Christmas letter 2009

Carsten 11 months, Willem 2 1/2 years, Grace 4 1/4 years

Christmas tree ornaments that Grace and Willem helped make this year – they painted the cardboard trees glued to clothespins and stuck on the star and “lights.”

The kids had so much fun with decorating the Christmas tree! It was hard to keep Carsten from getting into everything though!

Perspective

Perspective has kind of been the theme of our year in the Bruin household. Our lives are very focused on our 3 small children. The world literally revolves around them and their needs. We can get overwhelmed by this, but then we have to step back and remember that life will not always be this way. Trying to keep a bigger perspective has helped us live in the moment and truly enjoy this stage of life that we are in right now.

The year started in a huge way with the incredible unplanned home birth of our son Carsten, just an hour into 2009. God truly blessed us with the safe arrival of this little one into the world and also into our family.

Carsten has grown from a tiny helpless newborn into a big (almost) 1 year old who is happy, determined, very mobile (almost walking!), loves to eat, and who is starting to communicate with words and signs. We all love and dote on him and have been amazed to watch the very many milestones that he has gone through this first year!

Willem turned 2 this summer. He goes from snuggly and sweet to tantrums and back very easily. He loves to talk and sing almost as much as his sister and knows all his letters and colors. He enjoys reading books, and is starting to turn into our “boy” boy who loves blue (rather than pink which was his favorite color earlier), wants to rough-house, play ball, be outside and play trucks and tractors all the time.

Grace turned 4 in August and is becoming our little social butterfly. She is always asking if we can go somewhere or play with someone. She loves to play with her brothers and has a very active imagination in coming up with things for them to play or act out. We get “shows” from her regularly, complete with stories, singing and dancing. She is our “girly” girl loving all things pink and princesses! She likes to write and sound out words with our help as well as coloring, reading books, being outside, and helping momma.

Steve has been blessed with a steady, good job that he enjoys as manager of the Costco Pharmacy (less than a mile from our home – great commute!). And Cary is very happy to be able to stay at home and take care of the kids and try to keep the household in order (once again, that whole perspective thing!).

Connecting with family and friends is always fun and such a blessing, and we have been fortunate to have had some good road trips (the kids have traveled well!) this year to visit some of you in Edgerton, Willmar, Grand Rapids, Orange City, and Brookings.

We wish you all blessings and peace this Christmas season. May the big gift of the Savior give you the perspective to enjoy the little moments with your family this holiday.

2009 Christmas card

Merry Christmas!