2009 eChristmas Card

Submitted by Jay on Sun, 12/20/2009 at 6:07pm.

Dear Friends & Family,

This year our family thought we'd go really green and save some trees by sending out an Electronic TurtleFox Christmas Card (ETFCC). Hopefully this electronic version doesn't feel any less personal than the printed and mailed version we normally send.

This year has been a real eye opening experience for Lynh and I seeing just how fast our kids are growing up. Kai is starting to put a few words together here and there, but it's any one's guess what he's actually saying at this point. Poor boy gets frustrated when nobody understands him, but we enjoy the daily game of charades nonetheless.

Mailynn has been attending her preschool 4 days a week, and still loves to sing, dance, and play princess & dress up games. She recently was given a solo in sacrament meeting where she sang the first verse of "When He Comes Again" and sang it beautifully. She wants everyone to know that the highlight of her year was visiting Grandma and Grandpa and going to Disneyland, Star Tours was her favorite ride.

Lynh is still carrying the torch as supermom, getting kids ready in the mornings, working full time at IRIDEX as manager of the marketing department where they allow her to work from home a couple days a week, and then coming home in time to make dinners, bathe the kids, cleanup, and put kids to bed. She also spends lots of time doing crafts these days and plans and organizes events at church as the Relief Society Activity Leader (aka Enrichment Night). She's truly been a role model mother to Mailynn and Kai and a wonderful wife.

I'm not going to write my own paragraph in 3rd person, cause that just feels weird. I have taken up a new hobby this year, golf, and that has definitely become my new passion, unfortunately I'm still horrible, but I really enjoy it. At least it gets me outside and away from my computer screen where I spend way too much time as it is. Since picking up golf, cycling has taken a pretty big hit. The bike is starting to collect dust. Given the number of car/bike accidents I hear about in the news, maybe not such a bad thing. I am still working from home focused on building websites. I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of doing my own thing, but am starting to miss the office environment.

As I get older (and hopefully wiser) I definitely start to view life in new ways. I realize how important family and friends are and really love to spend time with my kids and watch them explore the world around them. I know I'm going to wake up soon one day and realize the house has grown quiet, the kids have all grown up and gone, and am going to miss the messes, the toys strewn across the floor, the fingerprints all over my TV and laptop, the pen marks on the couch, the paint on the kitchen table, and piles of kids dirty clothes. I realize that soon enough I'll no longer be able to squeeze Kai's tiny little fingers and hands into my own.

During this Christmas season I hope we can all be very grateful for the important things in life, and cherish them each and every day. Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and I hope we all have a wonderful 2010.

P.S. Don't forget to watch our videos below!

Love,

Kai, Mailynn, Lynh, and Jay

 

 

» posted in Jay's blog

Comments:

by kylie - 2 years ago
Fountain Valley,CA United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 855

that picture is so cute

by hseverson - 2 years ago
Portland, OR United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 2271

Love the videos.  The kids are growing up so quickly.  Thanks for sharing.

by alesha - 2 years ago
South Jordan, Ut United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 3213

K we won't lie. I read the letter outloud with Tyler, Jodi, and Dave. and Jodi and I started to cry when you talked about waking up one day and having an empty house. It didn't hit me till the Kai's fingers in your hand comment. But at least I have the excuse of being pregnant =) Very touching letter, we enjoyed it and the videos. Thanks! Very cute.

by scott - 2 years ago
Salem, OR United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 3706

hahaha, Michelle and I loved it.  The best Christmas card we got all year!  (sorry everyone else).  Kai watching his feet wiggle was hilarious too.  Toodles!

by Jay - 2 years ago
San Jose United States
Member Since: Nov 2006
Member Points: 4260

I was putting Kai to bed the other night doing my usual routine of singing him songs, and was just holding his hands, and starting tearing up, cause I realized it wouldn't last, and his hands would be as big as mine all too soon. Glad you guys liked the card and videos!

