dress outfit thanks to Grandma Smith to a wedding. Mitch as he was dressing him said Sorry Drew this is your grandma's fault. When is the last time his Dad wore a tie??:) We decorated sugar cookies on the kids half-day. Lots of sprinkles, frosting and mess but they had fun and they actually taste pretty good.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Listed below is what is leftover from a 1600 mile round trip to Newton, Kansas over Thanksgivng:
A very messy van
tired kids and parents
broken dvd player
8 loads of laundry
2 apples, 1 box of crackers and 2 frozen gallons of Braums milk
grass stained pants (because it was so nice out we actually played outside!)
weight gain around the middle (marge and kendall feed us too well :)
ND lost, Bears lost, but my team won Colts 45-21
Abi knows how to play rook now watch out
good memories of playing games, visiting cousins and family, watching Happy Feet for half price wtih free popcorn and pop, visiting Joel and Kendall's church and the girls actually sitting through the whole service
Arriving home safely
Hope yours was good too!

Drew's First Haircut

We cut all his curls. I about cried. He looks like such a big boy! Sharing pics with you. We are leaving for Kansas on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. Have a happy turkey day everyone.

Thankfulness

I am thankful for a warm house, supportive family, good friends, ability to stay home and raise my kids, good kids, loving husband, great small group at church, chocolate. The list could go on. this is my first time blogging so I will keep it simple. Happy Thanksgiving.