Dear Family and Friends,

It is the Christmas season, and time again to say hello, wish you all a Merry Christmas and update you on the goings on in our family!

Nathan (1) has been our “watch and learn” kid. He had a lot of “1sts” this year, but they came a little later than the other kids, his walking and talking not starting at all until about 15 months. However, once he started he really took off. He is a little parrot, repeating everything we say, and usually has a lot to say when you get him going. He is growing up so fast and trying so hard to be big like the other kids. If he is called “Baby Nathan” lately he will become very upset and say, “No, I NATHAN”. Nathan is very playful and is always making people smile. He is a very sweet boy and very enjoyable to be around.

Teriesa (3) is really quite the little lady. Her favorite color is still pink, and she still loves princesses-especially Cinderella. She loves it when we have a “girl party” and we paint her fingernails. She loves to do my hair and play dress-up with her friends. Because she has been dancing since she could stand up we enrolled her in a local dance class where she has been taking ballet and tap. It is her absolute favorite thing to do and looks forward to class each week. We were only going to do fall sessions only for her, but she loves it so much and does so well we will continue her classes for the winter/spring session as well. She was a part of her studio’s performance of the Nutcracker this Christmas season. Teriesa has been a part of a joy school group since September as well, and has been enjoying that. She is extremely social and confident. Teriesa is looking forward to starting primary this year.

Sheridan (5) has become quite the busy guy. I rarely see him on a weekday anymore. After he comes home from school he takes care of his piano practicing and homework and then he is usually off playing with friends until 5. Sheridan started Kindergarten this year and loves it. His favorite thing has been to ride the bus (in spite of the length of the bus ride). His biggest complaint was that “the people on the bus DON’T go up and down”. He is excelling in all areas in his class and we are proud of how he is doing. He is reading very well and has started the Book of Mormon this fall. He also started learning piano this year and has really taken off with that. We held a small piano recital for him in our home and he really looked forward to that. He loves to ride his bike, play baseball with his dad and lately sled on our hill. Sheridan says his favorite times during the year were playing in the soccer league, seeing his Uncle Dave come home from his mission, our family vacation in August with an emphasis on his birthday party in Canada and playing at the beach in Washington with his cousins. These kids are such a joy to have in our home.

Kevin and I have been keeping quite busy. Kevin received a promotion to a managerial position at work in May. It has been a blessing for us, but has kept him very busy. He had a calling change at the first of the year from being a ward clerk to Elder’s Quorum Secretary. His biggest project has been building a big and beautiful deck in our yard. We have received help and want to thank the Burts, Boleys and dad Ballard for the contributions on this project. He has, of course, been active in the growing of all our landscaping plants again this year. Our piano room became a temporary greenhouse during the spring.

I have kept busy, of course, with the kids, home and church calling. I am still in the Stake Primary. I coached Sheridan’s soccer team in the spring and have been teaching him piano and Teriesa’s joy school this fall. I am so grateful to be able to stay home with our children and help them grow and progress.

As a family, we have enjoyed our vacation in August to Cardston and Washington state. We went to Seattle and also spent time at the beach and Mt. St. Helen’s. We have been reading the Book of Mormon as a family this year and that has been a fun evening tradition for us. It is always exciting to see the kids learn and grasp the gospel concepts. We are also looking forward to the arrival of Baby Ballard #4 after the New Year.

Again, we hope all is well with you and yours. We enjoy hearing updates from all of you. With love, from

The Ballards