by Sean - 2 years ago
Beaverton United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 8398

Very nice paperboy.  The good thing is at the end of the Holidays this card won't be going in the trash.  It will be here for years and years on the hugely popular TF website.

by Jay - 2 years ago
San Jose United States
Member Since: Nov 2006
Member Points: 4260

I didn't catch Kai watching his feet wiggle, so had to rewatch. hilarious. i love his delayed "yay" arm raising. and just to give credit where credit is due, the ETFCC was mostly Lynh's idea. :)

by lynh - 2 years ago
SAN JOSE United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 1664

Jay--youre a dork.

by Tachale - 2 years ago
Tualatin, OR United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 598

Loved it!

by Aimee - 2 years ago
Portland OR United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 5634

Very cute, thanks! Nathan says he loves, it, too. We had to watch it a few times ("Can we do it a lot of times?")

by anhmai - 2 years ago
san Jose United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 112

Yesterday after read letter and watched video your mom start to cry.

Because emty house,..... kids grown up and gone. Yes we have that feeling too.

very touching letter and enjoyed video, thanks baby!!

by Sean - 2 years ago
Beaverton United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 8398

I believe I will have mixed emotions on that.  When you have FOUR young kids it's almost a nightmare every day trying to keep them all under control.  I will miss all the little things they did but at the same time will be so relieved when I'm not doing baths or picking up the giant messes everyday.  Dealing with the fighting, the yelling, the giant fits etc. etc.

by Robie - 2 years ago
United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 5180

Great idea!!  I love the letter and videos: )

by kylie - 2 years ago
Fountain Valley,CA United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 855

whenever there is new comments it sends them to my account!

by cyclists306 - 2 years ago
Irvine, CA United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 1851

Very nice Christmas letter, and we enjoyed the videos too! 

by Chaco - 2 years ago
LO - aka The Bubble United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 3061

Loved the card and videos.  Merry Christmas!

by sarahseverson - 2 years ago
Evanston, IL United States
Member Since: Mar 2007
Member Points: 2431

Great picture, sweet letter, fun videos. I think I try to remind myself every day around 4 p.m. when the boys are both tired and yelling/crying that I am going to miss this stage of life later on. Even though it can be exhausting and little kids try your patience, it is such a sweet, wonderful time too. 

by Jodie - 2 years ago
United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 1877

I also got a little teary... great letter and fun videos.  thanks for sharing

by Courtney - 2 years ago
Beaverton United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 822

Thank you, the card was awesome and videos were great as well.

by Brittany - 2 years ago
Tualatin, OR United States
Member Since: Feb 2007
Member Points: 273

A bunch of us here at home watched your videos and just couldn't get over how cute the kids are! LOVED Mailynn singing and making sure everyone sung their parts correctly.  What a great Christmas card idea!

by Valorie - 2 years ago
Orange County United States
Member Since: Jan 2007
Member Points: 13553

Loved this forever card.  It is hard to hang up with the others but true it will not go in the trash.  I love looking at Kai's face through the whole thing.  I still tear up when I sit in the empty house and ask myself "Where did they all go?"  Just typing this creates a lump in my throat.  But there are the times when there are 25 in the house so it is not always a depressing thought. 

by Franky - 2 years ago
Sherwood, OR United States
Member Since: Apr 2007
Member Points: 921

Jay that's the best movie we've ween in a long time.  The pictures are great but could we have a copy of the picture so we can up date your family picture on our wall of Married grand children.  We did the updating of all the pictures we got at Christmas and also moved Jason and Jacob from the unmarried wall to the married wall with the addition of their beautiful brides.  So would love to have a copy of your family to update yours.  Thanks Again.  Grandpa and Grandma.

by Jay - 2 years ago
San Jose United States
Member Since: Nov 2006
Member Points: 4260

Sure...I'll get one in the mail! Glad you liked the video.

Back to topBack to top

Add your comment:

Join TurtleFox.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.